For all eager stand up performers, sketch writers, and enthusiasts of the satire form, it is time to rejoice as a new club has emerged at Bryn Mawr College this semester.
The idea for a comedy collective for Mawrters took root last year when its founders, Alex Kent ‘25 and Emma Meyers ‘27, wanted to create a space that included more opportunities for comedy including stand up, improv, and a hub of satirical pieces similar to those of Haverford’s “The Consensus” and Swarthmore’s “The Fire Moose.” Kent always had an interest in comedy and creative writing but gained a lot of experience in performing in her college years. Meyers has been doing open mics from high school and started to book professional stand up shows last summer. They met and connected last year in their shared interest in comedy.
Kent mentioned that being friends with Emma has helped her “grow a lot as a comedian” and with her work. “I feel like we have a really great creative partnership. We’re able to go back and forth.” Meyers and Kent have a running joke as Meyers calls, “The Emma and Alex Hangout for Less than Two Hours and Don’t Write a Sketch Challenge.”
They hope to carry the same dynamic as they lead the newly formed Athena Night Live (ANL) along with its comedy publication, The Laboratory. Although they are two of the same branches under the umbrella of Athena Night Live, ANL is more performance-based whereas the latter is strictly writing-based. The club held an interest meeting and an audition early on in the fall semester, where auditionees were given a sketch to read if they were auditioning to perform or they could propose pitches of sketches if they were auditioning to write. Currently, the club consists of eleven members with the majority being evenly split among freshmen and seniors.
Although Alex and Emma have found their footing now as president and vice president respectively, it was not without obstacles. They had to work with a meager amount for their budget during what they dubbed “frugal fall” where the Self-Government Association’s COVID budget ran out, significantly decreasing the budget granted to clubs after the loss of the COVID surplus. Being a new club, they don’t have as many props or materials as they would like but they were able to appeal for a little more funding thanks to their treasurer, Audrey Hinsdale ‘25. They are hopeful for an increase in next semester’s funding.
So far, ANL is planning on having workshops for its members on stand-up writing and routines leading up to a small-scale stand up night before a big final show of sketches at the end of the year. The dates are yet to be arranged, but Kent and Meyers said to keep an eye out on their Instagram where they make short comedic posts on top of updates. Any Bryn Mawr students are encouraged to submit to “The Laboratory” and the submissions’ portal will be open soon.
Although they have reached the limit for members for this semester, students are welcome to reach out to the Athena Night Live’s executive board through the club’s Instagram (@bmc_anl) for inquiry.
