We all have a funny friend. Comedy Corner has 13.

Comedy Corner is a University of Arizona student-led comedy troupe with 13 members. They do a show every Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. in The Cellar Bistro on campus. 

And for new members Joe Breitweiser, Mackenzie Raetz and Luke Wink-Moran, last Wednesday's Comedy Corner show was their first; after being accepted into the troupe the night before. On the other hand, it's been close to 100 shows for head honchos Chris Bergin and Katie Gerdts. 

At the same time each week, they take a small stage to deliver witty punch lines and on-the-spot jokes to a group of students — some returners, some doing homework and some people eating dinner. Members are split into smaller groups to play games like "New Choice" and "Switch" for the first half of the show and then the whole troupe gets on stage for long-form standup. 

On top of weekly shows and rehearsals twice a week, they're preparing for College Improv Tournament 10, a national competition in Chicago, later this month — and it's a big deal. It's been close to seven years since the last time they competed nationally, making this a first for the whole team.

There is even a GoFundMe account to help support the trip.

Q&A with the members of Comedy Corner

Why is going to nationals such a big deal?

President Katie Gerdts: It's an appreciation we're not really used to. It's a recognition because we have Charles Darwin Experience who we are compared to a lot. To come out of the shadows, because we're metaphorically down in the cellars — the dungeons — while they're up in Gallagher [Theatre]. To come out of the shadows is a big deal for me. 

Director Chris Bergin: Four years ago, we were a disheveled group that fought often amongst ourselves and in the last two years there have been a lot of nurturing relationships and friendships that are lasting. What's really important is, like Katie was saying, the acknowledgment but we do this because it's something that is enjoyable to watch. It's important to us to have time to be ourselves amongst other improvisers. 

Why Comedy Corner?

Mackenzie Raetz: I actually already had two friends in the group, so we had been going to their shows all throughout last semester and they said they were having auditions, and I thought it would be a fun thing to do. 

Luke Wink-Moran: I just always wanted to do comedy. 

Joe Breitweiser: I did improv and musical theatre in high school. I spent all semester not doing anything and I kind of missed it a lot. I went to a couple Comedy Corner shows and my friend Adam was already in it, so it was kind of fun rooting him on and I thought I would get back into it again. I went to auditions last week and it worked out well for me. 

Are you the class clown or the funny friend?

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Griffin Riley: Depends on the social group I'm with. Sometimes if I'm with a group of people I don't like then I won't make an effort to impress them so they probably don't think I'm funny. For the most part, I'm a pretty entertaining guy. 

Nicki Moore: I would depending on the social group. I think when I'm with my non-Comedy Corner friends, I'm the funny one but when I'm here, we're all funny. 

Adam Meilech: I was going to say the same thing. Yeah, with a lot of friends, I can be the funny friend. But when we're here, everyone's kinda funny.

What have you gained from doing this?

Treasurer and Marketing Manager Rebecca Wendler: Personally, it helps with my anxiety being onstage in front of all of those people and even a classroom with the other members. It helps form bonds with people and make friends with other people, which was the reason I did it but I'm still here. 

Vice President Ben Weinstein: I gained something to do and friends. I've gotten a lot out of this group socially and it's really fun to do improv, too. 

Secretary Samantha Weisband: For me, we gained friends but these guys are my best friends. I have never truly met such amazing people, and in life, I have to be laughing and these guys are a hoot and a half.

Wendler: We recently added bigs and littles, so now we have a family. 

Weisband: This is the closest Comedy Corner has been in a long time and it's because when we do auditions one of the big things we look for is, will we get along with these people outside of the group? 

What would you say to a little girl that wants to be a comedian?

Lexi Garrabrant: 100 percent just do it. The improv troupe that I was in before Comedy Corner was all inclusive, all you had to do was sign up and you would start from the bottom and learn everything, and I have seen some of the quietest, shy girls grow into amazing improvisers. It's almost sad to see them at first because they have great ideas but they're not confident enough to go out and do it and I'm always like, 'You can rock this scene and I know you can, so please go out there and do it.' 

Julia Gilmer: I think you can definitely work at it. With an improv person, there's a special spark that some people have that you can't really describe. For example, I was teaching a bunch of kids at a volunteer thing and this little girl had been quiet and then immediately lit up. I think it takes a certain amount of talent but if you're willing to put yourself out there, you're going to go a long way. 

The women of Comedy Corner will be at Tucson Women's Comedy Festival on Thursday, Feb. 23. Find more information here. 

Interested in joining? Comedy Corner has auditions every semester, check out their website and Facebook page for more information.