{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

{omb} vintage

October 8, 1985

ten-years old


In grade five I was in French Immersion.
And a fan of the Toronto Blue Jays.
And adorably lame.

There was no one named Brett in my class.
I have no idea who Brett is. 

Was he a baseball player on Kansas City?

A few days later...

This post is for dearest Julie.
who has become the Queen of Hard Core Blue Jays Fans.
Welcome back from Dunedin.
Happy Spring.

temporary office and office supplies

When I am writing, I usually write in my home office or my other office. But sometimes, one just needs a change of scenery to spice things up. Yesterday I visited my dear friend AGR at her place of work - The John W. Graham Library at Trinity College, University of Toronto. It's a gorgeous library, with fireplaces, lofty chairs and heavy dark wood desks. I did my best "why-yes-I'm-a-U-of-T-Global-Affairs-or-Theology-Student" impression, and parked myself at a great desk nestled in the third floor stacks, with a great view of the courtyard. [It was very Felicity Season 1, episode 12]. 

After a day productive week of writing, I rewarded myself with a trip to Midoco. Kid. In. A. Candy. Store.

{friday classics} - latte nostalgia

I'm currently reading You Couldn't Ignore Me If You Tried: The Brat Back, John Hughes and Their Impact on a Generation by Susannah Gora. In the spirit of 80s nostalgia and great soundtracks [March Violets anyone?], I'm posting this gem from my latte collection. 

friday jan 18 2008

first Dark Horse latte of the New Year
morrissey played
the guy beside me swooned back to his youth during "heaven knows i'm miserable now"
and said that he firmly believed that the music one listens to between the ages of 14 and 17 stay with you forever

_________

What were you listening to between the ages of 14 and 17?

Here's some March Violets via Somekind of Wonderful for you this morning [for some reason, the dialogue has been sped up so they sound like the Chipmunks]. I have been known to sneak a Watts-ism or two into my plays. 

{W5H} Rob Kempson

Rob Kempson is a stylin', sartorial wunderkind in our little Arts and Education Community. We were introduced a couple of years ago when I was on a playwright guest panel [along with the wonderful Marjorie Chan] for The Paprika Festival, of which Rob was in his first season as Artistic Producer. But it wasn't until the Canadian Stage intensive that I was able to get to know him. Busy as ever, he is still the Artistic Producer of The Paprika Festival, sits on the board of PAONE, just wrapped up his three-year tenure as Education Manager at Canadian Stage and is now the new Associate Artistic Producer at Theatre Passe Muraille. Phew! 


A splendid feature of the W5H series, is that each featured Artist Educator generates a new set of questions for a yet-to-be-determined next artist. So, these questions for Rob come courtesy of Cathy Nosaty:

Where were you when you first heard music that made a huge impact on you?
That's almost impossible to say. The story goes that I asked my mom for piano lessons when I was five. We didn't have a piano in the house so I'm not sure how or why it occurred to me. Either way, she said no--largely because I was the type who wanted to try/do/make/eat/play something different everyday. As it turns out I kept on asking and she finally gave in when I was seven. That's also the year when I joined the church choir as a Boy Soprano (sexy, I know). After me, the youngest member in the choir was my dad. So I guess if I had to pick a place it would be my parents' church.
 
What was your first favourite music?
My first favourite music was undoubtedly The Phantom of the Opera. I liked lots of music at that time, but nothing else impacted me in the same way as that show. During recess--EVERY recess--my friend Kathryn and I would kick people out of the tube slide so that we could sing through the entire show from the little lyric books that came with the cassettes. We thought the acoustics were best in the tube slide and we were in Grade 6, so no one else really had a chance at the slide. I can still remember arguing over who got to sing Christine's part in Angel of Music. Sometimes I wish my life were more like that still. Or maybe I just wish that I could still sing that part.
 
When did you realize that there were songs out there that expressed feelings and ideas similar to yours?
Shortly after I fell in love with Phantom, I fell in love with Musical Theatre in general. I think that the lyrical content of musicals, the emotion that they evoke, the stories that they tell always mean more than the verse and chorus of a hit pop song. When I found musicals, I found myself unable to separate the song from the story and the music took me away on a complete journey, rather than providing background entertainment. I think that's why kids connect with Disney movie musicals. Everytime you hear the song, you are transported. As much as Gaga makes me want to dance, she has yet to transport me.
 
Who was your favourite musician/band?
Jann Arden. Without a doubt. Something about her three-chord compositions and nasal voice made my pre-adolescent self shudder with excitement. I think I've seen her upwards of five times to date, and I would still go see her again if the opportunity presented itself. One time, my friend and I drove to Massey Hall (from Kingston) to see her, and we had won backstage passes because we were "Jann's Fanns" online. That's real dedication--becoming a fan long before facebook redesigned the meaning of that term. Even though her new stuff isn't that great I still have every album.
 
How did you feel listening to your favourite music?
All of my playlists are labelled by feelings, not categories. Music has always gotten under my skin and made me feel physical impulses--to dance, to sing-along, to write, to compose. It's not uncommon to see me bounce to the beat while riding the subway, or full-out tap on the platform. It's also not uncommon for me to miss my stop because I'm involved in a song that I'm listening to (although sometimes it's just because I love the Tetris app). I think my connection with music is best described by when/how I listen to it; when I'm listening to music, that is my primary activity. I cannot listen and work, listen and write, listen and anything. It consumes my whole feeling. Now doesn't that sound all artsy... sheesh.

[young Rob and friends]

You will find Rob at the helm of The Paprika Festival, running March 18-26th, at the Tarragon Theatre. The festival is celebrating it's 10th Anniversary this year. It features incredible, original performances by young people and it's absolutely free.

{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.

{omb} vintage

January 26, 1988

twelve-years old

Before 680News, CFTR 680AM used to be a pop-radio station in the 80s. 

It had a call-in request show called "Love 'Em or Leave 'Em"

And I had something called speed dial.

Does anyone else remember that show?