Humorology, or "Humo" for short, is an annual juried musical/variety show that takes place at the Union Theater of the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The competition consists of six original mini musical comedies written, produced and performed by independent companies and overseen by a student-run executive board. Begun in 1947, Humorology is one of the oldest traditions at the UW–Madison.[1]
Humorology is a competition among mini-musical comedy shows. Each 18-minute show takes popular music and adapts it into a story with singing, dancing, and comedy. Each show is written, directed, choreographed, and performed by students and the sets and costumes are student-made.[2] Rehearsals begin in early October, when each cast prepares a nine-minute first half of their show to audition for the final show. Auditions take place in December when six casts are selected to move on to the final show, which is held in April in the Wisconsin Union Theater (Overture Center for the Arts 2013). In preparation for the final show, the remaining six casts lengthen their shows by nine minutes to produce an 18-minute mini-musical comedy. The six mini-musical comedies are performed over a series of three nights. On the final night of the show awards are given to the top three shows determined by a panel of judges. Additional "Caption" awards are given for Best Musical Number, Best Use of Theme, Best Female Performer, Best Male Performer, Best Dance Break, and Funniest Show.
Each Humo company consists of members of a UW–Madison fraternity teamed with members of a sorority. Individuals independent of the Greek system also participate. Nine companies and shows are created every year, but only six shows make it through auditions to the final performance in April.
Proceeds from Humorology performances are donated to several local Madison children's charities.[3] Some of the charities include the Boys and Girls Club, The Rainbow Project, and most recently the Respite Center.
In 2014 the fundraising structure of Humorology, Inc. was changed, with greater emphasis placed on the philanthropic aspect of the show. These changes brought the donations from a record low in 2013 to a record high in 2014. There was also a change in how the winning cast was chosen. Instead of the best show being selected, the best three shows were selected. Of the three casts picked, the winner was chosen based on the amount of funds the cast raised.
| Year | 1st Place | 2nd Place | 3rd Place | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Pi Beta Phi & Sigma Phi Epsilon | Delta Gamma & Acacia | Chi Omega & Tau Kappa Epsilon | |
| 2002 | Kappa Kappa Gamma & Acacia | Delta Gamma & Sigma Alpha Epsilon | Gamma Phi Beta & Sigma Phi Epsilon | |
| 2003 | Delta Gamma & Sigma Phi Epsilon | Gamma Phi Beta & Acacia | Alpha Phi, Zeta Beta Tau, & Sigma Phi | |
| 2004 | Delta Gamma & Delta Upsilon | Kappa Kappa Gamma & Sigma Phi Epsilon | Alpha Chi Omega & Acacia | |
| 2005 | Pi Beta Phi & Sigma Phi Epsilon | Alpha Chi Omega, Sigma Phi, & Sigma Pi | Delta Gamma & Pi Kappa Alpha (PIKE) | |
| 2006 | Delta Gamma & Sigma Pi, & Sigma Phi | Kappa Alpha Theta & Chi Psi (The Lodge) | Alpha Chi Omega & Sigma Phi Epsilon | |
| 2007 | Alpha Chi Omega & Delta Tau Delta, Alpha Gamma Rho & Alpha Epsilon Pi | Delta Gamma & Sigma Phi Epsilon | Kappa Kappa Gamma, Chi Psi, & Sigma Chi | |
| 2008 | Gamma Phi Beta, & Delta Tau Delta, & Alpha Gamma Rho, & Alpha Epsilon Pi | Delta Gamma & Delta Upsilon | Kappa Alpha Theta, Sigma Phi & Sigma Pi | |
| 2009 | Delta Gamma, & Delta Tau Delta, & Alpha Gamma Rho, & Alpha Epsilon Pi | Gamma Phi Beta & Sigma Phi Epsilon | Kappa Alpha Theta & Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) | |
| 2010 | Alpha Chi Omega & Sigma Phi Epsilon | Kappa Kappa Gamma & Alpha Epsilon Pi | Pi Beta Phi, & Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI), & Phi Kappa Tau | |
| 2011 | Delta Gamma & Sigma Phi Epsilon | Kappa Kappa Gamma, Alpha Gamma Rho, Chi Psi (The Lodge) & Delta Tau Delta | Alpha Chi Omega & Alpha Epsilon Pi | |
| 2012 | Gamma Phi Beta & Alpha Gamma Rho & Delta Tau Delta & Chi Psi (The Lodge) | Kappa Kappa Gamma & Sigma Phi Epsilon | Delta Gamma & Delta Upsilon & Kappa Sigma | |
| 2013 | Alpha Phi & Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) | Chi Omega, Alpha Epsilon Phi, Alpha Gamma Rho, Delta Tau Delta, & Chi Psi (The Lodge) | Pi Beta Phi, Theta Chi, & Chi Phi | |
| 2014 | Pi Beta Phi & Sigma Phi Epsilon | Kappa Alpha Theta & Chi Phi | Kappa Kappa Gamma & Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) | |
| 2015 | Delta Gamma & Friends | Alpha Epsilon Phi, Pi Kappa Alpha (PIKE), & Psi Upsilon | Kappa Kappa Gamma, Alpha Gamma Rho, Delta Tau Delta & Chi Psi (The Lodge) | |
| 2016 | Pi Beta Phi, Pi Kappa Alpha (PIKE), & Psi Upsilon | Alpha Epsilon Phi & Friends | Kappa Alpha Theta & Zeta Beta Tau & Delta Chi | |
| 2017 | Kappa Alpha Theta & Delta Tau Delta & The Lodge | Delta Gamma & Zeta Beta Tau | Pi Beta Phi, Theta Chi, & Sigma Phi | |
| 2018 | Alpha Epsilon Phi, Delta Tau Delta, & The Lodge | Alpha Chi Omega, Kappa Kappa Gamma, & Phi Gamma Delta | Kappa Alpha Theta | |
| 2019 | Alpha Epsilon Phi, Zeta Beta Tau, & Delta Chi | Alpha Chi Omega, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Acacia, & Beta Theta Pi | Alpha Phi, Delta Delta Delta, & Sigma Chi | |
| 2021 | Gamma Phi Beta, Beta Theta Pi | |||
| 2022 | Kappa Alpha Theta, Chi Psi (The Lodge), & Acacia | Alpha Phi, Phi Gamma Delta | Alpha Xi Delta, Zeta Beta Tau, Delta chi | |
| 2023 | Gamma Phi Beta, Delta Gamma, Phi Gamma Delta | Phi Delta Theta, Pi Beta Phi, Sigma Phi | Alpha Sigma Phi, Kappa Alpha Theta, Tau Kappa Epsilon |