Gina Scott/Winonan

On the third week of classes at Winona State University, many students are already swamped with their jobs, extracurricular activities and homework. Schedules can be packed, and many students may already be experiencing some day-to-day stress. Runner Up comedy troupe’s goal is to provide a much needed study break, and give students something to laugh about.

Runner Up (RU) hosts shows once or twice a month, and students can easily take a break from homework and studying to go see them.

“Primarily, we do shows in the Smaug or the SAC on Thursday nights,” Alex Buchanan, a facilitator and improviser of RU says.

The shows consist of the actors playing games based on the audience’s random suggestions. These suggestions can include where the scene is located, or what quirks the characters have. Think of a typical episode of “Whose Line Is It Anyway?.” After suggestions have been made, the actors will play the game under those given circumstances.

“Usually we do two types of games in RU. We do short form and we do long form,” Buchanan says.

Short form games run five to ten minutes and include two to four actors. Long form games can be up to thirty minutes long, and involve all of the actors.

“Think of short form as a chapter and long form as the whole book,” Buchanan says.

Because the improvisers do not have pre-written scripts, or even an idea of what characteristics they will have to portray, the audience’s suggestions are what make the shows unique and fun every time.

“We rely a lot on our audience,” Buchanan says.

Keagan Anderson, an improviser in RU, agrees that the audience is vital for the success of the show.

“If the audience isn’t willing to work with you and give you energy, improv can sort of fall on its face,” Anderson said.

Overall, the actors of RU suggest coming to their shows with enthusiasm and an open mind.

“If an audience is excited, we’re going to be excited,” Megan Hayes, another improviser for RU, says.

A lot of work goes into being an improv comedy troupe. While they do not have lines to memorize or specific scenes to run through, they meet twice a week to go over things that can improve their improvising skills and techniques.

“We play games in rehearsal and talk about things we can think about for the next time we play that game, and talk about areas of improvement,” Buchanan says.

While improv comedy may seem random, it takes preparation and a lot of learning to be a skilled improviser.

“We’ll work on the building blocks and the behind the scenes aspects of improv. This can be character development and working on relationships,” Anderson said regarding RU’s weekly meetings.

RU consists purely of Winona State students. Through RU, they have developed close friendships with each other, which makes for great chemistry on stage while performing.

“We joke that it’s like a cult,” Buchanan says.

Hayes also commented on the friendships she has formed through RU.

“They’re kind of like a home-base for me with school,” Hayes says.

Although these students all have passion for comedy, they are a very diverse group who come from different backgrounds.

“We have people from theater, we have people from music, people that are kind of just out of nowhere. So, we really get people from all over campus,” Buchanan says.

Anderson also commented on the diversity of the group.

“We provide [Winona State] with an artistic texture,” Anderson says.

Overall, the main goal for RU Comedy Troupe is to make people laugh.

“Runner Up brings [Winona State] a sense of community,” Buchanon says. “It’s a great place where you can go and feel free to express yourself without being judged.”

With all the stress that can come with being a student, having an hour or two break to sit back and laugh with other students is a great contribution to Winona State.

“I like to think we make [students’] days a little better by making them laugh,” Hayes says.