Suffolk University’s sketch comedy club Who’s Askin’ has been bringing Saturday Night Live to Keches Room, free to all guests with live comedy, music and sketches. This semester, the crew of comics are excited to foster the creativity and eccentricity of the club.
The student-lead club meets every Tuesday and Thursday during activities period. These college comedians are triple threats— writing, directing and starring in their own sketches— bringing a refreshed sketch comedy to both Boston and Suffolk.
Senior Killian Maree, an English major at Suffolk, got promoted to president of Who’s Askin’ in the spring. This year, Maree’s presidential focus is on the organization and efficiency of the club, allowing the club to have a show and new musical guest once a month.
Maree and his e-board have also implemented a new schedule to group meetings, allowing for even more collaboration and innovation.
“Tuesdays we are doing a group writing session, where we write two categories: current events and what is happening this season. We combine those categories and get to work writing the sketches as a group,” said Maree. “On Thursdays we do pitch days, so anyone can bring in a pitch idea they’ve been working on and we’ll all read it together.”
Senior undergraduate law student Sophia Barker joined Who’s Askin’ her sophomore year at Suffolk, though her beginning is slightly unconventional compared to most.
“My mom actually sent me a screenshot of the club’s instagram saying that they were having tryouts that day,” said Barker.
At the time, Barker was on the women’s soccer team and had film during activities period, hindering her from being involved on campus. After a successful talk with her coach, she was able to switch her film period and join Who’s Askin’, finding her corner of Suffolk where she could be creative and experimental.
For both Barker and Maree, the club has proven fruitful in not only being a creative outlet, but creating lasting, close-knit friendships.
“I think Suffolk is a unique school where it’s harder to make friends because you’re in the city. Joining a club has given me all of my friends that I have now,” said Maree.
Barker shares a similar sentiment to Maree, having joined the club in hopes of branching out and trying something new. Though it was daunting at first as a sophomore, Barker quickly realized the welcoming, encouraging culture of the group. Whether you’re a writer, comedian or simply wanting to try something new, there’s a place for everyone.
“There’s all different levels and roles you can excel in. I didn’t even write my first sketch until my second year,” said Barker. “Writing isn’t easy, there are a lot of components, but the club has always been supportive. There’s a role for everyone. If you want to be pushed, you will be, but if you want to be in your comfort zone, that’s fine too. It’s a club with a goal, but also good people.”
The goal of the club is to be a fun, inclusive environment while also putting on professional comedy shows. The shows are over an hour long, jam packed with live sketches, recorded skits, improv and musical guests at intermission. The group has even reached out to other Boston universities to join the shows, showcasing talent from college students all around the city.
“Going into my junior year, we started doing musical guests. We included the jazz band and bands from both on campus and Berklee. We also worked with sketch groups from other universities like Boston University, as well as our own Seriously Bent group,” said Barker.
The musical guests have given the club an “SNL vibe,” challenging students to be show-ready under pressure while being able to enjoy a break in the middle and listen to some music.
Show days are tangible validation of the work the group puts into their comedy. Thursday nights before show night, the group will book study rooms, run lines and try to be as polished and off book as possible. After having read the scripts 20 to 50 times, the humor can become stale. Show days are a reminder of what it’s all for.
“Being up in front of a big crowd is so exciting,” said Barker. “It can be nerve-racking, but then you look out and see friends and family and you’re reminded what it’s all for. My favorite part is watching my friend’s reactions to the jokes and work we’ve put into the show. It’s always such a high energy night.”
To be involved in the magic, students interested in comedy can try out to be part of the group’s fun.
The next Who’s Askin’ comedy show will be Oct. 3 at 8 p.m. at Suffolk University’s Keches Room in Sargent Hall including musical guest Cut The Kids In Half.
