The scene was set for rehearsal for No Refund Theatre's Phroth Phest last Wednesday night.

A funny interaction during the scene called for Danny Kincaid (senior-theatre) to bang Bobby Brooks' (junior-broadcast journalism) head on the table. He was supposed to keep his hand under Brooks' head for padding, but he didn't.

After the shock of a potentially severe injury had passed, the scene continued for about 30 seconds, when Kincaid suddenly jumped to his feet.

"Holy s---," he said as he ran out the classroom to get tissues. Brooks' nose dripped with blood -- through his nostrils, down his chin and onto the floor. The back of his hand was covered in blood.

The flash of concern diminished when Brooks assured the group he gets nosebleeds all the time.

Disruptions like these, while not always violent, proved to be common among a cast of comedians. Rehearsal was interrupted constantly because either someone was unable to keep a straight face or outbursts arose from cast members seated in the audience.

The annual Phroth Phest is a series of skits -- think Saturday Night Live style -- with a few occurrences of improvisation, Brooks said post-nosebleed.

Rich Hidirsah (sophomore-marketing) said so far it's been interesting.

"Basically we are just making asses of ourselves," he said.

This weekend's sketches will be filled with relatable subject matter sprinkled with crude language, which only adds to the humor, Hidersah said.

Alexa Fox (freshman-theatre) said this type of performance was "right up her ally," adding these skits never get old.

"I've seen them all 10-plus times, and still find them hilarious," she said, using Brooks' character as an example. "Bobby has a lot of scenes where he cries. He has a different cry every time he does it, one more ridiculous than the next."

The actors gushed over each other's skits. A common favorite was one called "Trouble on the Mountain."

Brittany Klein (freshmen-advertising) said the sarcasm of the skit is what makes it hilarious. She and Fox discussed the skit in excited rambles and explained it's about two guys who are starving on top of a mountain and give a "grandiose" speech before they die.

"So dumb," Klein added, rolling her eyes at the stupidity of the characters.

Another skit, titled "Frat Girls," is an interpretation of the fraternity party entry policy if the roles were reversed. Yet another ventures to make fun of 12th grade high school English classes with a parody of the Greek epic Oedipus. Brooks played the wig-wearing Oedipus, while Kincaid portrayed his dorky adviser during rehearsal:

"Dude, you're the only two people in the empire with red hair and both of you have the last name Turner," one actor said to Brooks.

"Didn't you ever discuss the possibility that you came out of her uterus?" said Kincaid in character.

Klein said this is the type of humor audiences can expect.

"I just can't wait to say a line and hear the people laugh," she said.