Comedian, Eric Andre to come to URI. PHOTO CREDIT: yahoo.com
The Student Entertainment Committee (SEC) announced on March 23 that comedian and actor, Eric Andre, will be visiting the Ryan Center on April 22 as part of URI’s Spring Fest.
Eric Andre enters his own realm of comedy as a professional, being referred to as the “Pioneer of Absurdist Humor,” by a user named Pat Turn on YouTube and described as “surrealist” by users on Reddit. This genre of comedy, disguised as an evening talk show, is one characterized by the destruction of property and ironically distasteful bits. Adult Swim, the Cartoon Network program that features his show, appeals to a newer generation of children in this fashion.
Despite being chosen as the Spring conversation speaker, the event is listed as an “Evening Event,” and will most likely consist of a stand-up act, finishing with a Q&A segment, according to Kayla Vukas, the advertising president of the SEC.
In addition to the student interest, the SEC felt as though Eric Andre would provide a unique experience for students to attend.
“He stands out from a lot of the other talent that we have had come to URI in the past, it definitely hits a different target audience than what we normally have,” said Chairperson Ali Carpino, explaining why they chose to invite Eric Andre.
After last semester’s Jenny Slate event, the Special Events Committee began searching for a comedian to visit in the spring, deciding on Eric Andre in early March.
The event was chosen to take place in the Ryan Center, allowing for more students to be able to attend than the available seating for Jenny Slate’s previous event that took place in Edwards Auditorium. For size reference, the Ryan Center has a 7,600-person capacity whereas the Edwards Auditorium can only accommodate 900 people. Not all seats will be available for purchase in order to offer a more intimate experience.
“It’s definitely on a larger scale and we’re hoping that a larger crowd can come and enjoy a comedy show like this,” said Carpino.
Carpino further expressed excitement about the mystery of Eric Andre’s pending performance, as they are not fully aware of what he will bring to the stage. As the comedian enters his sixth season of the “Eric Andre Show,” his performance may consist of showing episode clips, as well as some previews into the new season, according to Michael Nolfe, the coordinator of major events at URI.
Regarding the Q&A portion of the event, Nolfe stated that questions will most likely be requested for submission ahead of time through instagram, in the same fashion that Jennette McCurdy answered questions during her performance.
The event is part of URI’s Spring Fest, which will be closed out by Don Toliver’s performance at the end of this month amidst other events, such as the Lobster Bake.
“It’s supposed to be a good time, come out!” said Ali Carpino. “All that information is on our instagram, that’s our best place to keep up with dates.”Tickets for the event are now on sale to students and the general public. For students, the tickets range from $20-$25, and $30-$40 for the general public. Tickets can be purchased on the Ryan Center website, www.theryancenter.com, or by using the link in SEC’s Instagram bio (@urisec).