UNC alumni start 'Hamilton 100' improv group in Los Angeles

The work that began in room 100 of Hamilton Hall has continued on the other side of the country.

Named for the classroom in which the Chapel Hill Players — fondly known as CHiPs, a UNC improv group — performs, Hamilton 100 is a Los Angeles-based sketch comedy group composed of three UNC alumni.

“We wanted the name to be an homage to where we all came from,” said Mary Sasson, a member of the group and a 2009 UNC graduate.

While at UNC, the group’s members met while performing with CHiPs.

Ben Greene, founder of Hamilton 100, said that, like most of the other members, his interest in sketch comedy was piqued during his time in Chapel Hill.

“UNC ended up being a weird sort of training ground in writing sketches,” he said.

“We all wrote the first sketches we had ever written when we were on CHiPS.”

Now, in addition to their work in Hamilton 100, they all take classes at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in Los Angeles.
Kristopher Wile, founder of Aureate Films, has produced many sketches for Hamilton 100.

Though not an official Hamilton 100 member, Wile is also a UNC alum.

He graduated early and moved to Los Angeles in 2009 when the University’s communications studies department led him to an internship.

“I realized it was better to graduate early and get that opportunity than finish up a couple of classes,” he said.
Wile said producing web content could be good for the group’s future.

“Take that, and you might get enough attention for a TV show,” he said.

The site’s sketch content includes a single mother trying to communicate with her children and a girls’ slumber party gone awry.

Greene said that the group’s ties to UNC distinguish it from others.

“It colors our identity with the group more than anything,” he said.
Greene also said that his years at UNC provided him with unique opportunities to develop his comedy.

“We had all these incredible comedians coming down every year,” he said.

“Their message wasn’t what you normally hear — it was if you keep putting things out there, it’s not impossible to break into Hollywood.”

In this spirit, the group uses its website to post videos of their sketches and build an audience.

Sasson said Hamilton 100’s website gives the group more freedom and power to share their work.

“You don’t have to wait for anyone to give you the go ahead — it’s all on your own initiative,” she said.

Greene said Hamilton 100 would not be the same without its members’ work in CHiPs and their time at UNC.

“We all believe in CHiPs so much, and UNC is a place were all of us could get an education in comedy,” he said. “I have a lot of Tar Heel pride.”

Contact the Arts Editor at arts@dailytarheel.com.