The series about the relationship between comedy and religion began in fall 2011 and will continue its performances at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Wesley at CMU, 1400 S. Washington St.  The show incorporates comedic standup, sketches and talk show formats and also features comedians from many different belief systems and backgrounds.

Included acts in Saturday’s show will be comedians from the west Michigan area as well as students from the After Hours Improv registered student organization. Grant senior and Religarious host Ryan Lathrop said the shows have gotten better every time.

“The sketches keep getting tighter and it’s becoming a really solid show,” Lathrop said.

Joking Around, a RSO dedicated to standup comedy, will start off with a mini-show before the Religarious routines begin.

“Our main goal is to entertain,” said Patrick Fowler, Benton Harbor sophomore and Joking Around president. “As long as the audience laughs, I’m happy.”

Pastor Charlie Farnum, director of Wesley, will also take part in a short standup routine.

“I’ve never done standup before,” Farnum said. “I do like telling jokes, so we’ll have to see how it goes.”

Farnum said audience reception of previous shows has been positive.

“There are certain areas for any person where they will probably get offended,” Farnum said. “I love hearing these comedians through their routines ask questions about faith and religion. It’s good to get people thinking.”

Lathrop also noted the positive feedback and participation of the audience in shows so far.

“The crowd has been super smart and every comic I’ve had up has loved it,” Lathrop said. “I think as it’s gone on, people are getting the point that this is a comedy show about religion, as opposed to a religious event that might be funny.”

The prospective cast giggled at the subject manner of “Love, Sex and the IRS” as director Cindy Kilmer explained the comedic play which will open April 1.

“We’re going to have a good time, or else it’s not worth doing,” Kilmer said.

Five women and two men auditioned for roles of varying personalities as Kilmer watched intently, pausing briefly to jot down a few notes.

Auditions were held at 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday in the library, 301 S. University Ave.

Kilmer briefly stepped in when there were not enough actresses to run through some of the female roles. “Love, Sex and the IRS” is the third play she has directed.

“I can’t remember how I got a hold of it, but I read it and I just loved it,” Kilmer said.

One of the two males in attendance, Clare resident Kevin Gage, 26, said he has been involved in theater for 10 years. He was in the production of “Sweeney Todd” last fall at the Broadway Theatre, 216 E. Broadway St.

“I just love the whole three companies aspect (of the play),” Gage said.

In “Love, Sex and the IRS,” one of its central characters, John, finds himself in tax trouble, leading an IRS agent to believe he has a wife. His male roommate, Leslie, finds himself dressing in drag to convince the tax agent the two are married.

Kilmer said the production is a light-hearted comedy.

In addition to deadpan comedy, “Love, Sex and IRS” has romantic themes as a main component of the play.

Mount Pleasant resident Keri McArthur, 22, auditioned for the roles of Kate and Connie.

“I have been acting since I was very little,” McArthur said. “I did my first play when I was 4 and loved it.”

McArthur said she loves being on stage and playing someone else to experience different people. She attended business school at CMU.

Lapeer resident Shannon Cline, 20, said she wanted to find some positive things to do. Cline auditioned for all of the female roles, maximizing her potential for landing a part.

“I’m trying to find good things to do with my time,” Cline said. “I read a lot about this play and liked it.”

What do you get when you combine a big-shot Hollywood actor, a rambunctious funny-man rookie, and the director of the highest grossing comedy film ever made?

An over-the-top, odd couple inspired adventure with all the grossly hilarious mishaps that could possibly occur over 2,000 miles.

Robert Downey Jr. plays opposite Zach Galifianakis as an uptight, suit-and-tie guy named Peter Highman who must make it from Atlanta to Los Angeles to get home before the arrival of his first-born child.

Galifianakis, on the other hand, plays a clueless wannabe Hollywood actor named Ethan Tremblay who can’t seem to keep his mouth shut or his hands clean long enough to take a look around.

From the second the pair meet, a love (on the side of Ethan) and hate (on the side of Peter) relationship forms, and as a result of Ethan’s numbskull misgivings, Peter ends up stranded in Atlanta with no wallet, no chance of another flight, and only Ethan in a rented Subaru Impreza to get him from point A to B.

What happens next is a series of curious predicaments involving Ethan innocently infuriating, injuring or disgusting Peter through all things that can and cannot be mentioned in print, from relentless nagging to gunshot wounds.

Nearly every aspect of “Due Date” seems to compose the perfect recipe for comedy gold, much like “The Hangover” — credit returning director Todd Philips — yet the execution of the comedic elements creates something a little less than expected, with a pervading uneasiness throughout the film and a discomfort after its ending.

Sadly, what remains are only a few shocking images to recall and a bit of pity for our roadtrippers.

Downey Jr. and Galifianakis do make genuine hilarity out of several scenes, but for others the reaction ends up being uncomfortable to an almost painful level.

I give props for such unconventional humor and with the experiment comes the risk of hit or miss.

Here, the misses fall hard, and all the exchanges between the two get stuck in the darkly-toned mire to cause any laughter.

“Due Date” could be seen as a rebellious lovechild of “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” and “Observe and Report,” with a facade of “The Hangover,” only with a drooling bulldog as Galifianakis’s mascot in place of a baby in a chest harness.

The group formerly known as “Saturday Night Improv,” comprised of nine students, performed six to eight skits, in a fashion similar to the popular television show “Whose Line is it Anyway” Saturday in Moore Hall’s Platform — acting in song, using different voices or languages, and several scenes acting off of suggestions from the audience.

“There are always surprises,” said Holly senior Dan Martin. “Sometimes you walk out on stage and think a scene is going to go a certain way, then it goes completely the opposite and that’s what makes it fun.”

As a theatre major, Martin is no stranger to the stage but the novelty of each performance keeps him guessing despite his two years with the group.

“This is the only form of theatre that still makes me scared before I get on stage,” he said.

The members of the improv group cultivate a strong bond which allows them to act and react more naturally.

“I love being a part of a group that is much like a family and have fun with each other every night,”  said Battle Creek senior Anna Trupiano. “It’s a once in a lifetime experience, and we’re a very close.”

Trap Door performs three times a semester at CMU’s campus as well as in other locations. They will appear again in Moore Hall’s Platform in November.

Trupiano, who has been with the group for three years, said it helps her outside of the stage as well.

“I’ve gained the tools to think on my feet and adjust to any situation,” Trupiano said.

The Grand Rapids senior hosts and jokes in a weekly show — Coco Joe’s Comedy Night — featuring locally- and nationally-known stand-up comedians.

Howard began participating in improvisational comedy two and a half years ago and wants to pursue stand-up comedy professionally. He said he likes coming to Coco Joe’s Beach House, 4855 E. Bluegrass Road, to “do his thing.”

“I’m not boxed in,” he said. “It’s great to have five to 10 minutes each week to get things off my head.”

Ken Evans, 50, of Orlando, Florida performs his diverse comedy standup that hit on many points engaging the audience Thursday night at CoCo Joe's. "My favorite thing of all is to speak my mind and make people laugh," Evans said. "It heals them, it really does." Evans beings a cancer survivor of three years participates in cancer benefits to help give back to communities. (Victoria Zegler/Staff Photographer)

Coco Joe’s hosts the show at 9 p.m. Thursdays. Admission is $5.

Professional comedians such as Ken Evans of Florida, Martin Bulter of Detroit, Chris Hegedus of Cleveland and Tommy Thompson of Minnesota have all generated laughs from the crowd.

“Comedy is an interesting beast,” Hegedus said. “It’s fun to be challenged (by the audience).”

Mount Pleasant senior Michelle Murray said the event with Hegedus and Thompson was funny, and she would “definitely” come again.

She said it is interesting how they bring in nationally famous comedians, though she did have one criticism.

“I hate how all these comedians talk about is sex and drugs,” she said. “But for the most part, it was really funny and lots of fun to see.”

The comedy nights were hosted at Soaring Eagle Casino’s Boomers Nightclub, until it moved to Coco Joe’s this year, Howard said.

He said Coco Joe’s gives a different experience for college students.

“If people want to look for something unique, you know, you have all these bars, pitcher nights and all that, but Coco Joe’s is the only consistent comedy venue in town,” Howard said. “People like to laugh and enjoy themselves, Coco Joe’s gives them that opportunity.”

The stars of Comedy Central’s “Michael and Michael Have Issues” will lecture about making a television show at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Warriner Hall’s Plachta Auditorium.

“They’re going to talk about the behind-the-scenes of being on TV and making their show (‘Michael and Michael’),” said Program Board comedy chairwoman Nikki Burnstein.

The Farmington Hills junior said although the lecture is not primarily a comedy show, the audience can expect some laughs.

“It’s going to be more humorous,” Burnstein said. “I feel like it’s not going to be what you would expect from comedians, and it’s not what you would expect from a lecture. It’s kind of in between.”

Burnstein said she has heard a lot of positive feedback about the planned event, and is expecting a good turnout Wednesday.

“This one, I have a lot higher expectations,” she said. “I always hope to sell out Plachta but, this one, I feel a lot more potential to see that happening.”

As well as “Michael and Michael,” Black and Showalter have worked together on Comedy Central’s “Stella,” MTV’s “The State” and the film “Wet Hot American Summer.”

Burnstein said she is most familiar with Black as a panelist on VH1 shows such as “I Love The ’80s,” which Showalter also appeared on, albeit less prominently.

“Michael Ian Black has been on all the ‘I Love The’ series on VH1, and I personally think he’s pretty funny,” Burnstein said. “He seems personable. It feels like he’s talking to you.”

Lake City sophomore Craig Johnson said although he is not familiar with Black’s and Showalter’s comedy, he may attend the lecture with friends if his schedule permits.

“I know they’re pretty well-known comedians,” he said. “I know a few people who are going, and they are really excited.”