After the dinner rush has cleared out in the Smaug, students are often found sitting by the stage doing homework in the booths or chatting with friends at tables.
Last week RunnerUp Improv took over that stage.
RunnerUp Improv, a troupe of seven Winona State University students, performed amongst a crowd of 25 college students on Monday night.
With stage lights glaring down on their faces, the troupe, whom only had five of their members that night, began their “mullet-themed” performance right at 9 pm.
Senior RunnerUp Improv Coordinator Brian Rice informed the crowd what improv was and how it works.
“Improv is completely made up on the spot,” said Rice.
The teams, or troupes, have certain scenes or games picked out previous to the performance. The troupe members then ask the audience to be involved and to fill in the scene with places, nouns, statements, titles, etc.
“So much of Improv is audience-based comedy,” said Rice.
The troupe members are junior Caitlin Puckett, freshman Katie Steger, freshman Ethan Jensen, senior Jacob Wagner, senior Brian Rice, junior Joe Underbakke and junior Eileen Moeller.
RunnerUp Improv began one year ago by members of Winona State’s theatre club, Wenonah Players. Rice wanted to take RunnerUp Improv further than their once-a-week performance and began performing at Mugby Junction across from campus.
The troupe has recently expanded their performance venuse with performances ranging from a Chamber of Commerce dinner in Kasson-Mantorville, Minn to performing at Floodaplooza in Rushford, Minn., after the August 2007 flooding.
“We enjoy branching out,” said Rice. “I like to think of (RunnerUp Improv) as Winona’s Best-Kept Secret.”
Rice plans for RunnerUp Improv to reach out and involve other clubs on campus as well.
“We like to be a source of service to the rest of campus,” said Rice. “Imrpov lends itself to fixing a lot of problems. That’s where the humor comes in.”
RunnerUp Improv held auditions last Tuesday night. Their newest members are junior Nick Mestad and freshman Hilary Pletta.

Contact Dana at DJKudelk7481@winona.edu