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The Indiana Daily Student

arts

Laughter guide: where to find campus comedy troupes this semester

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Bloomington and IU have a long history with comedy. Producing comics like Saturday Night Live cast member Emil Wakim and home to venues like The Comedy Attic, laughter isn’t too hard to find around town — especially from budding student talent. 

With student sketch and improv troupes on campus announcing their spring schedules, there are several free, accessible comedy performances each month to choose from. Here is your guide to IU student comedy this semester.    

Backdoor Comedy  

Backdoor Comedy is IU’s only troupe to perform both improv and sketch comedy, which senior troupe member Logan Vaught said is a feature that sets Backdoor Comedy apart from other groups. Each hour-long show consists of 30 minutes of improv and 30 minutes of sketch comedy.  

“It’s been probably one of my favorite things I’ve done here at IU,” Vaught said, who’s been a member since the fall semester of his freshman year. 

With each show starting at 9 p.m., Backdoor Comedy will perform Jan. 25, Feb. 8, Feb. 22, March 8, April 5 and May 3 in the Fine Arts Building in room 015. Each show is free to attend.  

Boy in the Bubble Comedy 

Boy in the Bubble Comedy is IU’s longest running sketch comedy troupe. Boy in the Bubble will host free sketch performances Jan. 18, Feb. 1, Feb. 15 and March 1, with an alumni show March 29 and its senior show May 3. Each free show will begin at 9 p.m. in room 015 of the Fine Arts Building. 

Boy in the Bubble Comedy will also perform at The Comedy Attic on April 3. Information on tickets is not yet available on The Comedy Attic’s website.   

Full Frontal Comedy 

Full Frontal Comedy is the longest-running improv troupe at IU, according to the student organization’s beINvoled page.  

It will be senior troupe member Emma Proctor’s sixth semester with Full Frontal, which she describes as a second home.   

“It’s been really incredible to be a part of something that is so tight knit,” Proctor said. "Improv relies a lot on trusting the people that you’re with and knowing that if you have an idea, everyone else will run with it, or if you don’t have an idea but want to support someone else — everyone is in it together.”   

The troupe’s spring semester will kick-off 7 p.m. Jan. 16 with Full Frontal’s debut show at The Comedy Attic, located 123 S. Walnut St. Student tickets are available to purchase for $10 on The Comedy Attic’s website.  

The Full Frontal shows following the troupe’s Comedy Attic debut will begin at 9 p.m. Jan. 24, Feb. 7, Feb. 21. March 7, March 28 and May 2 in the Indiana Memorial Union State Room East. Each show is free to attend.  

Ladies’ Night Comedy 

Ladies’ Night Comedy troupe is a space to advance underrepresented voices in comedy through standup and sketch work. Ladies’ Night hosts one performance each month. The troupe’s spring schedule has yet to be announced.  

More information can be found on the Ladies’ Night Comedy Instagram. 

The University tWits Sketch Comedy Group 

The University tWits Comedy Group will open the spring semester with its annual themed show at 9 p.m. Jan. 31 with the location yet to be determined. Senior troupe member Adam Longstreth said that while the tradition only began a few years ago, the themed show easily became a troupe favorite.  

“All the sketches are set in one continuous location, so the whole show revolves around one big overarching plot with reoccurring characters,” Longstreth said. “It’s something we actually started my freshman year, and it's been one of our favorite shows to do every year, so, I’m excited for that.” 

The University tWits will also perform Feb. 28 and hold its senior show April 18. Information on times and locations has yet to be announced.  

Funny 501 

IU’s annual two-day comedy festival, Funny 501, features performances by each comedy troupe — Full Frontal, Backdoor, Boy in the Bubble, University tWits and Ladies’ Night. Previous festivals have included sets by alumni, including Boy in the Bubble alumnus and winner of the 15th Annual Bloomington Comedy Festival Joey Cerone. The festival also hosts other student groups like Midnight Snack and IUSTV’s only late-night comedy show, Not Too Late.  

The 2025 Funny 501 festival is scheduled for April 11-12. The festival is free but other information has yet to be announced. 

The Boy in the Bubble Comedy and Ladies’ Night did not respond to requests for comment by time of publication. 

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