A few years back, Diana Saez was an endangered species in the city’s female comedy circuit. She and a few others dropped abortion, lesbian and self-deprecating body image jokes at Dremo’s, Rendezvous and other weekly stand-up gigs. They were typecast as female comics, and had to play that card to get attention. It was an era when Janeane Garofalo was probably the only “real” chick comic on anyone’s radar.

But that crop of talent has quickly blossomed in Washington, and with so many comics with XX chromosomes moving into the scene, Saez and her cohorts have created the city’s first all-female, all-local stand-up show.

“Broad Minded Comedy” debuts tonight at HR-57’s Riot Act Comedy Club. While its reference to “broad” could be interpreted as anything from invoking promiscuous women to broad-chested females, above all this show is really about broad-mindedness. Beyond Saez, the show includes Andrea Fuller, the token mother; Leslie Cooley, a self-proclaimed whirling dervish of “expression, style and humor”; Aparna Nancherla, the newest girl in the D.C. comedy scene; and an old hand, Erin Jackson, known for her pearly white infomercial-caliber smile. Saez has been urging everyone in sight to “help her sistahs out,” and support the bastion of girl power. Of course, the boys are invited, too, cooties and all.

Broad Minded Comedy will begin with one show, but if — or more like when — it becomes a big deal, it might be a weekly fixture at Riot Act Comedy Club. The show is at 8:30 p.m. and admission is $12. Tickets can be purchased on their web site by clicking “tickets” or by calling 202 625-6229.

Riot Act Comedy Club at HR-57
1610 14th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009