If you have not heard of Kids On Campus yet, let this be your first introduction, but certainly not your last. This year-old sketch comedy group formed last fall and has already made a name for itself in the Wash. U. performing arts community, bringing together writers, actors and musicians to put on a sketch show each semester. At the group’s first-ever show last spring, the Village Black Box filled up so quickly it left people banging on the doors to be let in after the doors had closed. Kids On Campus will be putting on its fall semester show, Kids On Campus Live!, at the Village Black Box this Friday, and you won’t want to miss it.

Allison Hamburg | Student Life

Actors sophomore Magda Lijowska, junior Danny Marshall and junior Chris Elkins (left to right) rehearse for their comedy show on Tuesday night. They are part of the sketch comedy group Kids On Campus, which is hosting its first performance of the year this Friday at 8 p.m. in the Village Black Box Theatre.

The idea behind the group first formed when its president, junior Danny Marshall, learned of a previous on-campus sketch group, WUSTL Live!, which had existed at Wash. U. for a few years until 2012. Marshall had always been a fan of sketch comedy, citing “Saturday Night Live” as an inspiration, and had always tried to put together sketches while growing up. As a freshman at Wash. U., he joined K.A.R.L., one of Wash. U.’s improvisational groups, and began asking around if anyone wanted to start a sketch comedy group on campus. After junior Matt Herman, fellow KA.R.L. improviser and now one of Kids On Campus’ head writers, approached Marshall and asked if he was still interested in starting this group, they began gathering other students in the performing arts, from drama students to improvisers, to put together a brand new group. They applied for Category II status from Student Union and put on a show for $500. Thus, Kids On Campus was born.

Since then, the group’s presence on campus and reach to the student body has greatly increased. What began as a group of friends interested in sketch comedy has now become a Category I Student Union group, which means it has more funding and resources for its shows. Coming off of last year’s show, the group revamped its structure and established a more specific schedule in terms of writing, rehearsing and performing. There was so much interest through the Campus Comedy pre-orientation program and the Fall Activities Fair that the Kids On Campus board had to re-evaluate its audition process.

“It was challenging to figure out how to grow and not inhibit,” Marshall said, and the group decided to make the process more open to a larger community, especially at the start of the year.

This fall, it had open writing sessions where anyone was welcome to come and write and share ideas. Once possible sketches were submitted and chosen, these sessions became closed, and the group began preparing for its fall show. In order to be considered a cast member, the student had to have been involved in the creative process of submitted sketches, even if his or her sketch wasn’t chosen.

“We picked our cast first,” production chair and senior Abby Mros said, “and then cast the sketches from there.”

This year, there are 13 cast members and a 14th writer who chose to only write. As opposed to WUSTL Live!, which had separate writers and actors, Kids On Campus wants the cast and writers to have the opportunity to be one and the same.

“We want to write our own stuff,” Marshall said, “and write for ourselves.”

Having its work be self-written and self-created also sets Kids on Campus apart from the other performing arts groups on campus. From the writing of the sketches, to the live band, to the filming of the pre-taped segments, to the actual tech of the show, Kids On Campus Live! is an entirely student-run and student-focused endeavor. In addition to the cast and writers, there are eight crew members and a four-person band that will perform live music during the show. Kids On Campus Live! borrows from the “Saturday Night Live” structure in terms of show format, and the group feels that the live music really elevated its spring show from being just a bunch of improvisers to a real variety show.

“We want to put on our own show,” Marshall said. “We did it [last year] and it was fun. We want to keep doing it forever.”

For the show this Friday, expect to laugh and have a good time. One sketch, “Year in Review,” is WU-focused, but the show will cover a broad range of topics, mainly based on what was going on in the writers’ lives at the time of creation. Like “Saturday Night Live,” Kids On Campus Live! will cover some more topical themes, but don’t expect any Donald Trump impressions.

“In comedy, you’re either first or you’re best,” Marshall said, and he acknowledges that the cast and writers are still students who are using this group as an opportunity to grow. “We are still trying to find our voices as writers and as people.”

With that said, this Friday’s show will showcase Wash. U. students’ original work, something that you do not always have an opportunity to see on campus.

“Come for the band. The band’s the only good part,” Marshall first jokes when asked why people should come see the show, but his next answer reveals another reason for attending. “We try to make you escape from this crazy place and laugh for an hour and a half or two hours.”

Whether you are interested in live music or sketch comedy, Kids On Campus Live! promises an exciting show, and one that allows for student-created work to shine.

Kids On Campus Live! is this Friday, Nov. 6 in the Village Black Box at 8 p.m. It’s free, so make sure you get there early! You don’t want to be left outside banging on the door.