This Friday evening's hijinks will kick off with The Improv Showcase at the Carey Auditorium in the Hesburgh Library presented by the Humor Artists, Notre Dame's premiere improv comedy group.
"The Humor Artists are Notre Dame's short-form improv comedy group," senior Brian Rodgers said. "We perform comedy scenes made up on the spot based on suggestions by people in the audience, similar to the popular show 'Whose Line is It Anyway?' We have 36 members in the group, and this membership consists of Notre Dame and Saint Mary's undergraduate, graduate, and law students."
The comedic art of improv requires quick wit and, more often than not, knowledge of current events. But this demand has not kept new students from joining Humor Artists. In fact, membership has grown drastically in recent years.
"Our group has existed since 1996," Rodgers said. "I have been performing with this group since my freshman year, so this is my fourth year in the group."
This year alone the group size has doubled, adding about 16 new comedians to the ensemble.
"If someone wants to join HA [Humor Artists], they will have to wait until next semester," he said. "The reasons for this are that our coach Meghan Brown [rector of Lyons Hall] gives us lessons each week and it would be difficult for someone to catch up."
These lessons have prepared The Humor Artists for performance all over Notre Dame. The group performs several shows throughout the course of the year.
"We typically perform at Legend's four times a semester, a show at Washington Hall a semester and a show in the Carey Auditorium in the Hesburgh Library once a semester," Rodgers said.
However, The Improv Showcase still stands out among the group's other shows, despite each and every show boasting an enthusiastic and hilarious cast. The Showcase is the Humor Artists' biggest show of the year, Rodgers said.
"What sets [the Improv Showcase] apart is that improv is much more engaging to audiences,"
Rodgers said. "We take all out prompts from audience members, and therefore the audience contributes to the creation of our hilarious scenes."
The audience can expect not only a hilarious improv show, but an interactive experience where they can be the directors. With so many new games and faces, the show is sure to have a new fantastic energy unlike any other HA show before.
The Improv Showcase will take place on Friday at 7:00 pm, at the Carey Auditorium at the Hesburgh Library. Admission is $1.
