Her-larity WWU

Media Backgrounder
Press Contact: Heather Bates
HeatherBatesPR@gmail.com 360.223.3524

Overview
Her-larity WWU is a nonprofit Western Washington University Associated Students
club that creates opportunities for women in comedy and on stage and in film though
the perspective of social change. Her-larity WWU is concerned with representation of
women in the entertainment industry and the roles they are allowed to play. Her-larity
operates with a welcoming and open feel that is unapologetic. Members of Her-larity
WWU want to involve students in exercises, learning opportunities and on-stage
opportunities to grow their talents and confidence. Her-larity was formed in 2015 in
response to a lack of adequate on-stage rolls being offered to female performers. In an
entertainment industry where women are often left to play the supporting role of wife or
mother, Her-larity strives to showcase female comics and their talents as headliners
rather than supporting roles.

Current Activities
Her-larity meets every other Wednesday from 4pm to 6pm in Bond Hall 109. The club
plans to hold at least one event each quarter beginning in spring of 2016. At the biweekly meetings, the club works from the Upright Citizens Brigade book in order to gain
experience, knowledge and confidence while on stage. This book contains exercises
meant for stage performers and helps club members come together as a group, learn
and grow. While Her-larity does focus on female performers, all students of all gender
identities are encouraged to join. There are no monetary fees to join the club.

Facts
The following research is intended to highlight the relevance of comedic education,
representation and issues within the entertainment industry spanning from a local level
to international.
HYPERLOCAL

Her-larity was started by Western student Summer Storholt in November of 2015.

Western Washington University Associated Students clubs have three comedy-related

clubs. Two of these primarily feature male headliners which prompted the creation of
Her-larity, the only club to focus on female feature artists.
In the six months spanning from September 2015 to March 2016, Western Washington
University hired one female comic.

LOCAL
In Bellingham, Washington, Bellingham Comedy listed zero female comics booked
versus four male comics in February, 2016.
REGIONAL
Danielle Gregoire opened a womens comedy club called the Comedy Womb in the
basement of another club in Seattle after attending another local open mic that featured
33 guys and zero ladies.
Out of 15 comedy clubs in Seattle, only 1 advertises as featuring female comics. One.
NATIONAL
The Nations top ten highest paid comics of 2013 shared $173 million. Zero were female.
On Wikipedias List of Standup Comics in America, 358 names listed, only 53 are
female. Thats under 15 percent
3% of clout positions in the mainstream media telecommunications, entertainment,
publishing and advertising- are held by women

INTERNATIONAL
Women currently hold 24, or 4.8 percent of CEO positions at S&P 500 companies.
In Saudi Arabia, women aren't allowed to drive and are discouraged from working jobs
that would put them in contact with men. The unemployment rate for women is 34
percent for women, 7 percent for men.
In 2015, Women with full-time jobs still earn only about 77 percent of their male
counterparts earnings.

Bio
Summer Storholt is a senior at Western Washington University. She studies Theatre and is
expected to graduate in the spring of 2016. She looks forward to working in improv and comedy
while encouraging other women to do the same. She will hold elections to elect a new president
which is the office Storholt currently holds and may add one additional office if the need arises.
herlartiy@gmail.com (253) 380-0276 https://twitter.com/herlaritywwu

Boilerplate
Her-larity was founded in November of 2015 by Summer Storholt at Western Washington
University in Bellingham, Washington. This Associated Students Club, is dedicated to
empowering women in comedy. Her-larity meets every other Wednesday from 4 - 6pm in Bond
Hall 109. Anyone and everyone is welcomed to join regardless of gender identity. There is no
fee to join or participate. Summer Storholt is the current President of the club. For more
information visit https://twitter.com/herlaritywwu or send an email to herlarity@gmail.com.

Sources
Makers Team, 21 Facts You Never Knew About International Gender Disparity,
March 7th, 2015, http://www.makers.com/blog/21-facts-you-never-knew-about-internationalgender-inequality
Heart of Leadership, Accessed February 7th, 2016, http://www.heartofleadership.org/statistics/
Will Humphries, Its Really No Joke, Todays Ozy, Last modified January 6th, 2014,
http://www.ozy.com/acumen/stand-ups-gender-gap/4661
Cienna Madrid, Laugh It Off; Seattles First Feminist Comedy Night, The Stranger, June 12th,
2013, http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/laugh-it-off/Content?oid=17003334
Bellingham Herald Events Calendar, Accessed February 6th, 2016,
http://calendar.bellinghamherald.com/events.aspx?et=7&title=Comedy
Associated Students Events Calandar, Accessed February 5th, 2016,
http://www.as.wwu.edu/events/#
Sharp, Sarah. 2015. Weekly Club Spotlight: Her-larity. The AS Review. Accessed February
4th, 2016