What is midnight comedy?

The Midnight Comedy Troupe is Cornell's resident dark sketch comedy group! Each semester we write, act, and direct an all-original sketch comedy show.

Most of the semester we’re pitching ideas, writing sketches, doing table reads, critiquing each other’s work, and revising. Then we select the sketches we’d like to perform and take the rest of the semester to rehearse. At the end of it we put on our show. Here and there we’ll devote some time to shooting a video sketch.

What Does A Typical Semester Look Like?

What is dark comedy?

According to Monty Python member and former Cornell professor, John Cleese, dark comedy is, “[making] jokes about things that people are a little bit anxious about. Like death, or sex. If you can make a joke in an area where there’s anxiety, a little bit of taboo, then you get huge laughs.”

Wow! Thank you, famously respected comedian John Cleese for directly supporting our troupe and mission and goal and all of our actions going forward! I can’t believe you would actually do that!

You don’t have to be the loudest voice in the room; in fact, we’d prefer it if you weren’t.

Anyone can be funny.

Our members are team players, and above all, committed. Writing, acting, directing—you can pick all that up later.

Want to join?

What do auditions look like?

We hold auditions every Fall, the week after Club-Fest.

Our auditions are a chance for you to share your acting talent and comedic knack. More than anything, though, we want to get to know you! More questions? Reach out through our Contact page.