Your next seven days should be filled with laughter. The following could help.
Friday, March 9: Brick Penguin at Touchdown
Known for very well-received appearances on This American Life and The Moth and her memoir The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance, Elna Baker is a charming storyteller and comedian with broad appeal. Her recent addition to the Brick Penguin sketch show makes this a pleasant Friday night pick. Seating is limited and interested parties are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance. It’s really awkward if there are a handful of people to see a storyteller and a bunch of folks in the back are talking about boring work stuff, so you should probably get there early, too. For fans of The Moth, Sarah Vowell. 8 and 10 p.m., 21+. $10.
Saturday, March 10: Nick Thune at Arlington Drafthouse, more
I’ve recommended Nick Thune at the Drafthouse before, and if you still haven’t seen him, go see him. If you like Demetri Martin or Mitch Hedberg, you’ll like Thune, who I’m sure is sick of hearing that. His show is easily the pick of the night, but there are quite a few more stellar options. If local is your thing, the very funny Sampson headlines a benefit show at The D.C. Center for the Brave Soul Collective, “a local theater arts group that focuses on identity, sexuality, self esteem and creating awareness about HIV/AIDS and encourages safe sex.” If men talking into microphones isn’t going to do it for you, there’s yet another excellent benefit show featuring the comedic stylings of previously praised Sarah Donnelly, stand-up Tom Achilles, and improv from Guys in Plaid Shirts and the Score at RFD. This one is to raise money for FUEL Youth’s education programs in Liberia, “specifically to support the installation of a solar electricity system at one of our schools.” It’s a great night to be a comedy fan in D.C.—-it would just be better if some of the very good, very charitable work was spread over a few more days. Nick Thune: 7:30 and 10 p.m., 18+, $20. Sampson: 7 p.m., all ages, $10. Sarah Donnelly: 7:30 p.m., 21+, $10.
Sunday, March 11: Todd Glass at DC Improv
Todd Glass wraps up his run at the Improv.
Wednesday, March 14: Vijai Nathan at Busboys and Poets
The frequently praised and recommended Vijai Nathan returns to the stage with a benefit performance for the American Indian Foundation’s Learning and Migration Program. The $25 ticket price may seem a little high for a Wednesday night at Busboy’s and Poets, but Nathan seems to be on a steady upward trajectory. Once Russell Peters is a fan, there’s no going back. 7 p.m., all ages. $25.
Brandon Wetherbee hosts the podcast “You, Me, Them, Everybody,” which records at the Wonderland Ballroom; the 8×8 variety show at Looking Glass Lounge; and The Quick and the Damned open mic at Solly’s.