The Wharton Comedy Club started in 2002 as a way to allow students to try out standup comedy, perform for their Wharton classmates, and raise money for local organizations. Originally planned as a one time event, interest from performers and classmates led to the formation of the club and 3-4 sold out shows per year. Wharton Comedy has now sold over 5,000 tickets and donated over $15,000 to charity.
Students write and perform their comedy based on varying topics, including school, recruiting, dating and IKEA. Each show has also featured a special performance from a professor or administrator, and of course a headliner performance from a NYC-based comedian. Our past headliners include Comedy Central regulars: Todd Barry, Christian Finnegan, Jim Gaffigan, Bill Burr, Ted Alexandro and Greg Giraldo.
If you are thinking about writing and performing, the club is free to join, and you can appoint yourself the Vice President of whatever you want. Email Shashi, Ari or Howard to get involved!
Proceeds from our shows benefit several non-profit organizations. WIVP, a non-profit, student-run organization helping non-profit organizations around the world, Philabundance, a local organization that delivers surplus restaurant food to homeless shelters, and Rebuilding Together, a student run organization that aims to prevent homelessness by rebuilding homes of low income residents in the Philadelphia Community. Wharton Comedy has raised over $15,000 for these organizations.
Wharton Comedy's founders have since graduated from Wharton, but they are still making people laugh: Ben Relles and Kofi Kankam.
