Room 015 of the Fine Arts Building will be full of laughter as IU’s Backdoor Comedy performs its second show of the semester Saturday night.
Though IU is home to many comedy groups, Backdoor Comedy sets itself apart with its blend of both improv and sketch comedy. While many campus comedy groups will primarily feature one or the other, Backdoor Comedy tries to make both an integral part of its performance. But like any comedy group, Backdoor Comedy also has its own comedic style that makes it different.
“Backdoor, I'd say, there's a little bit of absurd twists, a little bit of referencing things going on, and then just a whole lot of trying to have as much fun as possible,” Logan Vaught, senior member of Backdoor Comedy, said.
Part of this absurdist humor that fans of the group love are the sketches that members of Backdoor Comedy write and then vote on together. Over the course of his four years with Backdoor Comedy, Vaught has had around 38 of his sketches make it into performances. Vaught’s inspiration for coming up with his sketches is his life and the world around him.
“I have a Notes app on my phone called sketch ideas, and whenever inspiration strikes me, whether I'm having a funny conversation with a friend, or I see a meme or I'm in the shower and I'm just thinking about what would be a funny sketch, I write it down,” Vaught said. “And then once I complete it, I'll read through it myself, make some edits and then put it into the pitch document for Backdoor so we can pitch it on that Wednesday.”
Improv will also be a big part of the upcoming performance. Backdoor Comedy always dedicates a portion of its performance to playing improv games, which typically allows the crowd to get more involved in the show.
“We're experimenting with new improv because I think we went a little stagnant with it the past semester or two, so we're going to try and, like, amp that up a little bit,” Leo Pasquinelli, a sophomore member of Backdoor Comedy, said.
Improv is typically a very team-dependent style of comedy. Backdoor Comedy is dedicated to strengthening team dynamic while working on the improv segment of its show.
“That's something that I think we've been trying to work on getting better on as a group,” junior member Ellie Brennan said. “It's just always fun to feel like you're kind of working and progressing on something, even if it's something that's like, you know, on the surface as silly as improv. Everything is a skill that you can hone.”
But typical sketches and improv games are not the only things that will be included in Backdoor Comedy’s show. The upcoming performance will also include a dance number in one of the sketches, written by Brennan.
“I'm very excited for the dancing sketch because I feel like this is the first time in a while that I've written something that I feel like I'm proud of,” Brennan said. “So, I'm excited to do that, and hopefully it'll go well.”
The dancing sketch and more can be seen at Backdoor Comedy’s performance at 9 p.m. Saturday in the Fine Arts Building 015. Open to both students and the public, the show is free to attend, and the group said it is always happy to see new faces in the audience.
“I think, personally, that there's just a very good energy in there,” Brennan said. “It's a very welcoming place. We would love to have anyone and meet people. I think it'll be a fun Saturday night.”
