At every blackout, the crowd goes crazy for the school’s comedy improv troupe. The name of the show may be confused with the exit you take from Comedy City downtown to Liberty, but for the students, Exit 16 is the place to go when looking for a laugh.

As soon as the last light goes out, the members are on the stage and the show has already started. Each show opens up with an introduction they create an hour before the curtain goes up.

“We all try to find a fun, creative and energetic way to start off the show,” senior Hope Lundgren said. “Usually it revolves around the theme of our shows, but sometimes they are just random ideas we come up with.”

Every show has a theme relating to what is going on that month. On November 22nd, they performed dressed in their pajamas and on December 22nd, the alumni show, they will be wearing their ugly sweaters. The audience is encouraged to participate.

“If people don’t know or like the theme of the show, why would they want to come

dressed up or see us dressed up? We try to

get themes that everyone can do and are kind of vague,” Lundgren said.

The morning of the show, the troupe gathers in club sponsor Charles Zavos for breakfast. Then, on the night of the show, the members of the show do energy and warm up games to get their minds working.

“I love the risks these students take,” Zavos said. “It is amazing that these students can create a sense of ensemble when they only work together once a week.”

“All our different skills and hobbies come in handy and I think our differences are what unite us.” -senior Hope Lundgren.

The students are not the only ones working hard to make the show happen. Zavos sells the tickets, makes sure the doors get closed and laughs a lot while coach Rene Boudreaux works as “the voice in the sky.”

“Rene, our coach, usually makes the run lists because he is the one who sees our progression and he chooses who does what games,” Lundgren said. “He bases them off what we were learning in that month’s practices and our strengths.”

To prepare for the show, they rehearse once a week to practice and learn new games to play. Their games vary from Beastie Rap to Freeze Tag and every show starts with a crowd favorite.

“My favorite part of the show was when Hope Lundgren had to dab and meow every time Kate Turnage took a step,” freshman Jake Islas said.

The audience members appreciate the effort that each troupe member puts into

the show and all of their different skills that unite them.

“The most enjoyable member was Kailyn Peterson, she hosted the show and

did a really amazing job,” Islas said.

“Gabe was the most enjoyable to watch because of his clever wittiness,” sophomore Kelvin Rodriguez said.

Exit 16 is not only for students, but is also family-friendly. They keep their show PG for the audience members who may be underage.

“Other people should definitely go,” Islas said. “I will be going to the next Exit 16 show, they’re really funny and entertaining.”

The next time you find yourself bored at home and looking for something to do, see when the next Exit 16 show is. For $3 at lunch or $5 at the door, you could be having a night full of laughter.