Feb 19 | Culture Series: Comedy Across the River, Curated by Clyde Darren Thompson.
On February 19, 2026, at 7:00 pm, HumanitiesDC brings its Culture Series to Busboys and Poets Anacostia with Comedy Across the River—an evening exploring the stand-up comedy scene east of the Anacostia and the ongoing lack of performance spaces in Wards 7 and 8.
Inspired by the AFRO article “Comedy East of the Anacostia Is No Laughing Matter,” the program asks a timely question: Who gets to laugh together, and what is lost when communities east of the river are left out?
The event will open with stand-up performances from three comedians, followed by a panel discussion on access, visibility, and the role comedy plays in shaping community and culture. The program is curated by Clyde Darren Thompson—a Navy veteran, eighth-generation Washingtonian, stand-up, sketch, and improv comedian, and proud community busybody.
By hosting this conversation in Anacostia, Comedy Across the River centers voices too often overlooked and invites the city to reflect on who gets space to be heard—and heard laughing.
Busboys and Poets Anacostia
2004 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE
Washington, DC 20020