April begins with the circus and ends with an alternative White House Correspondents Dinner. Use our April Comedy Guide for a better month. This is not an all encompassing roundup. This is a curated tour of funny. A mixture of standup, storytelling, improv, musicals and specials, there’s something for everyone. Or not. Maybe you only like Billy Crystal.
Saturday, April 1
UC Fest presents: Rory Scovel @ Black Cat
Rory Scovel is one of the most creative, adventurous comedians working today. He’s quick and improvisational, with boundary-pushing late night appearances that often devolve into carefully orchestrated chaos. No two Scovel shows are quite alike and we love him for it. -Matt Byrne
Sunday, April 2
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Out Of This World @ Verizon Center
The circus is back in town for one last time because we all collectively got our shit together and recognized that forcing animals to travel and perform tricks is kind of messed up! I’m going to miss the weirdness of the circus, but it’s probably for the best that this will be the last tour. Go get a drink somewhere, head to the Verizon Center and get ready to say goodbye. -Kaylee Dugan
also March 31 and April 1
Monday, April 3
Storytelling 101 @ Story District
Learn from the best local storytellers before you take the stage. Please. -Brandon Wetherbee
Tuesday, April 4
Louis C.K.: 2017 on Netflix
Louis CK was the first to really get behind the direct to consumer model for selling and distributing comedy – a strategy which helped him reach increasingly larger audiences just as he was hitting his stride as a comic. The fact that he’s releasing 2017 on Netflix instead shows just how serious the digital studio is about ramping up their exclusive offerings (and how much money they must have thrown his way).
While there’s not much information or details about the special available online, as someone who happened to be there while it was recorded (#blessed), I can absolutely assure you it does not disappoint. Louis is as intelligent, edgy, and funny as ever – and while he pushes the envelope, there won’t be any Chappelle-esque “wtf” moments. -Jose Lopez-Sanchez
Wednesday, April 5
Rona and Beverly Live! @ 9:30 Club
The popular podcast comes to the very large 9:30 Club. See what you listen to while you’re at work. -Brandon Wetherbee
Thursday, April 6
The Facebook Monologues @ Drafthouse Comedy
BYT fave Dee Ahmed hosts this free show about the horrors of Facebook. Fun fact: Facebook is public and optional. -Brandon Wetherbee
Friday, April 7
Natasha Leggero @ Arlington Drafthouse
Saturday, April 8
Lisa Lampanelli @ Lincoln Theatre
Tuesday, April 11
Politically Incorrect: Stories about rubbing people the wrong way @ Town
Story District is D.C.’s finest storytelling organization. It’s impossible to go anywhere in D.C. and not talk about what you do and what people with you do and inevitably someone in your group works in politics and it usually gets awkward. Proven company plus a solid topic equals good show. -Brandon Wetherbee
Wednesday, April 12
Thursday, April 13
Washington Improv Theater’s FIST is D.C.’s premiere comedy festival/tournament, where teams of three go head to head to discern who is the funniest improv trio in the District – all decided by audience votes. At this point we are down to the latter stages of the competition, so the cream of the crop is rising quickly. $15 gets you a ticket to a couple hours of laughs and a clever date idea. -Jose Lopez-Sanchez
Friday, April 14
Off The Rails @ Drafthouse Comedy
Lots of storytelling recommendations this week. This pick is due to host Katherine Jessup’s understated and well thought stand up. She hosts this happy hour/story telling/improv free show. -Brandon Wetherbee
Saturday, April 15
The Sorry About Last Night ladies are bringing their incredibly honest podcast to D.C. What started out as an experiment in interviewing the different people they’ve slept with has evolved into a podcast that talks generally about different aspects of sex and relationships, from consent to polyamory to sex toys. -Kaylee Dugan
Tuesday, April 18
The Tony winner for Best Musical in 2015 begins a month long run in D.C. You’re probably not getting tickets to the Tony winner for Best Musical in 2016. -Brandon Wetherbee
runs through May 13
Wednesday, April 19
Thursday, April 20
Specific Ignorance @ Drafthouse Comedy
Another free Drafthouse Comedy pick. Part trivia, part standup, a good option if you’re unfamiliar with the local talent. -Brandon Wetherbee
Friday, April 21
Katt Williams @ DAR Constitution Hall
Saturday, April 22
Sarah Silverman @ MGM National Harbor
Sunday, April 23
Hump! Film Festival @ Black Cat
Dan Savage’s fun and flirty porno film festival is coming back to the Black Cat. Meant to be sex positive and lighthearted, Hump! movies are all less than five minutes long and feature total amateurs, not to mention, the videos highlight a variety of body types, ages, genders and races. It’s weird (in a good way) and silly (also in a good way). -Kaylee Dugan
also April 21 and 22
Monday, April 24
It’s OK to sing out loud at a bar if everyone else is doing it. -Brandon Wetherbee
Wednesday, April 26
Thursday, April 27
The Time Machine Roast @ DC Improv
Roasts are in. People are sensitive. It’s safer to roast the dead. -Brandon Wetherbee
Friday, April 28
You already know her as a standout on Saturday Night Live, but Sasheer Zamata’s comedy chops go beyond live sketch comedy: she’s also a very good standup comic, as evidenced on her debut comedy special Pizza Mind, which was recently released on Seeso! -Matt Byrne
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgDov9vDtqM
Saturday, April 29
White House Correspondents Dinner
Samantha Bee’s Correspondents Dinner is the only one that matters. -Kaylee Dugan
Sunday, April 30
Billy Crystal and Bonnie Hunt @ MGM National Harbor
Billy Crystal is not funny. Bonnie Hunt is underrated. Her 2000 film Return to Me is small and heartbreaking and heartwarming and funny. She was one of Letterman’s best guests. Her own daytime talk show was fun and family friendly with the occasional subversive joke. There’s no reason she shouldn’t be on TV in some capacity. She rarely tours so you have to go to a casino and buy a ticket that mostly goes to Billy to see her. -Brandon Wetherbee
also April 29
