The show in store for Beckwith Theatre audiences this weekend will be a complete surprise — for both patrons and the actors on stage.

The Dowagiac theater will open its 2015 season Friday with “A Night of Improv,” its first ever improvisational comedy show. The theater will host two 45-minute shows, a family friendly show at 7 p.m., and a mature audiences only one at 8:30 p.m.

Similar to popular sketch programs featured on TV, each show will broken up into short, two- to three-minute scenes, where several of the actors will be given a scenario or theme to act out on the fly. With no script or established characters, both shows are guaranteed to feature the one-of-kind jokes that come from improvised acting.

The idea for the show came from James Huffman and Ryan Murray, two veterans of the Beckwith stage.

“I’ve done this kind of show informally, at camps and other places, and its always ended up being funny,” Murray said. “I thought it would be great for Beckwith to do something like it.”

The show will feature a cast of 10, with nine actors performing on stage and one person serving as a moderator, who will set up the scenarios for the actors. The audience will be able to participate at various points throughout the night as well, offering suggestions for scenes or characters for the actors to portray.

“It’s different from a typical play,” Murray said. “We know the audience is there, and the moderator will interact with them.”

Despite the improvised nature of the show, the talent has still been hard at work rehearsing for Friday’s performance. Unlike typical practice sessions, the actors aren’t memorizing lines or getting certain time cues down, but instead are learning how to play off one another and to perfect their comedic timing, Murray said.

“This is a lot more fun for me,” Murray said. “Just in my regular life, I’m the person who often makes the one-liner jokes. That’s all this is, it is playing off the other person and saying zany things. It’s very physical as well.”

Joining the handful of Beckwith regulars on stage will be theater students with Southwestern Michigan College, some of whom have been taking improvisational classes at the school, Murray said.

“They’ve been a great infusion of young talent that has improved the show a lot,” he said.

No reservations are required to attend the show, and visitors will be able to donate to the theater during admission, with a suggested contribution of $5. Visitors will also be able to enjoy a cash bar during either of Friday’s shows.

Beckwith Theatre Company is located at 100 New York Ave. in downtown Dowagiac. For additional information, visit the theater’s Facebook page or call 269-782-7653.