Some of the most memorable moments in comedy shows aren’t ones that bring the most laughs, although Nuthouse provides plenty.

Lots of preparation goes into a WSU Nuthouse improve comedy show, and during one rehearsal veteran improver James Campbell, senior music composition major, stopped members in the middle of an exercise so that he could stretch other members’ minds and push them to improve.

Campbell said the team is working away from relying on only jokes to illicit laughs and move toward laughter through natural emotional responses.

“I just want us to push the boundaries and get better,” he said. 

The student improvisational comedy group on campus hosts shows Friday and Saturday nights periodically, starting at 8 p.m. and usually lasting an hour and 20 minutes. Tonight and tomorrow Nuthouse will host two late night humor shows at 11 p.m. in Wadleigh Theatre. Tickets cost $5 and can be bought at the door.

Campbell said rehearsals are really a time to get on the same page with the rest of the cast members. It’s time for them to get performance-ready, practicing games that they’ll play during the show, he said.

Nuthouse performs short form improv, which includes many games in the span of about an hour and a half. This means cast members have to have lots of energy during shows, Campbell said.

“We need to be like, ‘KAH!’” he said, punching and kicking the air, “fire kicks and energy.”

After this weekend, the group’s next shows will take place during Mom’s Weekend. Nuthouse hold four shows and tickets can be purchased online at https://squareup.com/market/NuthouseImprov or at the door. Two shows will take place April 10 at 8 p.m. in Kimbrough 101 and at 11 p.m. in Daggy Hall Jones Theatre. On April 11 times for the two shows are 4 p.m. in Kimbrough 101 and 8 p.m. in the CUB Junior Ballroom.

Since Nuthouse’s start in 1998 with a couple of friends playing theater games, the group has progressed to a culture of family, trust, passion, and education, said Benjamin Gonzales, Nuthouse adviser and clinical professor.

The current cast of about 11 people spend lots of time together. They not only rehearse but most are friends outside of Nuthouse. Improv requires a lot of trust, Director of Nuthouse Jared Chastain said.

“If you don’t trust each other it’s going to be plainly obvious,” he said.

Different than normal theater productions, everything the improve members do is on the spot. One person might want to jump into the arms of another for the sake of the show. However, if they don’t have a solid trust foundation who knows if the person will be caught or dropped, Chastain said.

Nuthouse serves as a stage for students to discover their passion, but Gonzales said he can’t teach passion. He can teach skills and to the best of his abilities the dos and don’ts of stage but not the burning desire.

“I love seeing people have their Eureka and 180 moment,” Chastain said.