Audience members sat facing a chalkboard reading: NO SHAME: A Night of Playful Hedonism and Debauchery when the lights flashed and they started cheering as No Shame Theatre began in the Communication Arts Center, Room 108, Nov. 8.
Its just a variety show for people that have some sort of artistic talent, whether its writing or singing or poetry, and they can do their own work there, said Cody Hoien, junior theater major and one of three No Shame hosts.
The other hosts are senior family services major Chris Madigan and 2009 graduate David Harnois.
Madigan said No Shame originated at the University of Iowa and eventually wound up at the University of Northern Iowa.
No Shame is generally every other Friday night at 10 pm. The next will be Nov. 15.
People need to see what its all about, theres a lot of legal fun on campus Friday nights, said Samantha Manzanares, junior English major and one of Fridays nine performers.
There are three rules at No Shame: Each performer is allowed five minutes for a piece, each piece must be 100 percent original and the performer cannot break anything, though Madigan said mental maiming is encouraged.
Madigan got involved with No Shame when a friend of his asked him to do a Pok?mon musical with him. And after attending for three months, he became a chair person and held the position for two years before becoming a host.
Hoien said he attended No Shame for the first time with Half Masted, and improvisation group at UNI, many of whom were regular No Shame performers.
It was a lot of fun watching them do skits, and occasionally wed do some improv ourselves. It was just a fun time, and its really cool to be able to do your own pieces for an audience that wants to see them, Hoien said.
He has been attending and performing off and on since his freshman year and he recently became a host.
Its just a safe place to have a creative outlet with a receptive audience, and an audience that also participates, because the performers are part of the audience until its their turn to perform, Hoien said.
Kelli Larson, junior religions major, said she went to her first No Shame performance in Spring 2013 to support Manzanares and has continued to attend ever since. Besides enjoying the humor of the performances, she said she likes the sense of community.
Its warm and welcoming and they accept you no matter what you bring to the table, Larson said. Like a clich?, its a family. They seem to love you unconditionally without even knowing you. I havent even performed and I feel welcome here.
