I attended Nuthouse’s third improv performance at Butch’s Den on Sept. 13 and had a blast as part of the audience. The night’s theme was Back to the Future, and the crew played a variety of games like “Slideshow,” “Celebrity Dating Game” and “Survivor,” among others.

Nuthouse is part of STAGE Theatre, which is affiliated with WSU. The improv crew has been performing for a while and hosts shows year-round. Their audience includes a mix of newcomers, diehard fans and even first dates, all of whom bring energy and laughter to each show. Every performance is fresh, with new games and creative themes. So far this year, they’ve done themes like “Back to the Future” and “Olympic Showdown,” with games and costumes tailored to each theme.

At Friday’s show, I found myself laughing throughout the night, never knowing what would happen next. I even tossed in a few suggestions, hoping the performers would pick mine. The crew kept everyone in the Den engaged, smoothly transitioning between audience interaction and comedy.

After the show, I interviewed several of the performers, and one thing they all agreed on was the strong sense of community within Nuthouse. “It gives people an accessible hangout spot that’s always a safe place here at Washington State,” President India Abbas said.

Abbas said that anyone is welcome to drop by the STAGE Theatre room LL47 in the CUB during the week to hang out and have fun with the crew.

If you are looking for a good time and plenty of laughs, the Nuthouse crew invites you to their open rehearsals at 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, or you can attend one of their performances. The commitment is light, and they encourage everyone to come check them out.