Pun DMV: Halloween Edition
Pun DMV: Halloween Edition is a live pun competition hosted by Washington, D.C. comedian Dana Fleitman. Audience members can watch the competition or participate in its two recurring events: a prepared freestyle-pun showcase and an improvised tournament. This Halloween edition also includes a pun-themed costume contest, with a cash prize for the audience’s favorite costume.
In the Freestyle event, contestants prepare a two-minute speech based on a chosen theme and fill it with related puns. A selection of finalists is made based on pun quality and stage delivery, and the audience chooses the winner by cheering. The Tournament is an on-the-spot battle for up to 20 participants: competitors receive a theme at the beginning of each match and take turns inventing puns until they are stumped and eliminated. The final remaining contestant advances toward victory.
When: October 27, Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
Venue: DC Improv, Main Room, 1140 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036
Tickets: $8.50 general admission or $14.50 reserved, with service charges included
Lineup: Dana Fleitman; freestyle contestants Adam Ruben, Brittany Whitehurst, Clara Wyche Burgess, Mike Lehmann, Alex Coleman, Jarred Abel, Raheem Lee, and Mitchell Arrendell
Costume Contest: Guests may attend in a punny Halloween costume, such as “cereal killer.” To compete, purchase a costume-contest ticket, which also includes admission. The audience selects the favorite costume, and the winner receives a cash prize.
Freestyle Event: Competitors select a theme in advance, write a brief pun-filled speech, and perform it onstage. Finalists are chosen for the quality of their puns and their delivery before the audience determines the winner.
Tournament Event: Up to 20 people can compete in the improvised punning tournament. Participants receive themes during the matches, make up puns on the spot, and are eliminated when they cannot continue. Anyone attending can sign up at the venue.
Host: Dana Fleitman is a D.C.-area comedian, the regular host of PUN DMV, co-founder of the Just Kidding Comedy Collective, and creator of the Standup Comedy Incubator for Underrepresented Genders. She has opened for Paul Virzi and Bengt Washburn, appeared with Zach Sherwin on The Crossword Show, and performed at venues and festivals including the Howard Theatre, Arch City Comedy Festival, Contemporary Jewish Museum, Word Museum, and She Devil Comedy Festival.
Background: PUN DMV is the DC Improv’s quarterly pun contest and is based on the O. Henry Pun-Off World Championship. The regular format includes approximately 10 preconfirmed freestyle competitors and an audience-signup tournament.
Run time: Not specified.
Ages: Not specified.
Accessibility: Not specified.