{speed date} : locavore edition - byron abalos

A stones-throw to the east of where I live is The Distillery, which is home to, among other things, The Young Centre for the Performing Arts. Tonight David Yee's play Paper Series, opens there. And in the cast is Byron Abalos.


Byron is like family. The kind of family that you may not see very often, even though you live in the same city. But when you see him, it's pure joy. He's the kind of family that you love to tease and also beam with pride about [ie. named one of NOW Magazine's Top 10 Theatre Artists for 2010, and his play Brown Balls is premiering at the Factory Theatre in May]. By wears his heart on his sleeve in everything he does. He's the kind of person that once you get to know him, you'd say, yeah, that guy's family.


Among the many things on By's resumé is the comedy troupe Asiansploitation. In this Speed Date, Byron answers questions from fellow Asiansploit-er, Gene Abella*. 

So what do you do?
I act, write, produce and play. Oh and I like to dance.

How long have you been a cop?
Shhhh, I'm undercover. I do have a Chicago Police t-shirt that I like to use when I'm in the US.

What made you want to come to something like this (Because there is a surprising amount to eligible and attractive women that go to these things.)?
My wife and I always wanted to go to speed dating thing together. When we finally came to each other, we were planning to start making out vigorously and storming out together in a passionate embrace. But we thought it might be too mean a prank.

When was the last time your were on a date?
This past Monday. My wife and I found that Plaza Flamingo has an $8.99 buffet! Fried plantains...yum.

What do you do for fun?
Play basketball, do crosswords, watch movies, karaoke and play games - lots and lots of games. Of either the electronic or the board variety, not the ones involving hearts.

So the Leafs are 4 points away from the playoff spot do you think they have a chance?
Shouldn't they be the Toronto Maple Leaves?

Do you live downtown? Do you live in the city?
Yup. Why? You looking for easy access?

What's your favorite band?
I don't really do bands. I'm not cool enough. I'm more of a solo R&B crooner kind of guy.

Do you have any brothers and sisters?
2 younger sisters.

What's the last good movie you saw?
It's sad but I don't remember thinking anything I've seen lately was good. But some of my favourites are Three Amigos, Singing in the Rain and Shawshank Redemption.
________________________________
Ding!

*when I called up Darrel to give me Speed Date questions, he was hanging out with Gene. Being a speed-dating veteran**, Gene graciously provided his list of tried and true questions. 


**veteran = one speed date event

{speed date} : locavore edition - stephen colella

Just about this time last year, I was acting one of the most fun shows I've ever done - The Monster Under the Bed, by Kevin Dyer, directed by the splendid Nina Lee Aquino - at Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People [LKTYP]. I loved loved loved the character I was playing - well, three characters as I played all the women in the play - but the precocious little girl, Celine, was my favourite. The not-so-secret was I wasn't acting. That's me. Not as a kid, but in real life. 


LKTYP is but a hop, skip and a jump from where I live. On my first day of rehearsal for Monster, I clocked my commute - 6 minutes from my front door to the stage door. Lorraine Kimsa is chock full of wonderful people and fantastic artists, one of which is Company Dramaturg, Stephen Colella. 


For this feature, I asked my friend Darrel Gamotin to give me a list of speed date questions. In the play, I was Darrel's teacher, girlfriend [8 years old -um?] AND mom [wha?]. And Darrel used to be my neighbour.  So in the spirit of good neighbours and the good times we all had during Monster, I sent his questions to Stephen.

How do you feel about food? What do you like to eat? What do like to cook?

I love food.  It tastes good and it sustains me.  I’m a vegetarian so that factors into what I like to eat and it is all too long to list (Recent indulgence: vegetarian poutine from Poutini’s).  I like to cook soups.  I also make a decent fajita.

What do you like to do on your spare time?

Bike, sleep, volunteer, read, answer speed dating surveys.

What do you do otherwise?

As in, not in my spare time?  That would, I imagine, be my work time.  I’m a dramaturg.  I work mainly at Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People, but I also freelance.

Where did you grow up?
Bucks County Pennsylvania, which is just northeast of Philadelphia.

What's your family like?
I’m an only child, so my immediate family was always just me, Mom and Dad (and lots and lots of pets).  I’ve got extended family on both sides as well as my Dad was one of six and my Mom one of four.

Who is your dream guy and why?
Darrel Gamotin.  Except maybe taller, smarter, sassier, richer, funnier and more handsome.  Oh, and the why would be because he picked these questions for me.

Do you watch sports? If not can you name any teams you may know just for fun?
I watch hockey and I’m a Philadelphia Flyers fan.  You may boo now if you wish.

Do you have any feelings about Radiohead, Jay-Z or Justin Bieber?
I got 99 Problems and Thom Yorke ain’t one.  I have no feelings about the Bieb, especially not the Bieber Fever.

If you were writing a profile on a dating site how would describe yourself?
I quickly checked a dating site I was on and I said “While I enjoy tacos, I’m more of a fajita fan”.  This not only corroborates my answer to question one but explains my lack of success with online dating.

If your life could be a movie for a day what movie would it be and why?

Monty Python and the Holy Grail so that I could have an excuse to have an outrageous French accent.

________

DING!

Darrel and Stephen, I think you are a perfect match! You're welcome.

{speed date} : locavore edition - jordan tannahill

In terms of artists in my neighbourhood, you can't get more locavore than Jordan Tannahill. I met Jordan in 2009 when I produced a play reading series for Roseneath Theatre and was immediately smitten with this vibrant playwright and his play Get Yourself Home Skyler James. We reconnected again in August 2010 when we discovered we were both participating in Project Humanity's new project. One day as we were chatting in the lobby of Covenant House, we talked about our short bike ride to Yonge and Gerrard, only to discover that our commute was the same. Exactly the same. Turns out we live five floors apart in the same building.


It was the best discovery ever. We share a Bodum of coffee, a fruit salad and toasted muesli bagels at least once a week. Suddenly playwriting isn't so lonely anymore. 


Here's a three minute date with Jordan:

What are you most proud of in your life?

Being a good brother.

Where do you see yourself in five years' time?

Drinking coffee with you at Dark Horse.

What 3 words would your best friend use to describe you?

Full of vigour.

If you had only six months to live, what would you do first?

I’d stop working on this Ontario Arts Council grant.

Are you an outdoor or an indoor person and what do you enjoy about that?

Outdoor for sure. I feel best when I’m in the woods, camping, exploring something.

What would you prefer, a day at the races or a night at the theatre?

A day at the races! With my friend Mike. I spend all my time at the theatre anyway. 

What do you do for fun?

My boyfriend.

Who was your hero as a child?

My grandpa.

Do you believe that the cup is half empty or half full?

Half full. Preferably of red wine.

If you could have lunch with any person, living or dead, who would it be and why?

I would have lunch with Jesus because I like fish and there’d be lots of it (and I probably wouldn’t have to pay).

If you could time travel to the past to correct any mistakes you feel you've made, would you?

If I could travel to the past I’d be too busy warning people not to invest in Lehman Brothers to bother.

If you won the lottery, how would you spend your millions?

I would buy a theatre and program a season of Daniel Karasik’s work.

If you were an animal in the wild, what would you be?

I’ve thought about this a lot. I think I’ve finally decided upon ocelot.

What was the first record you ever bought?

The first CD I ever bought was Ace of Base. I was rather obsessed with ‘The Sign’.

Where in the world would you most like to be this weekend and why?

Right where I am: at my grandparents’ cabin, eating turkey pot pie and writing a new play.

What luxury item would you take on a desert island?

My boyfriend. 

__________

Ding!


Jordan is Artistic Director of Suburban Beast and my little brother from another mother.

Who are the artists in your neighbourhood that you have coffee with?

{speed date} : locavore edition - camellia koo

Getting to know an artist can be a tricky as dating. So let's make it fun and easy. I sent suggested speed date questions [google it, it's gold] to artist friends, asked them to set a stopwatch at 3 minutes and answer away.

In the locavore edition, we're gonna meet some of the artists in my neighbourhood. I live in a splendid corner of Toronto, steps away from Canadian Stage, Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People, the Distillery, and a community of theatre artists who work and live in the area.

First up: Camellia Koo, Designer

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

Antwerp or Paris. Because the people are always so impeccably dressed.

What place do you want to visit most?

Shanghai.

If you couldn't do what you are doing for a living, what else would you do?

Own and run a used book store.

What's your favorite word?

springroll

If you could be someone else for a day who would you be?

A war photographer

What would you put in a time capsule that someone might unearth in 100 years?

A pencil

What is your earliest childhood memory?

Running around that old Chinese Garden that used to be next door to Hsing Kuang, which is now the restaurant called Bright Pearl in Chinatown.

If you had to choose a meal that best represented your love life, what would be on the menu, and where would you eat it?

Rocky Road ice cream. Full of nuts and marshmellows. On an airplane going somewhere for work.

If you knew you'd be financially taken care of for the next year, what would you do with your time or where would you go?

Back to Japan, to do that pilgrimage on that island southwest of Kobe to visit those 88 temples.

What were your favorite cartoon?

The Flintstones and The Jetsons, back to back.

What would be on the soundtrack to your life?

Anything without lyrics.

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*ding! Time's up.

Camie is on her way to London next week for this.