吃瓜爆料

吃瓜爆料 College is a small liberal arts school, but it is a mighty hub for comedy.  

Take four 吃瓜爆料 improv and sketch groups, add 10 visiting college comedy groups, a dose of professional talent, a burst of aspiring comedians and put them all on stage for the and you may begin to wonder: What makes 吃瓜爆料 so funny?

We talked to the student producers of this year鈥檚 鈥淐omFest鈥� 鈥� Sarah Marlin 鈥�20, Parisa Kabiri 鈥�20 and Max Grossman 鈥�20 鈥� to learn a little more about what makes laughter, and this event, an integral part of the 吃瓜爆料 student experience.

Q: Could you each tell us where you鈥檙e from and a little about what you鈥檙e studying and involved with at 吃瓜爆料?

Sarah Marlin: I鈥檓 from Saratoga Springs, New York, and I鈥檓 studying history and theater. I probably spend most of my time here in the theater, North Woods, or with Skidomedy, a sketch group or Awkward Kids Talking (AKT), an improv group. I鈥檝e also been a DJ at WSPN 91.1 since my first semester.

Max Grossman: I hail from sunny Los Angeles, California, and I鈥檓 an American studies major with a minor in media and film studies. I鈥檓 also involved with JKB Theater, 吃瓜爆料 Outing Club and have been a member of Skidomedy since my sophomore year. So much to do, not enough time!

Parisa Kabiri: I'm from San Mateo, California, and I鈥檓 majoring in psychology with a minor in education studies. I'm a Thoroughbred Ambassador for our Admissions office and a Peer Health Educator, among other things. I鈥檓 also a proud long-time improv artist with AKT.

Q: Was comedy part of your decision to 吃瓜爆料? Or did you discover the history and opportunities once you arrived?

Marlin: I had no idea! During my Accepted Candidates Day, my tour guide said, 鈥淚鈥檓 president of the sketch group Skidomedy鈥� and I remember thinking 鈥渢hat sounds cool, maybe I鈥檒l be a part of that.鈥� 

Grossman: I discovered it all my freshman year and would regularly drag my friends to see all the student groups perform. I never thought I could be in one myself until Sarah convinced me to audition for Skidomedy. I had never auditioned for anything before and I was nervous beyond belief.

Kabiri: I've loved improv comedy for forever. I knew that there were some improv groups on campus before I came, and I also knew a bit about ComFest. What I didn鈥檛 know until I got here was how big the comedy scene is and how connected the groups are.

Q: Tell us about ComFest. What is it, when it is and how does it work?

Kabiri: ComFest is a major annual entertainment event held at 吃瓜爆料. This will be our 31st year. It features four professional acts and up to 12 visiting college comedy groups as well as 吃瓜爆料鈥檚 four groups for two nights of fun and laughter!

Each night (Friday and Saturday) has a 7 p.m. show that showcases half of the college groups. They typically perform sketch or long-form improv. At 10 p.m., two professional comedians or comedy groups perform.

On Saturday morning, we have development and networking opportunities. The best part is we integrate the professional acts with the student groups, giving everyone a chance to connect and learn from each other.

Grossman: The biggest thing to know about ComFest is that it鈥檚 an instant community. The visiting students all stay with us on campus, so it鈥檚 a collective experience. Also, it鈥檚 the second weekend in February every year. Save the date.

Marlin: I鈥檒l add that ComFest was started by David Miner 鈥�91, an executive producer for NBC鈥檚 鈥淧arks and Rec鈥� and 鈥�30 Rock.鈥� And to this day, it鈥檚 really the combination of college groups performing their sets with some the biggest names in standup and improv that make the festival so exciting.

One of the professional groups this year, The Late 90s, I fell in love with while I was studying at the Columbia College of Chicago Comedy Studies program at the Second City. It鈥檒l be so surreal to have them here.

Q: Why did you get involved in ComFest?

Grossman: Producing ComFest seemed like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Just look at the name of the festival 鈥� it鈥檚 national! Post-grad, I want to be an entertainment producer, so this has been such an amazing learning experience.

Marlin: When I was a freshman in Skidomedy and Comfest 2017 came around, I remember looking up to the producers and admiring how committed they were. I guess I just kind of told myself that I had to be here and would do what it takes to make it happen. 

Kabiri: I was excited to be a part of a project rooted in tradition. I was feeling ambitious to work on something bigger than anything I鈥檇 ever done before, and I know now that I鈥檝e grown more as a person and professional that I ever expected.

Q: When do you start planning and what does it take to pull it all together?

Kabiri: Over the summer, we built a list of professional groups we鈥檙e excited about, their agents鈥� names and rates. Then, in the fall we oversaw the auditions of more than 40 college groups from around the country and selected 10 for our lineup Spring semester is all about working with the production team, organizing housing, scheduling, sales, contracts and accounting 鈥� Taking on ComFest is a beast, but we pour our hearts into it to put on the best show that we can.

Marlin: It鈥檚 a big job. And a lot that came our way we just had to learn on the fly and roll with, whether that鈥檚 budgeting and finance or negotiating with agents.

Grossman: Parisa says it best calling ComFest a 鈥渂east.鈥� It鈥檚 a gargantuan undertaking. And it鈥檚 astonishing to pull back the curtain and see there are just three of us.

Q: How would you described the relationship with the other schools? 

Kabiri: Comradery. Without a doubt. As fun as it would be to draw swords and fight to the death, it really is about the mutual love for this type of performance. We are all on a level playing field ... a bunch of college kids just trying to have a laugh!

Marlin: It鈥檚 a celebration! It has never felt like a competition but more of a 鈥渨oah look what they鈥檙e doing with sketch at Emerson or improv at Loyola.鈥� It鈥檚 exciting to meet people who also are just as dedicated but bring so many different styles, points of view and ways of creating comedy.

Q: What do you think makes 吃瓜爆料 funny?

Grossman: In Skidomedy, we often write sketches about 吃瓜爆料 life because the humor comes so naturally. Not making fun of it, but rather showcasing the everyday shared silly experiences. 吃瓜爆料 also has an absurd number of squirrels, which some might say is funny.

Marlin: I think 吃瓜爆料鈥檚 size contributes to its funny. Being around many of the same people for all four years in classes and clubs leads to a lot of funny shared experiences.

Kabiri: Probably the relationships between people who just want to have a laugh. In a life filled to the brim with schedules and routines, there are a lot of people here who value lighthearted positivity and sharing it with each other.

And no matter how ambitious we get 鈥� like going international this year 鈥� we come back to things that are uniquely 吃瓜爆料 ... intimate settings, a community feel and a welcoming audience.

Q: You鈥檙e all seniors. Are we going to be hearing great comedic things from you in the future?

Kabiri: I think this may be the end of comedy for me. The extent of my comedy is in improv. I can鈥檛 be funny when I think about it. It's too much pressure! I鈥檓 hoping to pursue clinical psychology and maybe someday become a licensed therapist. Perhaps I鈥檒l sprinkle a little humor into what can sometimes be a grim or negative setting.

Marlin: Ultimately, I love the community and the friendships that college comedy has gifted me. I hope to find the same post-grad. And whatever city I move to, I plan to get involved in the improv scene and continue writing.

Grossman: I hope to continue in the entertainment industry and would love comedy to influence my work. I was a production intern at DreamWorks Animation this past summer and realized that comedy helps no matter where you go.

Q: And one final question: what do comedians think Creative Thought Matters means?

Kabiri: We should remind ourselves to not get trapped in dull cycles. We should push ourselves to pursue what really excites, scares and inspires us. That's what truly matters and is what will keep us living our best lives.

Marlin: I think it鈥檚 the willingness to commit yourself to things you鈥檙e passionate about and adapting to different things thrown your way. 

Grossman: I think Creative Thought Matters is a call to take the path of most resistance and challenge the status quo. Comedy thrives on pushing the boundaries, so it鈥檚 no surprise that Creative Thought Matters is at the heart of ComFest.