College of DuPage Student Performing at Second City Through Oct. 17
College of DuPage student Aram Rayzian is performing in "Critically Ashamed," with his comedy group One Giant Leap at Donny's Skybox, part of the Second City comedy theatre at 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays, Oct. 3 through Oct. 17.
Rayzian said the opportunity to perform came about based on a previous performance at the venue.
"This is our second run at Donny's Skybox," Rayzian said. "We were invited back after breaking the record for ticket sales at the Skybox for our time slot last November."
Rayzian said One Giant Leap grew from humble beginnings to find uncommon success over the past year.
"We were just a group of strangers brought together by a mutual friend to pitch a show, not actually expecting it to go anywhere," he said. "It turns out that we have a great mix of improvisers and writers. This past year, we won the Stage 773 Sketch Comedy competition "Laugh Battle" twice consecutively."
Rayzian, currently a resident of Naperville, said the show takes a humorous look at a common element of the human condition and that sketches include physical comedy, heavy satire, strong political humor and current events.
"Our show is about shame - why we hide it, how it changes our behavior and how we cope with it," he said. "Shame is a shared experience, no matter how isolated it can make you feel sometimes. We love to take a serious topic and give it a creative and hilarious spin."
At College of DuPage, Rayzian is pursuing an A.A. in Arts at COD with plans to complete his Bachelor's in History and hopes to be a life-long learner of acting and improvisation. After graduating from the Second City Conservatory program in a few months, he hopes to join the Second City National Touring Company and have a career as a performer and writer.
He said he is pleased with his experience at COD, naming the support of the faculty and flexibility COD offers as particularly helpful.
"COD has provided me with many opportunities to grow as a writer and performer and expand on my skills," he said. "I've been able to study creative writing, acting and improvisation with some great classmates and excellent professors such as Amelia Barrett, Thomas Montgomery-Fate and Connie Canaday-Howard. COD has also allowed me the flexibility to take classes and do shows concurrently so I can continue to both further my education while doing something I love."
Click here for more information on "Critically Ashamed" and to purchase tickets for the show.