Friday, May 17, - Saturday, May 18 - in person May 17 at the Middle East Institute, 1763 N St. NW, Washington, DC (Map) & Saturday May 18 at Busboys & Poets, 2004 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE

The DC Traumedy Festival presented by MEI and Rola Z

The Middle East Institute (MEI) Arts and Culture Center and Lebanese-born comedy host Rola Z proudly present the first annual 'Traumedy' Festival. Traumedy is the act of sharing stories of adversity, heartache and loss through raw honesty and humor with the goal of catharsis and self-discovery.

Enjoy two nights of laughter and healing with local comedians whose performances help dissolve barriers, tackle fears and foster connection and community. The festival will premiere at the Middle East Institute on May 17 followed by a show at Bus Boys and Poets in Anacostia on May 18. The festival also includes a free panel discussion at MEI on May 17 exploring the role of humor in society with academics, comedians and health professionals. Mark your calendar!

Lineup: Yasmin Elhady / Joe Marshall / Sami Tamimi / Rola Z

More info, incl comedian bios, and tickets DC Comedy Festival: Turning Pain into Punchlines | Middle East Institute (mei.edu)

This project is supported in part by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts.