Stand-Up Showcase
The DC Improv presents a Stand-Up Showcase in its lounge from Friday, August 28 through Sunday, August 30, 2026, featuring five stand-up comedians from the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area and beyond. The showcase is designed to highlight a mix of comedic styles on one of the region's most well-known comedy stages, giving audiences an up-close look at rising talent. The program emphasizes supporting local performers and local business, with the stated goal of delivering a night of strong laughter. These shows typically run about 90 minutes and take place in the intimate lounge space of the DC Improv.
The lineup includes Dale Dunlap, Ray Diva, Matt Brown, Stacey Axler, and Dom Grayer, each bringing a distinct background and approach to stand-up. From personal storytelling to quick-witted crowd work and laid-back observational humor, the evening offers a broad sample of contemporary comedy from the mid-Atlantic comedy scene.
When: August 28–30, 2026.
Showtimes: Friday at 7:30 and 9:45 p.m.; Saturday at 7:00 and 9:30 p.m.; Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: All-in price is $26.50, which includes service charges. Tickets can be purchased through the venue's "get tickets" link.
Run time: Approximately 90 minutes.
Lineup: Dale Dunlap, Ray Diva, Matt Brown, Stacey Axler, and Dom Grayer.
Featured comics: Dale Dunlap is a Northern Virginia comedian who has performed throughout the DC area as well as in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Austin, and Salt Lake City; her material offers a personal, almost too-intimate window into her life, and she can be found on Instagram at @daledunlapdc. Ray Diva began her comedy career at the Gotham Comedy Club in New York and has since performed at venues including the Baltimore Comedy Factory, The Funny Bone Comedy Club in Virginia, Uptown Comedy Club in Atlanta, Magoobys Comedy Club in Maryland, The Laff House Comedy Club in Philadelphia, and Jokes and Notes in Chicago; she also hosts her own comedy show in Baltimore and co-hosts Laffs On The Harbor, with an Instagram at @raydiva1. Matt Brown is a rising comedian from Baltimore known for quick wit and a warm demeanor, bringing colorful, often dark humor to relatable situations; he has worked alongside comics such as Louis CK, Dave Attell, Tom Segura, Big Jay Oakerson, and Godfrey, won Comedy Kumite 19.1 at the DC Improv in spring 2019, and was a finalist in the 2024 Comedy Kumite XL, with an Instagram at @mattbcomedy. Stacey Axler has been performing regularly since 2021 at clubs and shows throughout DC and Maryland, with festival appearances at the North Carolina Comedy Festival, Solocom in New York, and the Sixth City Comedy Festival, and she hosts a monthly stand-up show; her Instagram is @staxonstax124. Dom Grayer is a DMV-based stand-up with a laid-back, honest comedic style who has become a DC favorite and has opened for Shane Gillis, Leonard Ouzts, and Guy Torry, with an Instagram at @domgrayer.
Venue: DC Improv, 1140 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036. The venue can be reached at 202.296.7008 or support@dcimprov.com.
Note: The showcase takes place in the DC Improv lounge and features five comedians performing in a single evening. The event page does not list age restrictions, and the showcase is described as a chance to see a variety of comedic styles from some of the stars of tomorrow.