For the past three years, Anthony Corkos has been the director and host of WU’s Line, Waynesburg University’s improvisation comedy show.

According to Corkos, the show has been a part of Waynesburg for what he believes is going on eight or 10 years now. The show has seen many different changes since he inherited the show and position from Olivia Long, the director during Corkos’ freshman year.

When he first took over the show, it featured four main cast members and two cameos. However, after seeing the amount of talent his cast had during his sophomore year, he changed it to five main cast members and three cameos. Corkos then changed the group to a main cast and supporting cast where both groups are on stage at all times.

Up until Corkos took over, the director of the show and the host were two different people.

“[Olivia Long] directed my freshman year,” said Corkos. “[Long] wasn’t the host though. My sophomore year, I had someone else be the host because that was usually how it was. The director and the host were usually two different roles. He ended up quitting like two weeks before the show. So, I was like ‘I’ll just host’, and I fell in love with it. So, I’ve been the director and host [ever since].”

A change that Corkos is particularly proud is the addition of walkout music—much like what fans of WWE wrestling see when each person enters the arena. It’s the same principle for what occurs when each cast member is introduced to the stage.

“[The walk-up music] really sets the mood for the show ‘cause usually the cast members will pick really funny songs or a song that really has to do with their personality,” said Corkos.

At the conclusion of the final show, April 25, Corkos will be passing the role of host and director on to Tré Thomas, who is currently the assistant director of WU’s Line.

According to Corkos, Thomas originally joined the show and was a part of the supporting cast, but wanted to quit the show. Corkos said he was able to talk Thomas into sticking around and helping him out with the show. Now the show will be put into his hands after Corkos graduates.

“He’s done a fantastic job,” said Corkos, “and I’m sure everybody that I’ve talked to on campus knows who he is. I think he’s going to be a very good person to hand [WU’s Line] off to and I’m sure under him it will grow exponentially.”

Over his four years of involvement with the show, Corkos has made many fond memories.

“Matthew Emerson [at a show last year] started singing ‘Welcome to the Black Parade’ by My Chemical Romance and the whole audience joined in,” said Corkos, “and it was this really surreal moment where everyone singing along [I thought] ‘Wow, this is awesome! Alright, the crowd does like us.’ You could tell everybody was having a really good time … That was just a really magical moment.”

Even though Corkos knows he is leaving the show in good hands, it’s going to be something he misses greatly, especially because he believes the show has a uniqueness that Waynesburg needs.

“I feel like a proud father. I see [the cast] out there and they’re having a blast during the shows. The audience may be having the best night of their lives, but I can guarantee you the performers are having way more fun,” he said. “It’s almost like we should pay the audience to come to the show because we get way more out of it than they do. And, it’s still the best show on campus.”

The improv show provides a nature of entertainment that students cannot get from any of the other shows that go on Corkos said.

“I think that WU’s Line is a very important show for Waynesburg,” said Corkos. “We do a very good job of walking that fine line between keeping the show appropriate [and the unpredictability of the improvisation]. At the same time, you never really know what is going to happen. The fact that everyone goes there just to laugh, there’s no other shows like that on campus. People going to a pure comedy show, having a room full of people … and they’re all laughing at the same thing, it brings everyone together.”