Sophomore Hannah McDonald and senior Matt Allard both share a love of comedy, but not a typical type of comedy. Their’s is unscripted and unrehearsed.

Both McDonald and Allard are part of an improv comedy group at the University called Bad Genetics.

Bad Genetics offers students looking for a laugh completely ad-libbed comedy performances.

“I like the adrenaline. It’s exciting being put on the spot,” said McDonald, a first year member of the group.

Allard, the director of the group, is drawn to the creative freedom that improv allows him.

“There’s a lot more room for taking it where you want to go, so really we’re only limited by our imagination,” he said.

Bad Genetics is one of two improv groups on campus, the other being the Plastic Shatners.

Bad Genetics and the Plastic Shatners typically alternate between Fridays to perform, so each group performs once every other week.

Bad Genetics typically performs in room 208 of the Union at 7:30, but those wanting to attend should check their Facebook page to confirm the place, as it could possibly change, Allard said.

The difference between the two groups lies in the type of shows they perform, McDonald said.

The Plastic Shatners perform what’s called short-form improv, while the Bad Genetics perform what’s called long-form improv. Short-form is similar to “Whose Line is it Anyway,” with shorter skits, while long-form is divided into three acts, she said.

There are many different types of long-form, but Bad Genetics is currently doing the Armando style.

Shows begin when an audience member is asked to suggest a word. One of the members then improvises a monologue of a life-event based off this word. The other members then perform scenes based off this word. The performance is divided into three 15 minute acts, each word and the scenes it inspires being one act, she said.

Each show has its own name, such as “Hold Onto Your Butts,” and “Keep Your Shoes On,” that is usually an inside joke between the cast, McDonald said.

“Next semester, we might try mixing it up,” she said.

Allard, along with two other co-directors, was in charge of auditions for the year. The auditions, this past September, were joint with the Plastic Shatners.

Allard said Bad Genetics mainly looks for people who are energetic and enthusiastic.

“Not everyone’s going to be a polished improviser,” he said. “[We’re looking for] someone who isn’t afraid to look stupid or do something silly.”

Around 50 people total auditioned for Bad Genetics and the Plastic Shatners.

McDonald was selected for a call-back before being selected as one of three new members in Bad Genetics, bringing the total to eight people.

During performances, McDonald said it’s impossible to know what the audience will find funny.

“People just come up with really weird words you wouldn’t expect, so it’s really exciting,” she said. “I like hearing people’s reaction to things.”

Allard also loves the energy of the audience.

“There’s nothing like it,” Allard said. “We feed on the energy from our audience.”

Allard tries to bring something original to every performance.

“I try to do fresh characters every scene,” he said.

McDonald said she likes to try new characters and she has played a weird, obsessive girlfriend as well as moms before.

“It’s kind of all over the place. I don’t have characters I go back to,” she said. “I draw a lot from the monologue and when they’re talking, I form scenes in my mind…I just kind of go with the flow of it.”

Sophomore Zachary Kocanda has attended every show this year.

“It’s cool because a few of my friends are in the group, so that’s nice,” he said.

Kocanda enjoys the funny and absurd situations the members create.

“They really go as far as they can with their ideas,” he said. “The team’s really strong. I always laugh a lot.”