Re-launching the Laughing Lizard Club

The original Laughing Lizard Lounge was created by Brian Kapell in Washington D.C. in 1989. It became a home for his ComedySportz (Improvisational Comedy) show, Dave Chapelle, Patton Oswalt, Wanda Sykes, Sketch Shows, a Weekly Live Grateful Dead Cover Band, Magic Shows and many more amazing shows and events. Featuring two stages, one for music, one for stage performance, it became a well-known part of Washington D.C.’s entertainment scene. It hosted Comic Relief events all year long which raised money and awareness for the healthcare and well-being of Washington D.C.’s homeless people and shelters.

The Lizard explored interpersonal entertainment forms, where audience involvement was a requirement of the show: improvisational comedy of all styles were in the line-up, and featured short-form, and many different long-form structures. Interactive Murder Mysteries were presented on the holidays, combining holiday-rituals and murder, close-up magicians walked around to club to engage the public; all these shows were known as ‘entertainment.’ Mr. Kapell had another interest: to offer ‘intra-tainment’ to explore how we entertain ourselves through games, creative play and social interaction. Interactive games and art & crafts activities were everywhere at the Lizard. People came to the Lizard to PLAY!

So here we go again!!!

The Laughing Lizard PlayHouse is an Entertainment Community Center that will host performance groups, and workshops of all kinds and cultures. Besides great shows, the Lizard will host Language Parties, Karaoke events, writing and drawing workshops, singing workshops, and gaming events. Entertainment and intra-tainment have a new home at the Laughing Lizard PlayHouse.