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About
The Incubator is a cohort-based program that seeks new comics, from those who have never been on stage to those who have been performing for up to one year.
The group meets for weekly workshops, getting the opportunity to network with other comedians (peers who are new in the space and seasoned comics), explore joke structure and formats, and – most of all – to build community and workshop material, culminating with a graduation showcase in DC!
Women and genderqueer folx belong on stage, and amplifying the diverse voices of the DMV is critical.
That's why comedian/educator Dana Fleitman created and launched the "You Belong on Stage" Standup Comedy Incubator in 2023 at Grassroots Comedy. Six cohorts and over 50 graduates later, she is delighted to continue this program in partnership with program alumni under the auspices of the Just Kidding Comedy Collective!
3+
Years running
6
Cohorts
50+
Graduates
4.8/5
Avg Grad Satisfaction Score
COHORT 7 IN PROGRESS
Applications are closed
Q&A
WHY?
The Washington, D.C. area has a thriving comedy scene. As in most places, the majority of standup comedy shows in DC are primarily made up of male comedians. Open mics can be very intimidating environments -- in addition to the expected nerves of trying new material for strangers, female-identifying, trans, and non-binary individuals (particularly those of color, religious minorities, those with disabilities, and others) may be (understandably) daunted by going alone to a bar at night with few other non-cis-male comics around to perform material from a minority perspective. As the saying goes, "you have to see it to be it," and comedy mics as they exist today send implicit messages about who belongs on stage and who does not.
WHO IS INVOLVED?
The program was founded and designed by Dana Fleitman, a comedian and educator who has performed standup comedy for over a decade and has a Master of Arts in Education, if you're into that kind of thing. Rosalie Rubio and Cheyenne Mathews -- both program alumns and talented comedians -- are the primary instructors for the class. Guest instructors have included Stacey Axler, Bria Beddoe, Jenny Cavallero, Yasmin Elhady, Elizabeth Booker Houston, Shelley Kim, Arzoo Malhotra, Natalie McGill (joining virtually), Elizabeth Norman, Marcela Onyango, Kasha Patel, Blaire Postman, Chelsea Shorte, and more!
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Some program alumni go on to perform throughout the DMV and beyond, booked on (and producing) shows at venues like the DC Improv, The Comedy Loft, DC Arts Center, and more. Others simply enjoy the class as an exciting experience of its own. What our grads all have in common is that they love the program!
See What Our Grads Have to Say
“I'd be thinking about trying stand-up comedy for over a year before I joined the incubator program but had struggled to find open mics and have the confidence to perform for the first time. The incubator program, and Dana's amazing coaching, allowed me to explore this form in community with other women and non-binary comics who gave me the feedback and support I needed to dive in head first.”
Veena
Cohort 1
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