About the Show
Price: $25 GA, $40-$45 reserved
When: Wednesday 7:30
Spotlight: Badar Tareen’s BrownTown isn’t just a comedy show – it’s a fan-favorite celebration of top South Asian comedians (e.g., Indian, Pakistani, etc.) from across the nation. As the DMV’s largest South Asian stand-up show, every BrownTown performance has sold out, and it’s now at the DC Improv. Expect a night of high-energy, hilarious comedy with some of the best and brownest comedians around. Additionally, the show includes a wildly popular Q&A where Badar, also a civil rights lawyer, poses outrageous, unrehearsed questions about race to a white comedian.
Featuring: Badar Tareen, Usama Siddiquee, Sureni Weerasekera, Sonya Vai, Dilan Hettiarachchi and Winston Hodges
About the Comics
Badar Tareen is a civil rights attorney by day and an award-winning stand-up comedian by night. Known for his analytical, energetic, and unique comedy, Badar captivates audiences with his sharp wit and engaging presence, drawing rich material from his day job, family, and background as a Pakistani Muslim who grew up in a small town in North Dakota. He regularly opens for Zarna Garg, including her show at the Dubai Opera, and has opened for Aparna Nancherla at the Kennedy Center. Badar has also performed alongside comedians like Akaash Singh, Tony Woods, and Marcello Hernandez, and has been featured at over a dozen comedy festivals, performing at clubs across the US, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. In 2024, he was selected to headline his own show at the DC Capital Fringe Festival.
Instagram: @badartareen
Usama Siddiquee is a Bengali American comedian in NYC, he’s been on Americas Got Talent and Late Show with Stephen Colbert and he’s here to make you laugh today!
Instagram: @UsamaStandsUp!
Sureni Weerasekera is a Sri Lankan-born, San Diego-raised, & New York-based stand-up comedian, actor, and writer. She is known for her lighthearted, conversational banter to her ruthless, dark jabs. She has been featured on Netflix, Don't Tell Comedy and HBO.
Instagram: @sureni
Sonya Vai is an international standup comedian who just returned from a successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe. She's also performed in London, Paris, and Barcelona. She performed and co-produced a show in the New York Comedy Festival featured in the New York Times as one of the 5 shows they were most excited to see. Sonya performs regularly in her home base, in venues/comedy clubs around NYC.
Instagram: @sonyavaicomedy
Dilan Hettiarachchi is a Sri Lankan-American comedian championing the little guy through sharp humor that explores the minority experience, including dating and the workplace. As the creator of the comedy series Punchline Comedy DC, they’ve performed at renowned NYC venues like Greenwich Village Comedy Club and Brooklyn House of Comedy, leaving audiences in stitches.
Instagram: @dilanhettiarachchi
Winston Hodges is from DC by way of Richmond, Virginia. He has worked comedy clubs up and down the east coast and is known for his southern charm and edgy wit. He has been featured on Don't Tell Comedy, and his award winning special Grieving Productively is available on YouTube. His videos online have been viewed over 20 million times and he has opened for Fortune Feimster, Demetri Martin, and Dave Attell to name a few. Winston won the "Cottage Kumite" (Kumite 36, fall 2022) at President Lincoln's Cottage.
Instagram: @winstonhcomedy