About 60 people sat on the dry, brown grass outside of Redmond’s City Hall on Friday to watch an improv performance by Unexpected Productions, a comedy group headquartered at the Market Theater at Pike Place Market.

Christian Bird, an audience member, said that the routine was funnier than he thought it would be.

“We were a little concerned when we saw the turnout,” said Bird. “It was better than we expected.”

Unexpected Productions’ comedy night was the fourth free, Friday-night show outside Redmond’s City Hall this summer.

Through the Redmond’s Arts in the Parks program, local artists perform each Friday at 7 p.m. and each Tuesday at noon through the end of the month. Visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic and a low-backed chair or blanket.

Unexpected Productions is scheduled to perform at the park again on Friday, Aug. 21.

Vicky Sanko, who volunteered to be part of the improv act, said that she thought it was a “great thing,” and that she hoped Unexpected Productions performed at the park again.

The Arts in the Parks Web site encourages those who attend the next comedy improv night to “bring your favorite requests” and suggests that the act will be “an amazing hour of whatever you want it to be.”

Unexpected Productions, which began in 1983, has performed in Germany, Australia, New Zealand and all over the U.S. A schedule of upcoming performances can be found at http://www.unexpectedproductions.org/

Detailed information about Redmond Arts in the Parks can be found at www.redmond.gov/arts.

Kaitlin Strohschein is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory.