A Gardendale artistic venue is tossing around some ideas for a new monthly event.

The Wherehouse, part of the Great American Tent Company on U.S. Hwy. 31 in Gardendale, is bouncing around ideas for its new “Third Thursdays” event. Shari Gray, owner of the Great American Tent Company and founder of the Wherehouse, said one of the biggest things she’s trying to do is put together a group of improvisational actors, tentatively called the “Wherehouse Players.”

Improvisational theater is very similar to the television show “Who’s Line is it, Anyway?” where actors do a scene off the tops of their heads with little direction, minimal props and almost no set. Actors usually play a series of “games” to create scenes, usually for comedic, rather than dramatic, effect.

Great American Tent Company owner Sheri Gray started the Wherehouse about a year ago by converting a large room at Great American tent company, previously used for cleaning tents, into a theater and general-purpose venue. Local Elvis impersonator David Lee performed in May at the theater; Gray said the house was packed with about 120 attendees and people came from as far as Hackleburg to see Lee’s show.

Gray said she’s also hoping to bring some local music to First Thursdays.

Gray studied theater at Michigan State University. She has worked with the Mortimer Jordan High School theater program and has also directed several community plays in north Jefferson, such as a production of “Arsenic and Old Lace” in Warrior.

The inaugural First Thursday is planned for August 4. To follow what the Wherehouse has planned, follow them on their Facebook page.