# Erika Ritter
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{{Short description|Canadian playwright and humorist}}
{{Infobox writer
| image =
| imagesize =
| name = Erika Ritter
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1948|4|26}}
| birth_place = [Regina, Saskatchewan](/source/Regina%2C_Saskatchewan), Canada
| occupation = Playwright, humorist, journalist
| genre =
| notableworks =
}}
'''Erika Ritter''' (born 26 April 1948) is a [Canadian](/source/Canadian) [playwright](/source/playwright), [essayist](/source/essayist), broadcaster and [humorist](/source/humorist).[{{Cite web |title=Erika Ritter |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/erika-ritter |access-date=2024-01-28 |website=www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca |language=en}}]
Born in [Regina, Saskatchewan](/source/Regina%2C_Saskatchewan), she attended Sacred Heart Academy for High School, and studied drama at [McGill University](/source/McGill_University) and the [University of Toronto](/source/University_of_Toronto).
''A Visitor from Charleston'' was Ritter's first play to be professionally mounted; it was performed at the Manitoba Theatre Workshop in 1976.[{{Cite web |title=Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia - Ritter, Erika |url=https://www.canadiantheatre.com/dict.pl?term=Ritter,%20Erika |access-date=2024-01-28 |website=www.canadiantheatre.com}}][{{Cite web |title=Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library Ritter, Erika, 1948-. |url=https://fisher.library.utoronto.ca/finding_aid/ritter-erika-1948 |access-date=2024-01-28 |website=Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library |language=en}}] Ritter's most produced play is ''Automatic Pilot,'' which focuses on a self-deprecating female stand-up comic and her relationships with men.[{{Cite news |last=Richards |first=David |date=1985-09-08 |title=Theater: Continuing Evolutions And Radical Transformations |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/style/1985/09/08/theater-continuing-evolutions-and-radical-transformations/69bbbaae-8dcd-4008-8869-756b001b3e2f/ |access-date=2024-01-28 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}] The play won the [Floyd S. Chalmers Canadian Play Award](/source/Floyd_S._Chalmers_Canadian_Play_Award) in 1981.[{{Cite web |title=Erika Ritter: UPEI Writer in Residence |url=https://www.upei.ca/communications/news/2013/10/erika-ritter-upei-writer-residence |access-date=2024-01-28 |website=UPEI |date=7 October 2013 |language=en}}] Two of Ritter's plays, ''The Passing Scene'' and ''Murder at McQueen'', have been produced at Toronto's [Tarragon Theatre](/source/Tarragon_Theatre).[[http://www.tarragontheatre.com/about_production.php Tarragon Theatre] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071228045555/http://www.tarragontheatre.com/about_production.php |date=2007-12-28 }}]
In addition to her work as a playwright, Ritter has written and hosted programming for [CBC Radio](/source/CBC_Radio). Ritter was host of ''Saturday Stereo Theatre'' (1983–1984), ''Dayshift'' (1985–88), ''Air Craft'' (1988–1990) and ''[Ontario Morning](/source/Ontario_Morning)'' (2000–2005). She has also served as guest host on numerous programs, including ''[As It Happens](/source/As_It_Happens)'', ''[The Sunday Edition](/source/The_Sunday_Edition_(CBC_Radio))'', ''[The Arts Tonight](/source/The_Arts_Tonight)'', ''[Here and Now](/source/Here_and_Now_(Toronto))''[Peter Goddard, "Benoit to host Here & Now". ''[Toronto Star](/source/Toronto_Star)'', August 5, 1999.] and ''Fresh Air'', all on [CBC Radio One](/source/CBC_Radio_One).[{{Cite web |url=http://erikaritter.com/bio.htm |title=Erika Ritter – writer – biography |access-date=2008-01-20 |archive-date=2017-12-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171221110225/http://erikaritter.com/bio.htm |url-status=dead }}]
Ritter has also served as a writer-in-residence at the University of Toronto,[{{Cite web |title=The Jack McClelland Writer-in-Residence {{!}} Department of English |url=https://www.english.utoronto.ca/people/information-and-lectures/jack-mcclelland-writer-residence#-writer-in-residence-tab-2 |access-date=2024-01-28 |website=www.english.utoronto.ca}}] and the [University of Prince Edward Island](/source/University_of_Prince_Edward_Island).