Above: Women in Comedy, Colorado College’s only sketch comedy group.
Photos by Daniel Sarché
Women in Comedy, Colorado College’s only sketch comedy group, had their first performance of the school year on fourth Sunday of Block 2. The show was made up of multiple student-written and acted sketches, all with a wide range of subjects and styles. Julia Greene, a sophomore English major, has unofficially taken over a leadership position within the group. She tells people when to meet and does outreach for the shows, though she made it clear that there is “not much of a hierarchy within the group.” Greene took over the informal position for senior and CCSGA President Annika Kastetter, who unofficially led the ensemble last year.
Women in Comedy produces a show every two blocks that is the product of multiple brainstorms and writing sessions. There is no audition process; rather, every member is required to submit an original sketch for each show. Even if individuals feel uncomfortable with sketch writing, they’re encouraged to push themselves and submit something, regardless if it is chosen for performance. “Some of us have very similar senses of humor and some of us have very different ones,” said Greene of the synergy that emerges when the group comes together. “We want to incorporate different ones, as long as they work on their own.” Like many CC productions, Women in Comedy is entirely student directed, produced, and acted.
Collaboration within the writing process is encouraged, and writers are not required to act in their own sketches. In fact, Greene stated that “the longer people have been in Women in Comedy, the less they act in their own sketches. We try to get each person in an even number of sketches for each show.” Sophomore Abby Diess has felt that “it’s actually more helpful to be a co-writer than to write something all on your own.” They are also open to having members write sketches and not perform, but they currently “don’t have anyone who doesn’t want to act.”
Like Greene, Diess joined Women in Comedy during her first year at CC. She was inspired by the poster advertising their show entitled “Tupac is Dead, and So Is Grandma.” “I went to the show and I was just awestruck,” described Diess. “I exchanged emails with some of the girls and went from there. I think it’s so fun to have an outlet for specifically what women think is funny. We have such a diverse sense of humor, ranging from ‘Winnie the Pooh’ to relationship humor.” She specifically emphasized the dynamic of being in an all-female group, stating that she “went to an all-girls high school and loved that environment. We can talk about what’s funny about relationships and body humor.” Greene stated that she “hasn’t worked in a sketch comedy group with men,” so she can’t comment on it, but she feels strongly that “it doesn’t have to be feminist just because it’s all women. All that matters is that we’re being funny and empowering. We can help girls feel confident onstage and feel confident in their writing.” She has also never felt silenced or removed from comedy because of her gender.
Like the prior Women in Comedy shows, Sunday night’s performance didn’t have a theme. “We try and spread out having large and small sketches and lots of different settings,” said Greene. She stated that her two favorite sketches to watch were “Ubering with a Dead Body” and “Compulsive Complementer,” which was acted by Diess and sophomore Mary Loftus, while she enjoyed performing the most in “Crazy Eyes” with Diess.
The ladies are involved in comedy and acting outside of Women in Comedy as well. Diess, Greene, and Sarah Ryman are all working on a miniseries that they’re “hoping to release next semester.” “I love comedy, and I just can’t stop doing it,” said Greene. Diess is also the only girl in TWIT, which she says is “really cool. It’s a great creative outlet that stretches you in a different way than sketch writing does.”
”It is so fun and encouraging to have such a big and enthusiastic turnout for the show,” said Diess. “The turnout has been on par with TWIT shows, which is great.” Women in Comedy is a relatively new group, having only been started five or six years ago. “It’s fairly young but we’ve been able to keep momentum going. The environment is so positive and encouraging.” Their shows are “usually on third Sunday, and it’s such a fun break before fourth week.”
For those interested, Women in Comedy is actively looking for new members. They require “no background in writing sketches and doing theater” and it’s a “super low stakes, low key group.” “Even if you are not confident in your writing or your acting, it’s a great community to be a part of and you’ll definitely grow,” Greene emphasized.
For more information, contact julia.greene@coloradocollege.edu or check out Women in Comedy’s next show towards the end of Block 4.