‘Cheap’ visits a Pitt entertainment stand-by and finds it’s just as funny as ever

It happens 50 out of 52 Friday nights per year. It begins at 11 p.m. It takes place deep in… It happens 50 out of 52 Friday nights per year. It begins at 11 p.m. It takes place deep in the basement of the Cathedral of Learning’s Studio Theatre. It’s Friday Night Improvs folks, and at only $2, it’s cheap.

Since 1989, this comedy showcase of sorts has been a Friday night tradition at Pitt. Anyone can go, but be prepared to join in on the action. It’s improvisational, which means there are no scripts, no prepared acts and no set lists. Remember those fun games you played in your acting classes? Now audience members will be doing much of the same, and there is no pressure to make the grade.

The one game that’s guaranteed to be played each week, Freeze, is played like this: Two audience members are chosen to go onstage and act out a situation and a relationship that other audience members suggest. Toward the end of the usually half-hour skit, any audience member can yell “Freeze!,” at which point the “actors” will stand still and the person who yelled “Freeze!” will tag out one of the players, take their place and resume the situation.

There are only a few rules to follow if you are going to be in attendance on any Friday night. Don’t boo anyone; this is all about having fun, remember? You are going to have to pay attention, because you never know when it will be your turn to journey onto stage and become a performer.

Like a road trip, it’s fun and spontaneous. Unlike a road trip, you can find the money to pay for this in your couch cushions.