Grand Valley State University’s improv comedy club, Subject to Change, delivered a night of unpredictable humor and spontaneous laughter, as the group’s latest show, “Five Nights at Kirkhof,” kicked off Friday, Oct. 11.
The evening began with a homage to the popular horror game franchise “Five Nights at Freddy’s.” A pre-recorded video, filmed in Kirkhof, was shown to the audience, showing the cast running frantically from the infamous Freddy Fazbear character. The cast’s sudden live entrance, showing them bursting into double doors of the room had the crowd roaring in laughter. The scene set the stage for the improvisational antics that followed.
As the group took the stage for brief introductions, one cast member carried a wooden sign that read “Subject to Change.” Among the performers were club President Garret Brown, Vice President Gabi Munson, Promotions Officer Jacob Jahshan, Financial Officer Kristen Fleming, Secretarial Officer Ishmael Nash and general members Brayde Kietz, and Brian Hanes. Together, they performed a show packed with short-form improvisation, which included skits such as a faux radio channel flip, scenes set at Olive Garden and a re-enactment of a barbecue gone wrong.
Munson described the event’s impromptu nature, emphasizing “Five Nights at Kirkhof’s” on the spot comedy.
“During the show, there’s an Oscar-winning moment where an actor has to come up and improvise,” she explained. “When we yell, ‘Oscar-winning moment,’ they have to tell something more in-depth about their character that the crowd otherwise wouldn’t have known from just watching.”
The show featured a skit titled “Conflict,” in which the cast had to switch from arguing with each other to complementing one another at the ring of a bell. Another aspect of the performance was a pun contest over Halloween-related words.
Beyond the laughs, Subject to Change tapped into the audience’s creativity. Before the show, attendees were encouraged to write down their favorite Halloween movie characters, which set the mood for the night’s spooky performances. Later in the evening, the cast engaged the crowd with a guessing game. Hanes was sent out of the room while the audience chose a Halloween character for him to perform as. After returning, Hanes used clues from the improvisation to guess the character, with the audience cheering louder as he inched closer to the correct answer.
The performers also often asked the audience for suggestions to build their scenes.
“We ask for suggestions and then we live in the moment,” Kietz said.
In addition to the evening’s comedic entertainment, the group also hosted a bake sale to financially support their club. Attendees were offered individually wrapped homemade goods, such as Rice Krispies and pumpkin muffins.
As a student organization, Subject to Change holds monthly shows and additional performances throughout Michigan. From January to April 2024, the group performed at various locations throughout the State. The team offers open improv events, and welcomes students of all skill levels to audition for their group. Beyond simply performing, the club is dedicated to building a strong community of students who share a passion for laughter and collaboration.
“Improv offers a way for students to escape stress, strengthen communication skills, become better listeners and grow their confidence,” said Brown. “We are constantly working together to improve our skills and grow as comedians.”
