The Office of Student Activities (OSA) at Elizabethtown College showcased Pennsylvania native and comedian Derrick Knopsnyder on Friday Jan. 24, at 8 p.m. in the Koons Activity Venue (KAV) in the Brossman Commons. Knopsnyder wowed Etown students with his blunt and witty humor, drawing from his experience working on the television cable channel “Comedy Central,” and performing as the opening act for Sal Vulcano, from the hidden camera comedy and reality television program “Impractical Jokers.” 

The event attracted a large crowd, inviting all to enjoy a comedy show after a busy first two weeks of the 2025 spring semester. Friend groups of all sizes came together to relax, create memories with friends and most importantly, laugh. 

After not even a minute on stage, Knopsnyder had the crowd laughing after opening the show with a line expressing the current “heat wave,” sweeping through Elizabethtown. He reflected on one of his previous visits to Etown, when the temperature reached minus 24 degrees Fahrenheit in February. While in disbelief from the extreme temperature mentioned, he quickly followed with the punch line of joke resulting in an eruption of laughter from the members in the audience.

Students entered the KAV with blue and purple lights illuminating the room, upbeat and feel-good music playing in the background and audience members relaxed and waited in anticipation for the show to begin. Also present at the event, Etown’s own Conrad’s Corner, a pop-up refreshment station since 2019, provided free snacks and beverages to audience members such as a variety of chip options and soft beverages served by OSA members. 

The show lasted an hour, and the entire time, Knopsnyder had the audience laughing. From quoting videos from the popular appVine, to discussing the topics of sibling rivalries, to referring to himself as, “Ellen DeGeneres if she had given up.” Every joke resulted in audience members laughing and overall just having a wonderful time.

First-year music therapy major, Helen Hostetter exclaimed regarding the show; “Very comical!”

Throughout the show, Knopsnyder interacted with the crowd and made eye contact, learning the names and majors of students in the crowd, and having them share their unique life experiences, with some more relatable, than others. Instead of a show, Knopsnyder presented the experience in a way that felt more like a fun conversation with a large group of friends; relaxing, genuine curiosity and overall hysterical.

In a conversation with a group of first-year students, two majoring in early education, two majoring in occupational therapy, one majoring in computer science, one majoring in English literature and finally one majoring in graphic design, all expressed their “love” of the show and their appreciation for Knopsnyder, “interacting with the audience,” and “building the show off of each student interaction,” showcasing his quick-wit and ability to work on the spot. The group complimented how the show “flowed really well.”

“My best moment at the comedian was him saying he would open mouth Zac Efron, Ryan Reynolds, Ryan Gosling, and me,” first-year psychology major Nate Kubasko said.

“My favorite part about the comedy show was the fact that he interacted with the crowd a lot,” senior electrical engineering major Michael Young said. “You can tell Derrick was a good comedian because he could make jokes on the fly, and he knew his audience well. He also let me take a picture with him at the end which I loved.”

After the show officially concluded, students had the opportunity to join Knopsnyder onstage to get a group photograph. Some students even had the opportunity to speak with Knopsnyder after the show.

In a singular hour, Knopsnyder brought the crowd together through laughter and ended the show with sincere and encouraging words to Etown students; “Always follow your dreams.” With all jokes set aside, everyone shared this moment together and emphasized the wonderful community present here at Etown. 

With a stage, a singular stool and a microphone, he had the power and talent to not only make the crowd laugh, but also to unite them.

To find more information about Derrick Knopsnyder, his Instagram is @DK.Comedy. He exclaimed that he, “does add back!”