St. Thomas and St. Catherine students performed in a comedy show, “ComedySportz,” at the Frey Theater last weekend and will perform again this weekend.

Teresa Lyons-Hegdahl, director of theater at St. Catherine, said the music and theater department decided to incorporate “ComedySportz” into this year’s season because it provides an exciting opportunity for both the students and the audience.

“Theater is a vital component to a student’s education,” Hegdahl said. “I am delighted to give them the opportunity, whether they are onstage, backstage or in the audience.”

The show, which revolves around two competing teams of comedic “actletes,” emphasizes spur-of-the-moment comedy and audience participation. The two teams receive points based on the amount of laughter they receive.

Student actors focus on playing comedic games but follow specific rules imposed by a referee, making the show similar to a sporting event.

Senior William Hustead, one of the actletes, didn’t have any background with improvised comedy before this show and said it’s been an excellent experience.

“It was a new concept of being completely unprepared … in front of an audience,” Hustead said.

Hustead added that he’s enjoyed the group chemistry within the members of the ComedySportz troupe, who have experience with staged productions.

Freshman Joseph Kolonko works backstage as a theater technician and said ComedySportz is not a normal theatrical production.

“It is heavily interactive. You won’t be just sitting there and absorbing the story like you do in a regular theater production,” Kolonko said.

Senior Anthony Bennek said the improvised nature of the show and not depending on a script intimidated him at first.

“Having a script is always like a safety net … but Teresa knows how to work with each student to help them perform,” Bennek said.

Bennek said performing improv has its challenges, and sometimes the actors struggle to quickly think of something to say.

“If people enjoy seeing theatrical people in pain, this is recommended,” Bennek joked.

ComedySportz will run at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 27 and 28, in the Frey Theater at St. Catherine.

Jeffrey Langan can be reached at lang5466@stthomas.edu.