York’s Sketch Comedy Club, while relatively unknown, is currently making big plans for the year including a performance during Fine Arts Week.

Absent from York for two years, Sketch Comedy returned to York last year and instantly gained an impressive following. However, they were not able to put on any shows during Fine Arts Week, as was the tradition for the club in previous years.

“It was actually good material, we just didn’t have enough time to submit it to the administration for their input,” said history teacher and club sponsor Josh Green. “There wasn’t enough turnaround time, so we weren’t able to make any adjustments in time for that Fine Arts Week. We know now what the line is regarding time.”

Now having learned the necessary time to set up a Fine Arts Week performance, the club is in the process of making sure they are ready when the time comes.

“Currently our main milestone for sketch is a performance for Fine Arts Week, which is coming up after winter break,” said senior and club founder Calvin Shollenberger. “Hopefully we’ll have two or three periods where we can do some shows in either the black box or the auditorium. Right now we’re basically trying to write a whole show that would be about 30 minutes long.”

Although performing during Fine Arts Week is the club’s main goal this year, they also hope to reorganize themselves to create a more efficient and practical club.

“I think it’s more organized than last year,” said senior and club founder Dan McNamara. “Last year we met really late and we didn’t have anything written down. Now the ball’s kinda rolling and we’re able to use some [sketches] from last year. So I think we’re really going to have something good this year.”

The necessity to stay organized is not only understood by the club members, but by the club sponsor as well.

“I think that starting with a solid plan and knowing who each member is, led to us being way more prepared earlier in the year,” said Green. “This gives us the ability to have this actually be a functioning club. When you have a room full of people who are funny, they’re not always the most focused. And that includes myself.”

The club is also trying to expand their activities beyond just a Fine Arts Week performance. They’re doing this through various improv exercises during meetings to help improve their comedy, as well as hearing real life perspectives on the comedy industry.

“We’re also bringing in guest speakers outside York,” said Green. “They can to help us transition this club into something that creates sketches, but also looks at how to better prepare students who are interested in a career in comedy in some way. Whether that’s writing sketches, or performing stand up comedy, people are aspiring to go on things like SNL or things of those avenues. We’re not just focusing on one thing.”

Regarding performances outside of Fine Arts week, the club is not likely to focus heavily on other venues. However, they do have options if they decide to create additional performances.

“We can always do stuff at Fitz’s Spare Keys,” said Shollenberger. “I talked to Mr. Gemco a couple of weeks ago and he said we could do an Amatuer Musicians and Sketch Comedy collaboration, so that’s always a possibility.”

With clear goals in mind for this year, Sketch Comedy is moving forward and hoping to create a successful comedy presence at York.

“We’ve had some spotty attendance, but hopefully things will level out,” said Shollenberger. “I think everyone that’s going to show up is here now. Hopefully this year it will stay more steady, and we can have some more powerful comedy.”