DC is facing tough times, but Laughing Matters more than ever. Washington Improv Theater is helping Washingtonians find their resilience, connection, and joy through the art of improv. It's time to fight uncertainty with play.
In the face of political upheaval and economic uncertainty, WIT believes that finding joy is an essential act of resistance. Our community is feeling the pressure, and we are committed to fortifying your spirit. Our Laughing Matters is a declaration of solidarity with DC residents, using the transformative power of improvisation to inspire connection, build resilience, and fuel the movement for a stronger city.
We’re bringing our mission off the stage and into the heart of the community’s needs. The Laughing Matters campaign unites all our activities designed to support you right now, proving that Community Over Chaos is powered by play.
Our evolving campaign includes:
• Improv for All Workshops: Monthly free introductory workshops intended specifically for current and former federal employees. These workshops are made possible through the support of our host venue The Potters House.
• Targeted Performances: Our performances regularly highlight the value federal employees give to the country, including our science-based ensemble The Hypotheses. Our performances spotlight people doing good in DC (and the world) including 826 DC Executive Director Robyn Lingo, former USAID and current democracy advocate Franc O’Malley, and Reporters Without Borders Executive Director Clayton Weimers. WIT has offered deeply discounted tickets to our weekend performances for furloughed federal employees (in addition to our ongoing commitment to provide low-cost tickets to every show).
• Free classes: On an ad hoc basis, WIT has offered free classes to federal employees who have lost their jobs. To date, seven students have received this scholarship for a Level 1 class. These classes are announced via social media (follow us on Instagram to be the first to know about any of these future opportunities).
• Skills-building Workshops: Via a series of free virtual workshops, our organizational training arm WIT@Work has helped former federal employees experience joy while learning real-world skills like interviewing and persuasion.
You deserve a break, a laugh, and the strength to keep fighting the good fight. Join the Laughing Matters movement—a growing network of resilient DC residents who are choosing joy, connection, and play, no matter what.
Pictured: An improv workshop for federal employees held in July 2025. The workshop and instructor Richie Khanh (front row, far right) were profiled in an article for The New Yorker.
Improv for All
Sign up for an Improv for All workshop by looking at our calendar. Our workshops for federal employees fully enroll quickly (registration opens a month before each workshop), but we offer regular workshops all over DC every month.
Laughing Matters Updates
WIT to continue offering joy and community for federal workers throughout 2025
Since the start of the year, WIT has engaged in several outreach initiatives aimed at current and former federal workers. Those efforts, including monthly free workshops, are set to continue until at least the end of the year.
You Deserve a Laugh: WIT presents a free improv workshop for federal workers
Tap into your creativity and enjoy some much-needed laughter.
Make Space For Joy on March 1: WIT to Stage Back-to-Back Free Workshops
We’re scheduling four back-to-back workshops at Studio Theater that are open to anyone and everyone who needs to find their joy.
In the News
As the class wrapped up, Khanh gathered the group for a pep talk.“What we do is very important, and it matters,” he said.“So thank you all for showing up and finding some time for joy. Let’s give ourselves another big round of applause.”— The New Yorker
Coverage in the media
• “Yes, And” for Downsized Federal Workers – The New Yorker (instructor Richie Khanh pictured)
• Mentions for WIT’s discounted ticket offers for furloughed federal workers in Axios, The Washington Post, and Washingtonian
• USA Today: Video coverage of the federal shutdown in 2019
Want to get involved?
The Laughing Matters campaign is constantly evolving. We’d love for you to be involved with your ideas on how we can support DC residents.
Just like in improv, all it takes is for someone to act on one idea and the rest of their team will support them! If you have an idea for us or want to offer support, contact us at wit@witdc.org.