Some keep humor and business separate but, for the Improv Commandos, funny is their business.

The 14-member improvisational group relies on audience participation at their performances, which have a similar format to the television show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”

With no scripts or planned-out actions, the Commandos have tapped into the talent of being quick with a comeback, continuously playing off of each others’ words.

“There are no obstacles, everything is an opportunity. There are no mistakes in improv,” says Jerry Schulman, artistic director and five-year member of the Commandos. “In a play, if you blow a line everyone has to adjust to it, but with improv I get excited knowing that something’s going to happen that’s never happened before.“

Spinning off from the Theater of Western Springs in 1999, the idea for the Improv Commandos was conceived after some original members participated in an class offered through the theater. The mutual separation has since sparked a nine-year running of local shows, fundraiser and laughs along the way.

With camaraderie like that of a sports team, the Commandos gather, uniforms intact (each wears a piece of camouflage clothing), to practice for upcoming shows. Each 80-minute show performance features a series of games, which the group runs through during their rehearsal. Despite practicing their craft, though, no one ever knows what to expect from their audience.

“If you ask for something from the audience, you work with whatever you’re given. You don’t have to take each suggestion literally because what you do is inspired by that suggestion. If someone gives you a horrible suggestion, you can honor that but take it in a completely different direction,” Schulman said.

According to Improv Commando member Phranque Wirght, improv is merely an extension of typical human interaction.

“People do improv every day. You don’t have scripted conversations, there are no props or stage settings, so you can’t deny anything that has been established” said Wright, a resident of Homewood.

Moving about their playing field, the members embrace each original scenario, which requires them to play off of the actions of fellow members.

“It’s all about living in the moment. Ideally, nothing is going through your head until the exact moment that it happens,” said Noah Paris of Forest Park, the youngest member of the group.

Although the Commandos specialize in funny, it’s the unexpected actions that get the biggest laughs.

“There are people who think all you have to do was stand up there and be funny, but improv isn’t about being funny. The funniest scenes are played straight, that’s the kind of thing we aim for because people are funny enough without having to try to be,” Schulman said. “Everything you do on stage gets a reaction from the audience. They get in touch with themselves and identify with what you do, and that’s what they find funny.”