Here’s a trivia question: How many years has this Trivia Bowl been taking place? Read on to find the answer.
The annual Team Trivia Bowl is going virtual this year. The fun happens from 8 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6.
Trivia Bowl is the brainchild of Kehilath Israel Synagogue. It quickly grew to a beloved community-wide event, eagerly anticipated annually. Several years ago, The J teamed up with K.I. to co-sponsor, and this year marks the 20th year of the well-loved evening.
Kansas City native Corey Rittmaster is on board to be this year’s emcee. Currently living in Los Angeles, Rittmaster is the owner of Quizzia – Pub-less Pub Trivia. In addition to being a pro quizmaster, he has decades of experience as a host, improviser, actor and corporate facilitator. He has appeared on several TV shows, toured with The Chicago Comedy Company and ComedySportz, as well The Second City.
Rittmaster loves trivia. He and a group of friends would gather weekly at a pub in L.A. to play pub trivia. When the pandemic put an end to that, he put together virtual trivia nights so the friends could still “gather.” From there, Quizzia was born.
“I strive to recreate the feeling — the vibe — of pub trivia, when you can’t actually go to the pub,” Rittmaster explained.
How does virtual trivia bowl work? Once signed up, participants will receive an email with instructions. People may form their teams of six to eight in advance, or they can be placed with a team. Everyone will be “together” for portions of the evening, and teams will also break out into individual virtual rooms as they work to answer the questions. While players will need to provide their own game night food and drinks, The J and K.I. have the prizes for you.
Rittmaster said the trivia will come from a very wide array of topics. “Since people can be very knowledgeable in one area but not in another, the break-out rooms are very important; the team aspect is crucial.”
But there’s a twist. Rittmaster likes to add another element to his “pub-less pub” trivia games, and that element is strategy. He did not go into detail when being interviewed, so that will remain a surprise to be discovered.
Committee members include Felice Azorsky, Steve Kingston, Tamara Kingston and Elizabeth Peden. They urge people to sign up early as there are a limited number of tickets available.
The cost for teams of six is $30; teams of eight, $40; individual tickets, $5. Sign up early at the jkc.org/trivia. Learn more about Rittmaster and Quizzia at www.goquizzia.com.
