Lore

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Long History of Sketch Comedy

Red Hot Poker was founded in 1855 and has been operational ever since, except for a short break for the Civil War. In 2003, RHP had its first recorded performance.

RHP has a long history of performing sketch, having frequented comedy festivals such as ComFest at Skidmore and performed at various venues in New York City. More recently, we have transferred our sketches online which can be viewed on our Youtube. Some may say we peaked after winning "Best Comedic Short" in the 2018 New York Independent Film Festival.

Our alumni have pursued various artistic careers, from writing professionally for shows like Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show, to acting on Broadway and on screen. The rest of us become lawyers or something.

In the News

YDN

Red Hot Poker looks for niche in Yale comedy

Yale Daily News
FIZZ

Red Hot Poker voted second most fuckable comedy group on campus

Fizz
The New Yorker

The Comedy Writers Who Try to Make Cuomo Cool

New Yorker
YDN

Red Hot Poker moves end-of-year show to YouTube

Yale Daily News
The Tab

Red Hot Poker filmed a Harvard prank music video

The Tab
The Saratogian

There’s something funny going on at Skidmore

The Saratogian
Las Culturistas

Bowen Yang — “Red Hot Poker? Red Hot Poker.”

Las Culturistas
YDN

Improv and comedy groups on campus look for first years to say ‘Yes! And…’ join this fall

Yale Daily News
YDN

“No, but…”

Yale Daily News
YDN

PROFILE: Chesed Chap ’25 on finding the funny

Yale Daily News

Romeo and You-liet
The Yale Cabaret, a performance venue and collective of Yale David Geffen School of Drama Students, collaborated with RHP on a devised comedic adaptation of Romeo and Juliet.
Red Hot Pussy Jam
The Yale Alley Cats, a world-renowned a cappella singing group from Yale University founded in 1943, collaborated with RHP to create the variety special joint acapella and comedy show, Red Hot Pussy Jam.
Recruitment Show
RHP and 5H follow the same tap timeline so you’ll likely find us joining up at the beginning of every year to continue the sketch comedy legacy!