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 students 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. 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. The winner of the first show in March 1947 was Sigma Nu which performed a minstrel show.
For its first twenty years, the event's main beneficiary was The Capital Times' Kiddie Camp for children with rheumatic fever. 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. Next, the event raised money for international student scholarships.
Humorology ceased to exist after 1970 due to a lack of interest. 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. Humorology incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1993 and is Wisconsin's largest student-led nonprofit organization. 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. 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.
Philanthropy Proceeds from Humorology are donated to local children's charities, with a different charity being selected each year. 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 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
Show winners Year 1st place 2nd place 3rd place1947Sigma NuKappa Kappa GammaDelta Delta Delta and Theta Delta Chi 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 Kappa Kappa Gamma, Chi Psi, and Sigma Chi 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 Chi2017 Kappa Alpha Theta, Delta Tau Delta, and Chi PsiDelta Gamma and Zeta Beta TauPi Beta Phi, Theta Chi, and Sigma Phi 2018Alpha Epsilon Phi, Delta Tau Delta, and Chi PsiAlpha Chi Omega, Kappa Kappa Gamma, and Phi Gamma DeltaKappa Alpha Theta2019Alpha Epsilon Phi, Zeta Beta Tau, and Delta ChiAlpha Chi Omega, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Acacia, and Beta Theta PiAlpha Phi, Delta Delta Delta, and Sigma Chi 2021Gamma Phi Beta, Beta Theta Pi2022Kappa Alpha Theta, Chi Psi, and AcaciaAlpha Phi and Phi Gamma DeltaAlpha Xi Delta, Zeta Beta Tau, and Delta Chi2023Gamma Phi Beta, Delta Gamma, and Phi Gamma DeltaPhi Delta Theta, Pi Beta Phi, and Sigma PhiAlpha Sigma Phi, Kappa Alpha Theta, and Tau Kappa Epsilon2024Pi Beta Phi, and Pi Kappa AlphaBeta Theta Pi, Delta Gamma, and Gamma Phi BetaAlpha Xi Delta and Phi Delta Theta2025Alpha Chi Omega, Kappa Kappa Gamma and Phi Gamma DeltaDelta Tau Delta and Pi Beta PhiAlpha Xi Delta, Delta Chi, Theta Delta Chi, and Alpha Sigma Phi2026 Alpha Xi Delta, Chi Omega, Delta Tau Delta, and Sigma PiAlpha Chi Omega, Tau Kappa Epsilon, and Delta ChiGamma Phi Beta, Chi Psi, and Theta Delta Chi
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.
References
External links Official Humorology website