Michael Colyar

"Hard to ignore, impossible to forget!" Michael started his career as a street performer, first in his hometown of Chicago and then in Venice Beach. From those humble beginnings, he has just about done it all: he won "Star Search," landed an HBO special, hosted a BET show and toured the world. One thing is missing, though -- another headlining weekend at the DC Improv. Check out his return to the DC Improv this summer.

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

Admission Policies

• 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.

From the time he was a little boy Michael was always headed for Hollywood in his own way, running away and traveling West, not realizing that he was almost 1800 miles away. By the time he got to Chicago's West Side, his big brother would find him and bring him home.

In the early '80s Michael Colyar got his start as a street performer on Michigan Avenue where he entertained crowds during the lunch hour, and by night he would wait tables at one of the city's finest eateries. When the temperatures became too frigid, Colyar decided to pack up and move to sunny California. Upon arriving in California, he stumbled upon a place called Venice Beach.

What he loved about this place is that there were street performers working along the Boardwalk doing all kinds of things: dancing, magic, acrobats, jugglers, dancers etc. One thing he noted in particular was that there were no Comedians performing, so he knew he had a great future in California.

Best known for his performances on Venice Beach California -- for nine years he entertained the crowds, bringing together people from all parts of the world with his thought-provoking humor. Colyar left a positive imprint in the hearts and minds of his audience. Dubbed "The King of Venice Beach," where every Saturday and Sunday Colyar would perform 5 one-hour shows a day. His audience ranged from old to young, all colors, all nationalities, from gang bangers to the bank presidents, his audience could truly be called a melting pot. HBO came calling and he did his first HBO Special "Live" from his historic spot.

As "The Original Host" of "BET Live From LA", his point blank delivery and razor-sharp insight connected to the guest that joined him on the sofa, as well as over 55 million viewers coast to coast. He interviewed everybody from Don King to P.Diddy, from Anthony Michael Hall to Snoop Dogg and danced with James Brown along the way.

Colyar is known to bring the same high energy, perfect delivery and dynamic stage presence to every show, whether the audience is a local comedy club in Los Angeles, an elementary school where he jokes with 5th graders, or hosting "The Big Black Comedy Show" for an audience of over 6000.

Colyar gained notable attention after winning the $100,000 on "Star Search", the nationally televised talent competition, and promptly donated $50,000 to homeless charities in the Los Angeles area. The city of Venice California honored Michael Colyar by placing his shoe prints, handprints and money grabber in cement for the new Venice boardwalk. Michael Colyar is generous of his time and service to his hometowns of Chicago and Los Angeles by speaking out against gang violence, marching in Peace Rallies, participating in Holiday gift drives, speaking at churches, mentoring comedians and doing free comedy shows for inmates each month in a program he calls, "Comics Go to Jail," which he has been doing for the last 12 years.

Encouraged by Motivational Speaker Les Brown he began motivational speaking himself and it felt like "Home" -- telling his incredible story of struggle and triumph to his audiences around the world as he writes The Book "Michael Goes Motivational", which will be released in September 2014. He created a Docu-comedy (which premiered at the Pan African Film Festival) and an age universal companion book on President Obama called, "A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the White House, I Knocked on the Door and a Brother Answered".

Mr. Colyar has been performing his one man play, "Michael Colyar's Momma" from Hollywood to Washington, DC. the new poetry book called, "Miss Innocent Goes to Kool Skool and other Silly Stuff" and his schedule of road gigs. This guy definitely stays busy. Now, Let's get him paid.

Michael Colyar: Hard To Ignore, Impossible To Forget!