To (greatly) paraphrase an old saying, if you can remain calm while everyone around you is in a panic . . . maybe you should get your funny bone checked out.

On Oct. 2, Gallery 7 Theatre will celebrate the last days of summer and the advent of its upcoming “Rise to the Challenge” theatre season, with the return of comedy improv masters, Panic Squad.

“We’ve got another great year of theatre,” says Gallery 7’s executive artistic director, Ken Hildebrandt.

“What better way to kick things off than to have our good friends from Panic Squad regale us with their laugh-a-minute style of comedy.”

At the helm of Panic Squad is founding member, Andrew Bright.

Currently residing in Lynden, Wash., Bright discovered his love for improv at Trinity Western University in Langley, where he became part of the comedy improv league after being asked to fill in for a sick player.

After five minutes on stage, he knew he’d never look back.

Since then, Andrew has played at Pacific Theatre in Vancouver, has spoken at various youth events and camps, has done stand-up, has performed improv on Trinity’s champion improv team and has lead community workshops for youth.

Bright will be joined by a host of other top-quality comedians from around the region, including John Voth and Dave Swan, both from Langley.

Panic Squad performs improvised comedy, spontaneous humour that is crafted around audience suggestions. It’s just like television’s Whose Line Is It Anyway, but totally clean. 

For more than 10 years, Panic Squad has successfully performed for hundreds of churches, conferences, businesses, and top Fortune 500 corporations across the United States and Canada.

From the start, audience members are shouting out suggestions from their seats and even participating on stage.

Only with improv is the audience as much a part of the show as the actors.

This season’s 90-minute Panic Squad show happens Friday, Oct. 2 at the MEI Theatre, 4081 Clearbrook Road, Abbotsford.

The zaniness will begin promptly at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $16/adults, $14/seniors and students, $13/ groups (10-plus) and $9 for children 12 and under.

They can be purchased through the House of James at 2743 Emerson St., Abbotsford or by calling 604-852-3701. Go to www.panicsquad.com for more info.