Take me to RIOT
Since October, Radio and Television Arts students have been preparing for the annual RIOT sketch comedy show. The event features live performances as well as pre-taped skits that have been produced, written, and directed entirely by students. It's a fresh take on the usual Saturday Night Live and MadTV fare, and over the years RIOT has continued to attract hundreds of students eager to get their laugh on.
James Boyd, a third-year RTA student, is the executive producer for RIOT 2008. Along with the other cast and crew, he has whittled down over 70 scripts to a mere 14 which will be featured in the show. "It's the best of the best," says Boyd. "It's worth every second."
RIOT is a Ryerson tradition that's over 50 years old, its name serving as an acronym for Ryerson Institute of Technology. Original productions featured the majority of the student body creating a night of fun for the university's small population. Today, the event has been adopted solely by the RTA students, who benefit from technical experience they gain outside the classroom, being both in front of the camera and behind it. "For the past month I've been putting off a lot of class and assignments," said third-year RTA student Joey Kehoe, assistant producer for RIOT, "But you get way more experience doing this than you do from class."
The practice schedule for the show is grueling; the time spent planning and preparing often equal to the weight of an additional two courses. Those involved have often sacrificed sleep, work, and the most of their time to put on the event. Mary Kelly, a first-year RTA student who is acting in the production, actually enjoyed the time she spent preparing for RIOT 2008. "I couldn't imagine just going to class and calling it a day," she said. "It's not work because it's fun."
Auditioning for RIOT is not only popular with RTA students but also competitive since the spots on the main team are highly respected and coveted positions. Jessica Holmes was a RIOT alumnus and has secured a successful career in improve as a regular on CBC's Air Farce. And, after last year's show, performer and RTA student Dan Ramos ended up with an offer from an agent who happened to be sitting in the audience.
Despite the possibility of getting booked for future acting gigs, the RIOT crew insists that the most important part of their project is giving students great comedy. "We want to make it the best show ever, even if it's just for one person in the audience," said third-year RTA student Andrew Kekewich, one of the RIOT directors. Kelly also echoes this idea adding, "It's such a good show that people who don't come are missing out on the range of talent."
Check out RIOT 2008 on Thursday March 13 at 9:00 p.m., on Friday March 14 at 8:00 p.m. or at the popular midnight showing, or on Saturday March 15 at 8:00 p.m.. Tickets cost $5 and can be picked up in advance in the RCC foyer, or on performance nights at the door.
Comments