False Profits host first show of the semester

Senior Hannah Jones came to UNC looking to do comedy.

But after mixing up the audition date for Chapel Hill Players, otherwise known as CHiPs, during her first semester, she thought she missed her only chance.

“It was weird to me that there was only one comedy troupe,” Jones said.

Luckily, fate was on her side.

Shortly after missing the CHiPs audition, she was in the Student Union and saw auditions for the newly formed False Profits, a comedy troupe centered around stand-up, improvisation and sketch comedy, were happening in an hour.

Jones then auditioned and subsequently found her home with the brand new group, False Profits.

“I just ended up really clicking with the people there,” she said.

She currently serves as publicity chairperson, which the troupe calls an agent.

“They really became my best friends and family,” she said.

Since it was all so new, Jones said the people holding the auditions seemed to be as nervous as those auditioning.

False Profits is divided into two groups — the Disciples and the Profits.

Students first audition to be a Disciple on the incubator team in order to learn and be coached in the forms of stand-up, sketch and improv comedy.

However, after their first semester with the Disciples, students are allowed to audition to become Profits.

Members of the comedy troupe are encouraged to try out different forms of comedy, but they usually end up with their own specializations.

Jones’ specialty lies with improv.

“Everyone has their own niche,” she said. “But when they break out of that niche, the magic happens.”

The Disciples hold one show at the end of the semester, and the Profits usually have at least two or more per semester.

Lately, the Profits have been preparing for their latest show — happening tonight — called “False Profits Presents: Singles Near You.”

Junior Madison Schaper is in her first semester as a Profit, and said she and other members are excited about the show.

“It’s just going to be a really funny, fun time that’s totally worth $5,” Schaper said.

The show will focus on the humor aspect that tends to come along with relationships as well as being single.

The troupe decided to go with a Valentine’s Day theme since the show date is so close to the holiday.

Jones said this show is different in that it is more prop-heavy and features a lot of different moving parts.

Jones’ said her favorite type of comedy is universal and relatable, which is what False Profits strives for.

Although many seniors, including Jones, who were a part of the founding class are graduating soon, she said she believes the troupe is in good hands with underclassmen like Ellie Rodriguez.

Rodriguez, sophomore and president of False Profits, said the troupe fosters creativity and provides an environment to argue something through comedy.

“There’s always at least one sketch or stand-up that says something — that argues something — in the name of a laugh,” she said.

Despite the founding class’ departure, Rodriguez said False Profits will continue on with a survivor mentality — they’ve got to exist and have shows.

“Carolina seeing what we want to make is pretty amazing,” she said.

@MariaMullis2017

swerve@dailytarheel.com