Skintight Outrage, DU’s one and only comedy improv group, perform immaculate weekly shows that provide a comical hour-long escape for the DU community. However impromptu and in-the-moment these performances are, the club members do a lot of group and bonding work to prepare for their shows.

“We have rehearsals on Sundays where we go through and practice our games and review our craft,” said fourth-year history major Owen Scott. “Right before our shows, we spend a lot of time together as a team. We try to center ourselves with breathing exercises or just sitting and talking about how our weeks are going.”

Skintight’s performances are incredible. The small group of actors riff off each other and create entire stories while also developing their characters without writing anything beforehand. Their ability to create these stories in the moment falls a lot on the group’s quick thinking and individual personalities.

“As opposed to a traditional college improv team with a bunch of guys that are all the loudest person in their friend group and wear Hawaiian shirts all the time, we’ve got some very quiet, retrospective, reflective individuals. We all bring out the best in one another,” said Scott.

A lot of this chemistry can be accredited to how small this group is. Skintight consists of just five members currently. Skintight Outrage relies on the group’s strong connection to create an even stronger performance.

“It’s the best friend group on campus. If you want to get yourself into a friend group without paying any dues, this is the way to do it,” said fourth-year biology major Ryan Bouchard. “We are probably the most tight knit. We throw parties, we hang out all the time together. We all have this shared thing we do together that we love.”

Bouchard used one word continuously when explaining how Skintight works so well together: “synergy.” From slapstick comedy to dry humor, Skintight is outrageously versatile with synergy that causes audiences to burst out laughing at various stories, situations and jokes.

What’s even more impressive about these actor’s capabilities is the speed at which they can come up with entire stories in the moment. Like anything, actors improve at improv through practice, but creating jokes and humor in the heat of the moment has to feel natural to be successful and funny.

“There’s a lot to it that you can’t really practice,” said Scott. “You can’t magically get better at quick thinking or be funny every time.”

Sharp, witty thinking and creating a character on the spot—as is required in improv—is only possible in an environment where an actor feels calm, relaxed and most importantly, supported by other cast-members. The deeply bonded community within Skintight Outrage is incredibly special for people who are part of the group.

“This is very much my thing at DU. I’ve talked to other people who are on the improv team and they genuinely thought, ‘if it wasn’t for Skintight Outrage, I might consider transferring schools.’ It’s about having something to anchor you here,” said Scott.

Skintight Outrage is not just an anchor for cast members. It can be an anchor for audience members too. Skintight serves as a breath of fresh air for students struggling with midterms, finals and classes in general. Sometimes, the best way to get rid of the stress typically involved in higher education is by laughing it off.

“I think for the audience it’s compelling because we’re having fun. We feed off each other’s energy,” said Bouchard.

If the performers are having a blast, so is the audience. This is the case with any kind of live performance, whether that be at a Ball Arena watching blink-182 or in Lindsey Auditorium with Skintight Outrage.

Skintight holds auditions for people interested in joining the group. Auditioning for Skintight Outrage is compelling for anybody interested in humor, comedy and acting—regardless of their major or prior theater experience.

On top of that, improv groups are few and far between. Most improv groups develop in large cities or on university campuses. Skintight Outrage gives DU students the opportunity to experience the joys of being part of a comedic improv group that creates a welcoming environment for students.

“You only get to be in college once, and you’re going to find very few improv opportunities for the rest of your life,” said Scott.

Auditioning for Skintight Outrage is a possibility for anybody, but getting a part in the group takes a ton of skill and wit. After Skintight Outrage holds initial auditions, they will accept a select few people who can further prove their improv skills during a callback audition session at a later date.

As students at the University of Denver have found, DU life can get busy fast. Sometimes, the best way to wind down from all that stress is by going to a Skintight Outrage comedy show at Lindsey Auditorium in Sturm 281 on Wednesday nights at 8:30 p.m.

And, as Scott put it, “Who knows? Maybe you’ll find some of the best friends for the rest of your life.”