Beth Muehling had come to the Mecca of improvisational comedy, and she couldn't bring herself to go in the door.

She was standing in front of The Second City training center in Chicago, a comedy factory that has educated and churned out Saturday Night Live stars, such as John Belushi, Bill Murray, Tim Meadows and a slew of other comedy heavyweights.   

The distinguished list of alumni and the group's reputation were just a few reasons she hesitated before opening the door. 

"The first time I drove up, my partner was with me and I couldn't walk in the door," Muehling said. "She literally picked me up by my shirt and kicked my butt in the door.

"And within 15 minutes I fell in love with it."

Muehling commuted between Lincoln and Chicago each weekend during the 16-week program, working in Lincoln during the week and learning the art of comedy on the weekends. 

When Muehling finished the program, she returned to Lincoln and began teaching improv classes at the Lincoln Community Playhouse. Some of her students  showed interest and joined her to form the Lyp-Schtick improv comedy troupe.  

The group will perform at the 9th Street Basement, 227 N. Ninth St., Sunday night starting at 8.

Muehling and her troupe practice a variety of improv similar to that seen on "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" which relies heavily upon audience participation.

They have performed at company parties, and will begin a regular Sunday night gig in November. Until then, the group will continue to hone its comedy with practice and occasional shows.

"The thing that floors me is how much preparation it takes to do improv," she said. 

Comedy has long been Muehling's forte. Before enrolling in Second City, she filled a variety of roles in the Lincoln performance community. She played everything from a gargoyle, to a 65-year old woman addicted to bingo and even Riff Raff in the "Rocky Horror Picture Show."

She said improv was always a part of her acting before she went to Chicago, and recalled a time when another actress on stage froze during a two-person play.

"The trick of improv is to never let the audience know you don't know what's going on," she said. "What improv teaches you to do is quickly think your way out of a problem."

The troupe's shows are a rapid-fire succession of comedy that typically last about two hours. Muehling said the show tries to maintain a "‘Shrek' level," so that some jokes would go over a child's head, but hit the mark with adult audience members.     

Through a handful of shows, the 12-person improv troupe already has developed a loyal and vocal following who call themselves the Lip Liners and aren't bashful about hollering suggestions at the stage. 

"The show is never exactly the same," Muehling said. "The audience chooses its own show."

Reach Michael Bruntz at 473-7254 or mbruntz@journalstar.com.