Stony Brook NY
8-24-2026 9:11pm

From DC Stages to NYC Rooms: Comedian and Producer Alexx Starr Is Just Getting Started

There's a particular kind of confidence that comes from having to earn a laugh in a room full of skeptical strangers, night after night, in two of the toughest comedy markets in the country. Alexx Starr has that confidence, and a growing résumé of shows in Washington, DC and New York City to back it up, with an expansion to Los Angeles now on the horizon.

A Howard University graduate, Starr traces the roots of the comedic voice audiences know today back to the campus and the city that shaped it. "Going to Howard exposed me to a lot of different people, cultures, personalities and experiences," Starr says, "and I think all of that eventually found its way into my comedy." DC, Starr explains, carries a distinct charge, political on the surface, but layered underneath with a deep Black cultural history, a thriving music and nightlife scene, and neighborhoods full of big personalities. "You grow up around a lot of strong personalities, and as a comedian, you learn to appreciate people who can tell a story and make you laugh."

New York, by contrast, demanded something sharper. "There's a similar hustle, but the energy is much faster," Starr says. "You have to be able to walk into a room, figure out the vibe and hold your own."

Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

Ask Starr about influences and the list reads like a masterclass in range. Eddie Murphy's command of a stage. Jamie Foxx's refusal to be boxed into just one lane, comedian, actor, musician, entertainer, all at once. Dave Chappelle. Chris Thomas. Bernie Tony Woods. And, with genuine reverence, "the incredible Judge Greg Poole."

But for Starr, admiration for these icons was never about imitation. "What really inspired me was seeing people who weren't afraid to be themselves," Starr reflects. "You can study other comedians, learn from them and be influenced by them, but eventually you have to find your own voice. That's what makes a comedian stand out."

Building the Stage, Not Just Standing On It

What sets Starr apart from many performers is the leap from comedian to producer, a move born not out of ambition alone, but out of necessity and generosity in equal measure. "Producing shows came from wanting to create opportunities, not just for myself, but for other comedians too," Starr says. "At some point I realized, why am I always waiting for somebody else to create the opportunity? Why not create it myself?"

The two cities have taught Starr very different lessons about the craft of putting on a show. DC's comedy scene runs on relationships and community. New York runs on volume and pressure. "There are so many talented people that you can't just show up — you have to be prepared," Starr says. "New York forces you to sharpen your game."

Finding the Joke in Everyday Life

Where does the material come from? For Starr, inspiration is everywhere: relationships, conversations, travel, a stranger's odd habit spotted on the street. "Comedians have to be observers," Starr says. "Everybody thinks they're normal, but everybody has something weird about them." The job, as Starr sees it, is taking something universal and finding an angle nobody else noticed.

Advice for the Next Generation

For anyone dreaming of trying stand-up, Starr's advice is refreshingly simple: stop planning and start doing. "Don't spend six months telling everybody you're going to do comedy. Go find an open mic and do five minutes." Bombing, Starr says, isn't a possibility to fear, it's a guarantee, and part of the process. "Don't compare your beginning to somebody else's middle. Everybody's journey is different."

Looking back on the early days, Starr wishes there'd been a faster path to one particular realization: that being funny is only part of the job. "You have to be reliable. You have to be professional. You have to know how to work with people, promote yourself, produce, network and create opportunities. Comedy is an art, but it's also a business."

Comedy in the Social Media Age

Starr has watched the industry transform in real time. A joke told in a club can end up in front of millions online by morning, which means every comedian is now performing for two audiences: the room, and the screen. On the subject of "cancel culture," Starr offers a measured take, resisting easy soundbites. "Comedians have always dealt with audiences who didn't like their jokes. The difference now is that everybody has a platform, everybody can react immediately, and something can spread incredibly fast."

Still, Starr isn't interested in comedy driven by fear or by shock value for its own sake. "The goal is to make people laugh first. If I can make you laugh and make you think at the same time, even better. And if I make you uncomfortable for a second but you're still laughing — that's comedy too."

With rooms already won over in DC and New York, and Los Angeles next on the list, Alexx Starr's story is a reminder that the funniest people in the room are often the ones willing to build the room themselves.
You can find Starr on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/alexxstarrlive/ and https://www.instagram.com/iamalexxstarr/ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Alexx.Starr3

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