The Library of Congress has now produced two big themed events during Live! at the Library: Mystery Night in the fall of 2023 and Fantasy Book Night this past spring. We’re getting excited about Comedy Night, coming up on Thursday, October 17 from 5-8:30pm. We’ve still got a few tickets left for our featured conversation between comedians and writers Maria Bamford and Gary Gulman and some seats available for The PUN-test, a collaboration with DC Improv—so please do get your RSVPs in.
One of the joys of producing big themed events such as Comedy Night is that we don’t just celebrate the highlighted literary genre or cultural topic highlighted; we give you a chance to actually participate in that topic by, in a way, performing it. For Mystery Night, we created a mystery scavenger hunt with Game Genius, a DC nonprofit—attendees had to solve an actual mystery as they traversed hidden corners of our Thomas Jefferson Building. For Fantasy Book Night, we sent our attendees on a various quests in the building. For Comedy Night, we’ve created the Comedy Challenge (also with Game Genius), and it’s going to be really fun!
The Comedy Challenge isn’t a competition against other attendees, but a chance to test your abilities telling bad jokes, making up stories, performing slapstick and more. You can do it with friends or by yourself. There’s no additional ticket required for the Comedy Challenge, and you’ll receive a handout with all the details when you arrive at Comedy Night. We hope you’ll join on October 17 and laugh! The Comedy Challenge details are below.
There are many ways to laugh; our Comedy Challenge encourages you to experience at least a few of them. Throughout the Thomas Jefferson Building, there will be five stations—each with their own form of humor—that players can complete. Collect stamps by participating in at least one comedy challenge and win a round of our caption contest to qualify for the Caption This! All-Star Battle at 7:30 p.m.
- Minute to Win It
Time is ticking! You have one minute to try out your slapstick chops by performing a challenge using common objects pulled from a magic bowl.
- Don’t Laugh Challenge
Don’t laugh! We provide the jokes; you face off with another player (a friend or stranger) and tell each other jokes while trying to keep a straight face.
- What’s the Deal With ________?
Storytime! Turn over three random cards to weave a story that will make others at your table laugh.
- Fill in the ______
Nerd out on parts of speech! At one of the large storyboards, work together to fill in the blanks to create an absurdly funny story.
- Caption This! Contest: The Ultimate Battle Final Competition Throw-Down Total End
Be quick on your feet! In one minute, create a funny caption for an image from the Library’s collections, write it down, and then announce it to a panel of three judges and the audience. The judges’ favorite caption wins! Winners of at least one round who have participated in at least one other comedy challenge can return at 7:30 p.m. for the All-Star Battle!
Hope to see you on the 17th, in our challenges and at our events!
Comments (2)
Trying to figure out if “Laught” is an inside joke or just a typo!
Make Yourself Laught at Comedy Night!
you caught it ! thanks!