Do you do improv? Sketch? Stand-up? Storytelling? Crack jokes at your local bar? Make your mom laugh on a regular basis? Whatever your comedic pursuit is, we’ve got your back.
It can often feel like you’re starting from scratch when you want to do anything within the comedy community. So much information is only available via word-of-mouth and depends on who you know. To combat this problem, we decided to create an online community where you can find and share information with everyone, with the goal of making comedic pursuits more accessible.
Though we’re based in DC, we think you’ll find lots of helpful information on our site, no matter where you’re located.
Site contributors
Kelsie Anderson
Founder
Kelsie Anderson is an improviser and sketch writer and performer who has done stand-up two whole times. She created this website, Comedic Pursuits, to serve as a resource for the DC comedy community.
Stacey Axler
Writer, Showrunner
Stacey Axler is a DC improviser and stand-up comedian. She helps organize Comedic Pursuits' benefit show, Quality Time.
Topher Bellavia
Writer
Topher Bellavia is an improv teacher, corporate trainer and three-time FIST Champion. He has coached hundreds of corporate and artistic groups and thousands of individuals to work and play together more harmoniously. As a co-founder of the Washington Improv Theater Training Program, he mentored dozens of instructors and shepherded the program from 20 annual student registrations to 1500. He has produced, written and performed in eight national and local award-winning improvised short films. His past students have gone on to perform on the TBS show Ground Floor, Bojack Horseman and Fox’s Mulaney, as well writing for NBC’s Saturday Night Live “Weekend Update.”
Robin Doody
Writer
Originally from Texas, Robin lives with his loving partner and their dog Penny in Washington, DC. He used to worked in politics, but in order to get humor pieces published, got fired. The story was overlooked because James Comey was fired the same day.
Rosie Grant
Writer
Rosie Grant is a DC improviser.
Paul Hitlin
Writer
Paul Hitlin is an improviser and teacher living in Washington, DC. He is currently a member of the groups IRL and Sistine Robot and was formerly part of Washington Improv Theater’s house team King Bee. He has been teaching for more than five years and is among the small share of improvisers who know what an offensive lineman does.
Kara Kinsey
Podcast host (Heavy Flo)
Kara Kinsey is a DC-based comedian who for the life of her can’t stop doing stand-up, sketch, and improv. She co-hosts Heavy Flo with Puss & Kooch. Kara enjoys almost being able to do a handstand and thinks you are pretty great just the way you are!
Alex Mell-Taylor
Writer
Alex is a DC-based comedian that loves to crank out irreverent, political satire. They have been performing improv and stand-up for the past 2 years all over the DC metropolitan area. They have an unnatural obsession with Instagram and post there often. They also love cats.
Seth Payne (Comedic Pursuits Podcast)
Podcast host
A Buffalo, New York native, Seth's life was irrevocably changed after witnessing a mind-blowing Groundlings show in LA. Since then, he's actively pursued his love of making people laugh with (but mostly at) him. Having studied and graduated from the Washington Improv Theater, he performed improv and stand-up for over three years in DC before relocating to Chicago. In his rare time off he enjoys concerts, morning raves, craft beer, and petting dogs that he does not own.
Kelsey Peters
Podcast host (Heavy Flo), Writer
Kelsey Peters is a DC-based comedian who wants to make this city feel something. She loves pondering, wandering, and the unexpected.
Cara Popecki
Writer
Comedian, dog mom, writer, educator. Cara has been improvising and performing comedy for three years. Now she teaches improv at the Washington Improv Theater, where she is also on a Harold team. She is currently trying to write her first sitcom. Cara is also an excellent whistler and sometimes wishes she were a bird.
Kourtney Ramseur
Podcast producer (Heavy Flo)
Kourtney Ramseur is an engineer by day and an avid improv watcher by night. She's the executive producer of Heavy Flo with Puss and Kooch. Kourtney is also the gif creator for Hellcat and can be found sitting front row at all of Krystal's show.
Krystal Ramseur
Podcast host (Heavy Flo)
Krystal Ramseur is a DC-based comedian who wants to do what she loves with the people she loves. She co-hosts Heavy Flo with Puss and Kooch. Krystal is also very close to mastering the ability to read minds.
Reem Seliem
Writer
Reem Seliem is an Egyptian/Philadelphian who started being funny in 2011, when she accepted a dare at an open mic. She's hosted a women’s theatre festival (2017 Philly Women’s Theatre Festival), written and hosted a monthly sketch comedy show ("Good Morning New Miami," Good Good Comedy Theatre), and hosted an evening of stand up at a Middle Eastern arts festival (2018 Yalla Punk Festival). She’s now in D.C. where she does improv at Washington Improv Theater (WIT) and has done stand-up for Underground Comedy and Project Thalia.
Ashley Siebels
Writer
Ashley Siebels loves improv and sketch comedy. She thinks making things up and doing improv is a better way to experience being human than telling the truth and going to work. When she does go to work, she's an art director. You can check out her design chops by visiting ashleysiebels.com.
Martin Steger
Writer
Martin is a DC-based writer and improviser. He spends his time writing sketches and then figuring out ways to get around memorizing them.
Madeline Turrini
Director of GFX
Madeline is a DC-based improviser and comedian who currently performs with improv groups The High-Fivers, MiLK, and Totally Boyz. She is a self-proclaimed “roboty-pirate,” and would like to wow you with a myriad of sub-par accents. When not performing, Madeline is an associate producer at National Geographic Partners and works on television shows such as “The Incredible Dr. Pol,” “Savage Kingdom,” and “Weird But True!”