About the Show
Price: $20 GA, $25-$30 reserved
When: Sunday 7:00
Spotlight: It's a battle of the best! Every few months, the Improv brings great DMV comics together for a one-night stand-up tournament. Each "match" has comics doing sets, and the audience chooses one person to advance. At the end of the night, we have a champion. The winners represent the best of what DC's comedy scene has to offer. For this special show, former winners return to the Improv to battle for the title of Grand Champion. The best of the best will be duking it out ... and no matter which comedian is victorious, the audience always wins.
Featuring: Liz Barlow, Matt Deakins, Mike Kurtz, Patrice DeVeaux, D Lo, Jamal Russell
About the Comics
Liz Barlow is a standup comic, writer and actor from Virginia Beach. She has been seen on TVOne, Virginia area Funny Bones, Dc Improv, Zanies in Nashville and the Charlotte Comedy Zone. She's also a published essayist , having been published in the Huffington Post and Wearyourvoicemag.com. Liz won Comedy Kumite 29 (online, winter 2021), Comedy Kumite 41 (fall 2023) and Comedy Kumite 43 (Mother's Day 2024) at the DC Improv.
Instagram: @lizbarlow2
Jamal Russell is a D.C. based comedian who has been doing comedy for six years. Jamal has performed at the Ice House in L.A., Caroline's on Broadway, the Milwaukee comedy festival, the Motor City comedy festival and the Boston comedy festival. Jamal won Comedy Kumite 32 (winter 2022) at the DC Improv, and he was a finalist at Comedy Kumite XL (summer 2023).
Instagram: @laughwithjamal
Mike Kurtz is a shameless anecdotal comedian representing PG County. He’s been on the comedy scene since 2018, both on the stage and behind the scenes. Mike won Comedy Kumite 37.1 (winter 2023) at the DC Improv.
Instagram: @prettyhurtskurtz
Matt Deakins is a stand-up comedian. He lives in Virginia. When people ask him, he says Washington D.C. It's easier that way. He's performed in these places: Pittsburgh Improv, DC Improv, Vermont Comedy Club, Charlotte Comedy Zone. He's performed with these people: John Huck, Jordan Carlos, Dustin Diamond, Bret Ernst, Yannis Pappas, Paul Hooper Matt won Comedy Kumite 33.1 and 33.2 (spring 2022) at the DC Improv, plus the July 2022 Tournament of Champions and the 2024 Comedy Kumite XL.
Instagram: @matthew_deakins
Dana Lollar, aka D. Lo, hails from Baltimore MD. Always a jokester, DLo stumbled into the comedy world, in Nov 2015, after a leg injury had her out of work. After countless open mics, she began to rise in the Baltimore comedy scene as a force to be reckoned with. Known for her quick wit and comebacks, she is definitely a spitfire on the mic. In her short comedy career she has won more than 15 competitions, been a finalist in Magoobys New Comedian of the Year Competition, headlined various shows in Baltimore, DC, Delaware, Ohio, NYC, Las Vegas, and Jamaica. She is the unanimous winner of Comedy Wars DMV and has been a finalist in Kevin Hart's "Hart of the City" on Comedy Central. Most recently she was a feature act in the 2019 Black Girl Giggles Festival, 2019 Baltimore Comedy Festival and the 2019 DC Comedy Festival. Known as the "roast queen" of Baltimore, and a improv master, she's sure to leave a lasting impression. D. Lo won Comedy Kumite 35.2 (fall 2022) at the DC Improv and was a finalist at the 2024 Comedy Kumite XL.
Instagram: @redcuplo
From Richmond, Va., Patrice DeVeaux has been traveling doing standup all over the country, opening for Orlando Jones, Chaunté Wayans, Tony Woods, and the legendary Adele Givens. Patrice is a writer, producer, and creative curator. She has appeared on several television shows, including "News One Now With Roland Martin," "Kill Tony," and "Revolt TV." She has also been featured on Kenan Thompson’s Ultimate Comedy Experience. Patrice has performed at the legendary Apollo Theater in NYC & internationally in the Netherlands. Patrice won Comedy Kumite 42 (winter 2024) at the DC Improv.
Instagram: @butisshefunny
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.