Performers react mid-scene during a past “Catch a Killer” performance, where characters and outcomes are created in real time based on audience input. The show returns for a one-night pop-up event May 8 at Neva’s Place beneath The Whatnot Shop in downtown Marysville. Photo provided by Shamaya Sutton

MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) - When a scheduling conflict threatened to sideline one of Yuba-Sutter’s regular improv nights, local performers did what they do best: improvise.

Instead of canceling, Yuba-Sutter Improv is taking its signature “Catch a Killer” format on the road for a one-night-only pop-up performance at Neva’s Place, a historic speakeasy beneath The Whatnot Shop in downtown Marysville. The show, set for Friday, May 8, blends long-form improvisation with a murder mystery twist, inviting the audience to help shape the story and ultimately guess the killer.

“It’s always different and a little chaotic,” organizers said. “The audience gives us the world, the characters, everything, and we build it live.”

The move to Neva’s Place came after the group’s usual venue was booked for a quinceañera, prompting a last-minute pivot that organizers say reflects the flexibility and spontaneity at the heart of improv.

Marysville City Councilmember Stuart Gilchrist helped facilitate the alternative space, allowing the troupe to continue its regular performance schedule while introducing audiences to a new, intimate setting. Doors open at 7 p.m., with the show beginning at 7:30 p.m. Seating is first come, first served and donations will be accepted at the door.

In keeping with the speakeasy atmosphere, audience members can also take part in themed drink offerings at The Woodbutcher Bar before or after the show. Those who use the password “Yes, and” may receive a discount, while a signature drink, the “Pour Me a Killer,” a whiskey Coke with a cherry, ties into the evening’s mystery theme.

Organizers say the pop-up format may become a recurring option, particularly as the group looks to expand its reach and experiment with new venues throughout the region. For now, the focus remains on a single night of unscripted storytelling and the chance for audiences to test their instincts: Can they catch the killer?