Lore

a52f24_811db943519e4747b1862facda4b467f_mv2 copy.jpg

c1d69e_4b16ea725d8549c9a77a3a14c100148c_mv2 copy.jpg

c1d69e_40d46e6c3aef426ba261ae09f3fb43ea_mv2 copy.jpg

c1d69e_5895221aeb524dcda3c11b4e95a1623f_mv2 copy.jpg

a52f24_0b7bf7947e014a2c83ddb8fd20244516_mv2_d_2048_1536_s_2 copy.jpg

a52f24_512f0b93707441f08388a2c7bb911771_mv2 copy.jpg

c1d69e_b35b6d9f034f44209b324ca5be4d61a3_mv2 copy.jpg

c1d69e_91575c1748ab4f81a216daf6a6c7c636_mv2 copy.jpg

c1d69e_421f8c54ffd34d6aba040257510b32bc_mv2 copy.jpg

a52f24_19d4304f8586448f9426f62f042a6aec_mv2 copy.jpg

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 New York City venues including Upright Citizens Brigade theater. 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. One of our alums, Rebecca Shaw, writes and co-creates the show new show Adults on FX. The rest of us become lawyers or something.

In the News

YDN

Red Hot Poker looks for niche in Yale comedy

Yale Daily News
YOUTUBE

Red Hot Poker at graduation

YouTube
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!