About the Show
Price: $22
When: Sunday 7:00
Spotlight: Comedy Kumite is back for the 45th edition! Every few months, the Improv brings great DMV comics together for a one-night stand-up tournament. Each "match" has comics doing sets back-to-back, and the audience chooses one person to advance. At the end of the night, we have a champion ... and the audience ALWAYS wins.
Featuring: Alex Barbag, Clarence Nixon, Jasmine Burton, Nikkie Knowles, Joey Duffield, Dewayne White
About the Comics
Originally from Boca Raton, Alex Barbag is a Washington, D.C. based comedian who was described in the Washington Post as an “odd bird”. Initially, he took offense to that but now thinks it describes him well as he has an offbeat, deceptive stage presence that gets the whole room laughing.
Instagram: @alexbarbag
Clarence Nixon was born and raised in Washington, DC. He’s an example of what happens when introversion meets stand-up comedy. His perspective on everyday life situations become jokes, as he looks to adjust the world one laugh at a time.
Instagram: @DudeInDaCorner
Jasmine Burton is a barred attorney from Los Angeles living and working in DC. Jasmine has performed stand up all throughout the DMV, as well as opening and hosting shows for Lil Rel, Tony Woods, Zainab Johnson, Aida Rodriguez, and other comics seen on Netflix, HBO, and Comedy Central. A blend of west coast and east coast swagger, Jasmine is best known for her high energy, punchlines, and hilarious infusion of the law and her life experience into her comedy. Jasmine brings an edgy, witty, and intellectual humor that keeps her audiences at the edge of their seat… or falling out of them.
Instagram: @jazzyybeatss
Nikkie Knowles, a DMV based comic, is making waves in the comedy industry. Her humor is inspired by her unique experiences as a mother of five boys and a military wife. She began her comedy journey by participating in the Armed Services Arts Partnership's Comedy Bootcamp, a program that provides veterans and their families an opportunity to learn the art of standup comedy. Nikkie has graced the stage at various festivals and clubs across the eastern coast, including the Kennedy Center and Black Women in Comedy Laff Fest. Her win as Magooby's Comedian of the Year 2021 marked a historic moment as she became the first woman to achieve this feat.
Instagram: @funnygirl_productions
Joey Duffield is a comedian based in Washington DC, featuring a delightful mix of observational humor and personal anecdotes.
Instagram: @_joeyduffield_
Dewayne White is a nationally touring comedian based out of D.C. He's also a combat-wounded veteran who served in the Army for 23 years. His unique brand of humor is drawn from his take on his military experience, being a husband and father, and the insanity of life. Dewayne has been featured on CBS' Coast Comedy Live, toured with Josh Blue, and worked alongside amazing comedians like Mark Normand, Sal Vulcano, Jo Firestone, Dale Jones, and many more. Dewayne is also an instructor for the Armed Forces Arts Partnership’s Comedy Bootcamp, a standup comedy crash course for servicemembers, veterans, and their family members.
Chris White (official website) has been part of the DC comedy scene for more than a decade, both as a performer and as the guy who runs dcstandup.com. Working with the DC Improv, he produces and hosts The Other Side podcast, Happy Hour Trivia, the “Make Up Party" game night and Comedy Kumite stand-up tournaments. His comedy writing on the U.S. presidents has been featured on McSweeney’s, and he has two stand-up albums available on iTunes: “I Take Requests" and “Forbidden Style."
Kumite History
Comedy Kumite was first organized by Chris White around 2005 at venues in D.C. and Northern Virginia. Eight comedians squared off in a bracketed tournament, with the audience deciding the winner of each match with their cheers. The DC Improv worked with Chris to revive the format in its lounge showroom in the summer of 2015, showcasing the next wave of DMV talent. Kumites have returned every few months since then, always selling out in the lounge and sometimes even filling up the club's main showroom. While the venue was closed in 2020 and early 2021, six editions of the tournament were featured in the club's virtual showroom. More than 30 kumite champions have been crowned. You can see them all in the Comedy Kumite Hall of Fame.