A Look Inside The Suspenders— USC’s Sketch Comedy Troupe
By Danielle Collins ‘20
Need an end-of-the-semester pick me up? Head over to The Suspenders show this weekend and laugh ‘til you drop! The Suspenders is USC’s sketch comedy troupe, and the show will feature original skits written, produced, and performed by USC students. Tickets can be reserved here. Keep reading for an inside look inside The Suspenders!
Who better to tell more about The Suspenders than two Suspenders themselves? I asked resident comedians Sophia Werthmann (‘20, first year Suspender) and Evan Macedo (‘20, second year Suspender) some questions about The Suspenders:
Danielle Collins: Let’s start with the basics: What is The Suspenders?
Sophia Werthmann: The most wonderful sketch comedy group around! We write sketches throughout the semester and from that we create our show.
Evan Macedo: The Suspenders is a sketch comedy troupe. Everyone in the troupe writes and most of us also perform. We spend a couple months writing original skits (like SNL or Key & Peele) and giving each other feedback. Then we put on a fully produced show of some of our favorite sketches, with props, set, and costume.
DC: What is your role in The Suspenders?
SW: Writer/Actor.
EM: I am a writer, performer, and co-head of marketing.
DC: Why did you get involved with this troupe?
SW: I just needed an excuse to buy suspenders. But mostly because comedy is important! And it’s exciting to create your own work.
EM: I knew I wanted to be in some sort of comedy troupe here on campus and I always loved sketches, so I signed up for the audition and decided to test my luck. The Suspenders was the only formal sketch troupe at the time, and their performances that they showcased for the new students were so funny. As soon as I walked into the audition, I knew I loved the warmth that the group gave, and I have been fortunate enough to have been receiving that warmth for over a year now.
DC: What’s your favorite thing about The Suspenders?
SW: The people, by far. Again, the outfits too.
EM: What I love about Suspenders is the support, both professionally and personally. Everyone is extremely willing to help give notes for your writing, and the director is so encouraging for our development process. On the personal level, everyone treats the troupe as a family, and if someone is having a bad day everyone is there for him/her. It’s really great being so close with people you work with.
DC: How about your favorite thing about sketch comedy in general?
SW: My favorite thing about sketch comedy is the amount of possibilities there are when you create a character and write a sketch. You never stop discovering.
EM: What I love about sketch comedy is the permission to imagine the ridiculous. Sketches are (usually) longer than a single joke, but shorter than a play, so it is perfect for developing characters with becoming gratuitous. Additionally, it is so interesting finding slight idiosyncrasies in the world and highlighting and expanding them on stage. It’s always great to laugh.
DC: I’m going to the show this weekend— what can I expect?
SW: Laughter! Surprises, a lot of good costumes, and some very interesting characters.
EM: This show is filled with all types of humor: irreverence, satire, slapstick, high brow, low brow. It’ll be a fun hour and a half of people showing the wackiest things they can imagine.
DC: How can USC students get involved with The Suspenders?
SW: Come audition to be an actor, or just submit writing samples to be a writer!
EM: The suspenders hold auditions once a year at the beginning of the fall semester. People can submit as a writer or a performer/writer. We are always looking for designers to help us out with future shows though.
Want more Suspenders? Go check out their show this weekend! You do not want to miss this. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-suspenders-present-family-game-night-tickets-32550700020.
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