Teddy Carpenter

Come and enjoy a special night of laughter with Teddy Carpenter, a legendary standup comic who has been a major player in the comedy scene for over 40 years. Known as a DC hometown favorite, Teddy Carpenter’s performances are both unique and unforgettable. Fresh off his tour with Frankie Beverly and the Festival of Comedy featuring Sommore, Lavell Crawford, Don DC Curry and Bill Bellamy, he is ready to make you a fan with his straightforward, no-holds-barred humor.

Teddy Carpenter’s style is anything but politically correct, and no subject is off-limits.

Instagram: @teddycarpenter

All sales are final. Refunds and exchanges are offered only when a show is canceled or rescheduled.

Admission Policies

• Please note: An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. Senior citizens and people with underlying medical conditions are especially vulnerable. By visiting our establishment, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19.
• Patrons must be 18 or older to attend events or classes at the DC Improv. Any exceptions are clearly noted in the event descriptions.
• There is a two-item minimum per customer. This can be any combination of food items or beverages. Bottled water and soft drinks count as items. (The two-item minimum does not apply to comedy classes.)
• Coupons or passes for free admission cannot be used for a show listed as a "special event."

Seating Policies

• Matinees, the first show of any evening in our main showroom and all shows in our lounge showroom are seated by time of arrival. The earlier you arrive, the more options you'll have. Please note that the size of your party can affect what options are available to you, as certain tables and areas are designated for larger parties.
• "Late shows" in the main showroom have assigned seating. Assignments are made in order of ticket purchase. Generally speaking, the earlier you buy tickets, the closer you will be to the stage.
• If tickets are designated as being at a "reserved table," your party will have a table to itself. For general admission tickets, if your party does not fill an entire table, you may be sharing a table with other patrons.

Teddy Carpenter is a Washington, DC native that started stand up in the early '80s with Dave Chappelle, Martin Lawrence and Tony Woods to name a few. He honed his craft quickly from listening to Richard Pryor, Moms Mabley and Dolemite comedy records as a youth and new standup would be his ticket. He performed in clubs around DC that led him by 1989 to make his first of many appearances on Showtime At The Apollo. He received numerous standing ovations from, "the place where legends are made!" The show was the launching pad for many more appearances on TV shows through the 90’s. Teddy toured the country working as a full-time standup comic gaining for his quick wit and even quicker punchlines. Teddy was asked to appear on HBO’s Def Comedy Jam where the best of the best was invited. During his performances on HBO’s Def Comedy Jam he made three appearances and received three standing ovations. His performance is still the 2nd highest watched standup performance to date, Bernie Mac being the highest.

From the 90’s through 2015 Teddy traveled the county performing in theatres across the country working with the best of the best in both standup and in music. Artists like Bernie Mac, D.L. Hughley, Kevin Hart, Earth Wind & Fire, Charlie Wilson, New Edition and many more. Teddy had his time in Hollywood also. Teddy Carpenter’s standup mastery led him to be one of the original hosts of "Showtime at the Apollo." His credits include "Def Comedy Jam," (Documentary), 2010 "The Mo'Nique Show" (TV Series), 2008 "1st Amendment Stand Up" (TV Series documentary), 1992-2008 "Def Comedy Jam" (TV Series), 2007 ”Unleashed: Comedians Off the Chain," 2004 "BET Comedy Awards" (TV Special), 1989-2000 "Showtime at the Apollo" (TV Series), 1992 "The Uptown Comedy Club" (TV Series) just to name a few. Carpenter has appeared on NBC, ABC, UPN, BET and countless other major networks.

For more than three decades Teddy has brought audiences all over the nation to their feet. Teddy is known as the Kaepernick of comedy for breaking barriers. He never got the recognition that some of his classmates have with being a pioneer in the game, making promoters and Hollywood change their business practices. He is in an elite class of standup comedy. Carpenter continues to remain a leader and voice of influence on and off the stage.