Lab Rats comedy troupe, Mississippi State University’s one and only improvisational troupe, has been operational for around 10 years. The troupe performs at least once a month. Its latest performance was Friday. Each performance comes with a theme to guide the improv show, and Friday’s theme was “Lab Rats Comedy in ‘Those Meddling Rats,’” playing off the Scooby Doo cartoon. The performances offer both short form sketches that are three-five minutes long and long form sketches from 10-20 minutes. The audience can also expect interactive improv games where the audience offers an idea and the troupe quickly acts out that idea. Tickets are $5 and can be bought at the door or on LabRatsComedy.com.
Allie Ring, short form director and current host of the performances, said the troupe’s main goal is to entertain and delight the MSU student body.
“We aim to simply entertain the campus. We are the first and only improv troupe at MSU, and we really enjoy doing what we’re doing,” Ring said. “My favorite part is making people laugh. Something that I do actually has an effect on people. It puts a special kind of joy in my heart.”
There are three more Lab Rats performances this semester. The next Lab Rats long form performance is Oct. 17 on the fourth floor of Moseley Hall. 
The last two performances of the semester are short form: Nov. 7 and Dec. 2.
The November performance will be held in Moseley Hall while the December performance will take place on the McComas Main Stage.
Miranda Dempewolf, long form director, said Lab Rats is all about having confidence and showing off creativity.
“Over time, I just became even more confident in myself. I stay creative by hanging out with my friends. We get crazy when we’re together, and we build off the creativity of one another.”
In addition to putting on performances, the troupe also offers special workshops for anyone interested in trying out for Lab Rats in the future or for those who simply want to try improv.
The workshops are Tuesdays on the second floor of the Colvard Student Union at 8 p.m. The room location changes, so John Maloney, Lab Rats sketch director, said the Union front desk attendant will be able to help direct students to the correct location.
Maloney said he loves to perform onstage, but assisting with the weekly workshops is one of his favorite parts of the organization.
“I very much enjoy performances, but my favorite is helping with workshops. It is a more laid-back version of our performances. It is nice to perform in a casual setting,” Maloney said. “I encourage anyone to come out to workshops. It’s a fun way to learn about improv and it really gives you an edge if you want to try out for Lab Rats.”