Date rape may not be a laughing matter, but a Wednesday night improv show on the Tempe campus educated students about sexual consent through comedy.
“Sex Signals,” hosted by ASU Wellness and Devils in the Bedroom, brought Catharsis Productions educators Annie Rix and George Zerante to perform comedic skits about dating, gender stereotypes, sexual consent and assault.
“We use humor to get a serious issue across,” Zerante said.
Rix and Zerante played out stereotypical dating scenarios while audience members would hold up signs that read “Stop” when the situations would go too far or the pickup line was completely ridiculous.
ASU Wellness director Karen Moses was responsible for organizing the show.
“Students enjoy the show as it is funny and entertaining,” Moses said in an email. “At the same time they learn why verbal communication about sex and consent (is) so important and how challenging it is to communicate clearly under the influence of alcohol, and ways to reduce risk for sexual violence.”
Rix said “Signals” is not a typical PowerPoint about dating and sexual assault.
“The audience loves the actual interaction,” she said.
Every show is a different experience depending on the audience, Rix said. This is the second year Rix has come to ASU to perform.
Family studies senior Francis Kulikowski enjoyed hearing the audience’s opinions and reactions to what is considered consent.
“It was an interesting way of getting the message across,” Kulikowski said.
Dr. Joel Hutchinson, ASU Counseling Services psychologist, said audience members get a better understanding of sexual issues when it’s their peers talking.
“They did a nice job talking about stereotypes about men and women and how these stereotypes are inaccurate,” he said.
Brian Golden has been the director of “Signals” for five years and has showed this presentation in 20 countries. He said the message of the show is getting consent.
“We want audience members to know that consent is an essential component of healthy sex,” Golden said. “They must always ensure to have consent before they have sex.”
The show will also be performed at the West campus Thursday at Kiva Lecture Hall at 8 p.m.
Reach the reporter at thania.betancourt@asu.edu
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