EPiC’s annual improv-based show Micetro is officially premiering tonight following a free preview yesterday. The show will run daily at the Little Theater at 7:30 p.m. until Saturday night.

The cast features 16 Advanced Drama students, plus student stagehands for lighting, costumes, and other behind-the-scenes work.

Micetro is a competition-based show where all performing cast members go head-to-head in various improv games such as “The Dating Game” or “Late for Work.” The actors are scored by the audience’s applause, with louder applause denoting a higher score. Performers with the lowest scores in a round are eliminated, and by the end of the night only one performer remains to claim the coveted cheese hat.

“Expect to laugh so hard you’ll cry,” said senior cast member Paloma Sapien. “And ladies- wear waterproof makeup or you will be sorry.”

Performers will also act in open scenes, which means that the improvisers on stage will act out a scene that doesn’t have guidelines like a game would have.

Rehearsals for Micetro began during the first week of school and have continued three or four days per week since then. Common rehearsal activities are learning and acting in all of the games cast members could play during the show, as well as additional skills in characterization and setting a scene.

“We are given different characteristics and characters by the group and the director to try out,” said junior cast member Nahid Martin. “The director gives us feedback on our acting skills like the quirks that we’re bringing in that we should learn to control better, or skills that she appraises us for that we can learn to use later on.”