YAMO, Evanston’s student-written sketch comedy show, is right around the corner. Students have been preparing for months, with work on the show starting in February, when the official YAMO board was selected.

Board member Paula Hlava has been acting since she was young and made her ETHS debut in Urinetown as a freshman. During the musical’s production she learned what YAMO was, and she has been in YAMO since her sophomore year. 

“This year, my role in YAMO has shifted drastically. The past two years I was acting in it, doing the actual sketches in the acting company. This year I am the director of the acting company,” Hlava explained.

Within YAMO there are four companies, Acting, Impulse, Unexpected and Dance. Acting and Impulse create most sketches that don’t contain singing or musical numbers. Unexpected features singers, with punchlines that are usually a song or musical routine and Dance adds a visual component through choreographed numbers.

For YAMO to come together, actors and writers work for months on the same jokes, leaving many of them questioning its content.

“It has been difficult to come up with ideas and oftentimes I find myself asking, ‘Is this even funny anymore?’” Hlava admitted. “I think keeping a positive mindset has really helped me. Getting to see the actors get excited to do certain scenes is the best feeling ever.”

With the first show set for Sept. 26, Hlava thinks everything is coming together.

Senior Impulse member Libby Moreno has also participated in YAMO since her sophomore year, after a friend convinced her to audition. “I loved the whole process of YAMO—from rehearsal to the shows and all of the friends I made throughout,” Moreno expressed.

Tickets went on sale Sept. 10 and sold out in only 48 hours. With opening night right around the corner, this year’s YAMO performance promises a packed house and lots of laughs—proof that this student tradition remains one of Evanston’s favorite fall events.