Pun DMV: Halloween Edition
Pun DMV: Halloween Edition is a live pun competition hosted by Dana Fleitman at DC Improv. The Halloween program includes the regular Freestyle and Tournament events, along with a punny costume contest in which the audience selects a winning costume for a cash prize. Guests may watch the competition or participate in one of the events.
When: October 27 at 7:30 p.m.
Venue: DC Improv, 1140 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036.
Tickets: $8.50 general admission or $14.50 reserved seating. These prices include service charges.
Lineup: Hosted by Dana Fleitman. Freestyle competitors are Adam Ruben, Brittany Whitehurst, Clara Wyche Burgess, Mike Lehmann, Alex Coleman, Jarred Abel, Raheem Lee, and Mitchell Arrendell.
Halloween Costume Contest: Attendees can wear a costume built around a pun, such as “cereal killer.” The audience’s favorite costume wins a cash prize. A costume-contest ticket also includes admission to the show.
Freestyle Event: Competitors select a theme and prepare a roughly two-minute speech filled with puns related to it. After they perform, several finalists are chosen based on the quality of their wordplay and delivery, and the audience determines the winner by cheering. Freestyle participants are confirmed in advance, with about 10 competitors typically taking part. Interested competitors can apply through the event’s registration form.
Tournament Event: This on-the-spot contest can include up to 20 participants. Contestants receive a theme at the beginning of each match and take turns inventing puns in real time. A contestant is eliminated when they are stumped, while the last person remaining advances toward victory. Anyone attending may compete and can sign up at the venue when they arrive.
Host: Dana Fleitman is a Washington, D.C.-area comedian known for imaginative, sarcastic observations about everyday subjects. She hosts the DC Improv’s quarterly Pun DMV, co-founded the Just Kidding Comedy Collective, and created the Standup Comedy Incubator for underrepresented genders. Her credits include opening for Paul Virzi and Bengt Washburn, appearing with Zach Sherwin on The Crossword Show, and performing at venues and festivals including the Howard Theatre, Arch City Comedy Festival, the Contemporary Jewish Museum, Word Museum, and She Devil Comedy Festival.