Some might think that no human event can continue for 24 consecutive hours and still be funny. Well, they might be right, but who cares what they think? It's still a cool feat to accomplish, which is exactly what this year's set of improvisers did at the sixth annual Brandeis Improvathon, hosted at Cholmondeley's from 7 p.m. last Friday until 7 p.m. last Saturday. Members of all four improv groups-Bad Grammer, Crowd Control, False Advertising and To Be Announced-joined forces to bring laughter to the world and raise money in the form of donations for the Oxfam Charity. The event was organized collaboratively by a few of the improvisers assembled into a committee by Crowd Control member Paul Gale '12.The marathon of improvisation comes with certain traditions and rituals that have been venerated over the years. First and most importantly, all of the improv groups are represented at Improvathon, bringing them together in a way only paralleled at Improvaganza, a monthly event also hosted at Chum's. However, improvisers are not the only ones who go onstage to perform. Due to the delirious, exhausting nature of the show, the improvisers are bound to get tired, and audience members are encouraged to try their hand at improvising. By 4 a.m. it's difficult to think up new and original "I like my women like I like my ." jokes, and any contributions are appreciated, from audience members or even passersby. Special recognition must go to Abraham "Abe" Roisman '10, who, although not a member of a Brandeis-recognized improv group on campus, is still an accomplished improviser at heart. Roisman is credited with lasting the longest of all audience members and improvisers, spending almost all of the 24 hours at Improvathon, except for a brief break to visit a friend's dorm.

The second rule of Improvathon is that someone must be onstage at all times. This rule was invoked when Roisman called out frantically, "Wait! There are no improvisers onstage!" at one point. However, his fears were subdued once it was established that someone always had to be onstage, but not necessarily one of the members of the improv groups. And besides, Roisman was deemed an honorary improviser by all present, due to the extreme dedication he demonstrated to the cause. Another time, during Sleepover Hour (each hour was assigned a theme), Ida Chelengar '12, a member of False Ad, was assigned to perform a scene that involved touching each and every window inside of Chum's. In order to allow her to do so, the other improvisers agreed to stay onstage while her character drove around in a car and hit each and every window.

Another Improvathon tradition is the exchange of kisses for money. While donations are requested at the door, people are also encouraged to pay a dollar and choose which two improvisers they would like to see kiss onstage as part of a scene. These kiss assignments resulted in much hilarity, for instance when False Ad member Zane Relethford '13 resorted to getting down on his knees and singing a love serenade to a reluctant Jeremy Slosberg '11, another member of his troupe, although he was ultimately shot down. By the end of the night, even some nonimproviser audience members were goaded into kissing-all for the sake of charity, of course.

It's pretty hard to do the same thing for 24 hours without variation, so the improvisers routinely incorporate different improv games and forms into the show. These games ranged from "Flock of Seagulls" to "Ding" to long-forms (one story inspired by many short, interconnected scenes), and each brought a much-needed aspect of creativity and change to the stage.

Musicality is also a huge part of Improvathon, since what is more amazing than watching people improvise songs onstage? However, something key to Improvathon this year was freestyle rapping. Due to people's enthusiasm to experiment in a new field from their usual, and perhaps in part due to a lack of keyboard, almost all of the improvisers partook in freestyle rapping throughout the night, singing over famous beats. Often ignoring the designated theme of the hour, they instead spit rhymes about an array of topics ranging from their pets to saltwater taffy and have performed with an astonishing amount of skill. The most poignant moment of the night/morning came when Roisman and Crowd Control member Maya Siegel '10 sang personalized love songs to people in the audience, truly breaking down that old fourth wall.

The most touching tradition (aside from the kisses) is the communal shouting of "__ hours down, __ hours awesome," which is called out every hour on the hour. By the end of the 'thon, Saturday at 7 p.m., everyone had gone back to their rooms to sleep at one point or another, but many of the improvisers came back to end the night in style. After 24 hours happily devoted to improv, I think it's safe to say everyone left with a heavy heart, as many made their bleary-eyed ways down to Gosman Sports Center for the 12-hour overnight Relay for Life, another charity fundraiser. Well, don't let anyone say Brandeis students just sleep all day!

Editor's note: Zane Relethford is a member of the Justice Copy staff.