Humorology
{{Short description|Nonprofit in Madison, Wisconsin, US}}
{{infobox organization
| formation = 1947
| nickname = Humo
| status = Charity
| purpose = Charitable fundraising
| headquarters = 333 East Campus Mall Room 184
| location_city = Madison, Wisconsin
| location_country = United States
| website = {{url|https://www.humorology.org/}}
}}
Humorology, Inc., also called Humo, is a Wisconsin nonprofit organization and an annual fraternity and sorority philanthropic event at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in Madison, Wisconsin. Annually, the nonprofit hosts a competition of original mini musical comedies written, produced, and performed by studebts and overseen by a student-run executive board. Begun in 1947, Humorology is one of the oldest traditions at the university.
History
Founded in 1947, Humorology is annual fundraising event where University of Wisconsin–Madison fraternities and sororities present short musical comedy shows.{{Cite web |title=Humorology |url=http://www.humorology.org/ |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=Humorology |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Stofflet |first=John |date=April 4, 2022 |title=Humorology celebrates 75 years of entertaining audiences on campus |url=https://www.nbc15.com/2022/04/15/humorology-celebrates-75-years-entertaining-audiences-campus/ |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=WMTV |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=http://www.humorology.org/about-us.html |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=Humorology |language=en}} Originally, the shows were sponsored by the Inter-Fraternity Council and the Pan-Hellenic Association and were akin to vaudeville acts, filled with slapstick, lampoons, and clowning.{{Cite news |last=Sorensen |first=Sterling |date=1953-03-14 |title='Humorology' is a Whirlwind of Fun; Proceeds Aid Kiddie Camp |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-humorology-is-a-whir/173404990/ |access-date=2025-05-29 |work=The Capital Times |location=Madison, Wisconsin |pages=16 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |last=Sorensen |first=Sterling |date=1952-03-15 |title='Humorology' Pays Its 'Repsects' to Evernything with Expect Buffoonery |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-humorology-pays-its/173405639/ |access-date=2025-05-29 |work=The Capital Times |location=Madison, Wisconsin |pages=5 |via=Newspapers.com}} The winner of the first show in March 1947 was Sigma Nu which performed a minstrel show.{{Cite news |date=1947-03-31 |title=Sigma Nu Wins First Place in Rollicking Benefit Comedy Show |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-sigma-nu-wins-first-pl/173408151/ |access-date=2025-05-29 |work=The Capital Times |location=Madison, Wisconsin |pages=7 |via=Newspapers.com}}
For its first twenty years, the event's main beneficiary was the The Capital Times' Kiddie Camp for children with rheumatic fever.{{Cite web |title=Humorology |url=https://www.alumnipark.com/exhibits/featured/humorology/ |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=Alumni Park |publisher=Wisconsin Alumni Association |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |date=1968-03-02 |title='Humorology' Planners Learn Who They Help |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-humorology-planners/173406957/ |access-date=2025-05-29 |work=The Capital Times |location=Madison, Wisconsin |pages=6 |via=Newspapers.com}} Humorology raised $1,909 in 1951 and $2,050 in 1952 for the camp. By 1963, the Humorology had given more than $16,400 to Kiddie Camp.{{Cite news |date=1963-11-16 |title='Humorology' Aids Kiddies with Check for $1,036.18; 17th Year of Camp Support |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-humorology-aids-kidd/173406404/ |access-date=2025-05-29 |work=The Capital Times |location=Madison, Wisconsin |pages=3 |via=Newspapers.com}} Next, the event raised money for international student scholarships.
Humorology ceased to exist after 1970 due to a lack of interest.{{Cite news |date=1979-02-23 |title=Humorology Revival Helps Kiddie Camp |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-humorology-revival-hel/173407404/ |access-date=2025-05-29 |work=The Capital Times |location=Madison, Wisconsin |pages=23 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=1970-03-06 |title=Humolorgy '70 Set to Go |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-humolorgy-70-set-to-g/173410766/ |access-date=2025-05-29 |work=The Capital Times |location=Madison, Wisconsin |pages=29 |via=Newspapers.com |quote=This and other newspaper article prove that Humorology took place in 1970.}}{{Cite news |date=1969-03-01 |title='Humorology' Production to Aid Kiddie Camp Again |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-humorology-productio/173410282/ |access-date=2025-05-29 |work=The Capital Times |location=Madison, Wisconsin |pages=3 |via=Newspapers.com |quote=This and other newspaper article show that Humorology took place in 1969 but not in 1970.}} After a hiatus, it was revived in 1979, and again supported Kiddie Camp. Now, Humorology supports a different local charity each year. Between 1947 and 2023, it raised $1.5 million for various groups.
One of the University of Wisconsin–Madison's oldest traditions, Humorology or Humo overseen by a ten-member student executive board.{{Cite web |title=History of Humorology {{!}} Ask Flamingle |url=https://www.uwalumni.com/news/history-of-humorology/ |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=Wisconsin Alumni Association |language=en}} Humorology incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1993 and is Wisconsin's largest student-led nonprofit organization.{{Cite web |title=Humorology Inc |url=https://www.guidestar.org/profile/39-1755529 |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=GuideStar}}{{Cite web |last=Hermansen |first=Mia |date=December 8, 2023 |title=People of UW: Humorology executive board member talks raising money through performance |url=https://badgerherald.com/features/2023/12/08/people-of-uw-humorology-executive-board-member-talks-raising-money-through-performance/ |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=The Badger Herald}} Its mission is "to promote community engagement and philanthropic service through creativity and dedication".
Performance
The Humorology show consists of six original twenty-minute shows that adapt popular music and into a story with singing, dancing, and comedy. Students write, direct, choreograph, and perform the show; student also make the sets and costumes.{{Cite web |last=Saxena |first=Vidushi |date=2016-04-07 |title=UW Humorology strikes balance between friendship, fun, philanthropy |url=https://badgerherald.com/news/2016/04/07/uw-humorology-strikes-balance-between-friendship-fun-philanthropy |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=The Badger Herald}}{{Cite web |last=Price |first=Jenny |date=Spring 2012 |title=Humorology |url=https://onwisconsin.uwalumni.com/humorology/ |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=On Wisconsin |language=en-US}} Each Humorology company consists of members of a University of Wisconsin–Madison fraternity teamed with members of a sorority. Individuals who are not part of the Greek system can also participate. Around 1,000 students and 28 fraternities and sororities participate in the philanthropic event annually.
All fraternities and sororities are eligible to audition in November for Humorology, but only six acts make it to the final performance in April. The six mini-musical comedies are performed over a series of three nights. On the final night, a panel of judges presents selects the top three acts. The winner is the act what has raised the most money.{{Cite web |last=Courtright |first=Allison |date=May 2, 2023 |title=Humorology raises $508,000 for the Canopy Center |url=https://badgerherald.com/news/campus/2023/05/02/humorology-raises-508000-for-the-canopy-center/ |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=The Badger Herald}}
Philanthropy
Proceeds from Humorology are donated to local children's charities, with a different charity being selected each year.{{Cite web |last=Charney |first=Elisabeth |date=April 28, 2022 |title=Humorology presents ‘The Way Back Home’ |url=https://www.dailycardinal.com/article/2022/04/humorology-presents-the-way-back-home |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=The Daily Cardinal |language=en}} The event has raised more than $2.4 million from its founding in 1947 through 2023.
Some recent beneficiaries of the Humorology include:
- Badger Childhood Cancer Network $405,000
- Blessings In A Backpack $341,000{{Cite web |last=Devorkin |first=Zoe |date=2020-05-04 |title=‘Humorology’ Raises $335,000 for Blessings in a Backpack |url=https://www.blessingsinabackpack.org/humorology-check-presentation/ |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=Blessings in a Backpack |language=en-US}}
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County $145,000
- Boys and Girls Club of Dane County and the Dane County chapter of United Cerebral Palsy $185,000
- Canopy Center of Dane County $508,000
- Logan's Hearts and Smiles $490,000
- Neighborhood House $234,500
- Respite Center at RISE Wisconsin $441,000
- The Rainbow Project $195,000{{Cite web |title=The Rainbow Project Receives an Astounding $195,000 from UW Humorology |url=https://www.therainbowproject.net/news/the-rainbow-project-receive-donation-from-uw-humorology |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=The Rainbow Project, Children & Family Counseling and Community Resource Clinic |language=en-US}}
Show winners
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! 1st Place ! 2nd Place ! 3rd Place |
|---|
| 1947 |
| 2001
| Pi Beta Phi and Sigma Phi Epsilon | Delta Gamma and Acacia | Chi Omega and Tau Kappa Epsilon |
| 2002
| Kappa Kappa Gamma and Acacia | Delta Gamma and Sigma Alpha Epsilon | Gamma Phi Beta and Sigma Phi Epsilon |
| 2003
| Delta Gamma and Sigma Phi Epsilon | Gamma Phi Beta and Acacia | Alpha Phi, Zeta Beta Tau, and Sigma Phi |
| 2004
| Delta Gamma and Delta Upsilon | Kappa Kappa Gamma and Sigma Phi Epsilon | Alpha Chi Omega and Acacia |
| 2005
| Pi Beta Phi and Sigma Phi Epsilon | Alpha Chi Omega, Sigma Phi, and Sigma Pi | Delta Gamma and Pi Kappa Alpha |
| 2006
| Delta Gamma, Sigma Pi, and Sigma Phi | Kappa Alpha Theta and Chi Psi | Alpha Chi Omega and Sigma Phi Epsilon |
| 2007
| Alpha Chi Omega, Delta Tau Delta, Alpha Gamma Rho, and Alpha Epsilon Pi | Delta Gamma and Sigma Phi Epsilon |
| 2008
| Gamma Phi Beta, Delta Tau Delta, Alpha Gamma Rho, and Alpha Epsilon Pi | Delta Gamma and Delta Upsilon | Kappa Alpha Theta, Sigma Phi, and Sigma Pi |
| 2009
| Delta Gamma, Delta Tau Delta, Alpha Gamma Rho, and Alpha Epsilon Pi | Gamma Phi Beta and Sigma Phi Epsilon | Kappa Alpha Theta and Phi Gamma Delta |
| 2010
| Alpha Chi Omega and Sigma Phi Epsilon | Kappa Kappa Gamma and Alpha Epsilon Pi | Pi Beta Phi, Phi Gamma Delta , and Phi Kappa Tau |
| 2011
| Delta Gamma and Sigma Phi Epsilon | Kappa Kappa Gamma, Alpha Gamma Rho, Chi Psi, and Delta Tau Delta | Alpha Chi Omega and Alpha Epsilon Pi |
| 2012
| Gamma Phi Beta, Alpha Gamma Rho, Delta Tau Delta, and Chi Psi | Kappa Kappa Gamma and Sigma Phi Epsilon | Delta Gamma, Delta Upsilon, and Kappa Sigma |
| 2013
| Alpha Phi and Phi Gamma Delta | Chi Omega, Alpha Epsilon Phi, Alpha Gamma Rho, Delta Tau Delta, and Chi Psi | Pi Beta Phi, Theta Chi, and Chi Phi |
| 2014
| Pi Beta Phi and Sigma Phi Epsilon | Kappa Alpha Theta and Chi Phi | Kappa Kappa Gamma and Phi Gamma Delta |
| 2015
| Delta Gamma and Friends | Alpha Epsilon Phi, Pi Kappa Alpha, and Psi Upsilon | Kappa Kappa Gamma, Alpha Gamma Rho, Delta Tau Delta, and Chi Psi |
| 2016
| Pi Beta Phi, Pi Kappa Alpha, and Psi Upsilon | Alpha Epsilon Phi and Friends | Kappa Alpha Theta, Zeta Beta Tau, and Delta Chi |
| 2017
| Kappa Alpha Theta, Delta Tau Delta, and Chi Psi |Delta Gamma and Zeta Beta Tau |Pi Beta Phi, Theta Chi, and Sigma Phi |
| 2018
|Alpha Epsilon Phi, Delta Tau Delta, and Chi Psi |Alpha Chi Omega, Kappa Kappa Gamma, and Phi Gamma Delta |Kappa Alpha Theta |
| 2019
|Alpha Epsilon Phi, Zeta Beta Tau, and Delta Chi |Alpha Chi Omega, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Acacia, and Beta Theta Pi |Alpha Phi, Delta Delta Delta, and Sigma Chi |
| 2021
|Gamma Phi Beta, Beta Theta Pi | | |
| 2022
|Kappa Alpha Theta, Chi Psi, and Acacia |Alpha Phi and Phi Gamma Delta |Alpha Xi Delta, Zeta Beta Tau, and Delta Chi |
| 2023
|Gamma Phi Beta, Delta Gamma, and Phi Gamma Delta |Phi Delta Theta, Pi Beta Phi, and Sigma Phi |Alpha Sigma Phi, Kappa Alpha Theta, and Tau Kappa Epsilon |
Notable people
Television producer, director, and screenwriter Steven Levitan started his career in comedy working on shows for Humorology. Michael Begler and Jack Amiel met when working on Humorology and are now a screenwriting team for television.{{Cite web |title=Jack Amiel & Michael Begler Biography |url=https://madeinatlantis.com/filmmakers/amiel_begler_bio.htm |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=madeinatlantis.com}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.humorology.org/ Official Humorology website]
{{University of Wisconsin–Madison}}