Midterm season is upon us. That means late nights in Lau, struggling to stay awake while reading “The Clash of Civilizations” for the eighth time, and gulping down that fifth cup of Corp coffee. Spirits are not so high around the Hilltop, but starting Oct. 10, the Bentzen Ball Comedy Festival offers a way to fix that.
“It’s basically a smorgasbord of awesome,” Svetlana Legetic told the Voice. She is one of the founders of BrightestYoungThings.com, the web magazine and event production agency behind the festival. Back in 2009, BYT hosted the first Bentzen Ball, flying in a whole bunch of comedians, booking a whole bunch of venues, and putting on a bunch of hilarious performances for audiences around D.C. After a brief hiatus, they’re bringing the festival back this year.
In its debut, the Bentzen Ball brought out the big guns of comedy, uniting comedians like Sarah Silverman, Nick Offerman, and Patton Oswalt. This year’s lineup doesn’t disappoint, slating appearances from more stars like Rachel Dratch from Saturday Night Live, Wyatt Cenac from The Daily Show, and Kate Flannery from The Office.
Legetic seems ecstatic to be gearing up for another festival. “We have a lot of special, non-traditional comedy shows,” she said, noting in particular the music revue at the Lincoln Theatre. Also unique to this year’s festival is the first D.C. taping of Doug Benson’s comedy podcast “Doug Loves Movies.” Legetic emphasized that despite boasting big names, the festival doesn’t skimp on local talent—19 of the comedians hail from the D.C. area.
“Trust me, it is both a great weekend for those who are very into the comedy universe and those who are just trying to dip their toes into it,” Legetic plugged.
The Bentzen Ball Festival opens Oct. 10 at the 9:30 Club and moves around to the Sphinx Club, Howard Theatre, Lincoln Theatre, and U Street Music Hall. The lineup, though dauntingly large, is a crafted collection of diverse performers who cover all niches of comedy, from music to stand-up to digital shorts. All of the shows are priced between $15 and $30, making them just as affordable as a dinner on M Street—and Pizzeria Paradiso can’t make you laugh.
