Tell me about yourself as an artist & where you are in your artistic journey.
Saiya Floyd: I studied screenwriting at Boston University, and screenwriting has been my focus for almost a decade, but I have always loved theater. In the last couple of years, I had the opportunity to take classes over Zoom with East West Players, where I studied acting and playwriting, and was really inspired by my instructors and peers. Five Star First Date is my first play. I'm working on a full-length about ghosts (that I hope to also perform in!) and writing a sci-fi pilot.
Sean-Joseph Choo: I'm a multi-ethnic, multi-hyphenate artist, typically staying in the realms of acting, composing, and writing. I just started a theatre (named after a podcast I have been neglectful of) called Kamamo House, and I just produced a small queer-focused new playreading festival in early June. I'm exploring more opportunities for myself and my community for creating new work, and have recently been meditating a lot on arts advocacy and leadership.
What's new about your NU WORKS production?
SF: Five Star First Date is a play that was written for our strange new hybrid world. I wrote it so it could easily be performed in person or over Zoom, and be plausible in either scenario (with only a handful of alternative lines). Our first time workshopping it was when it was only safe to do so over Zoom, so we're excited to perform the in-person version for an audience. Subject wise, I wanted to talk about widening inequality, where time is becoming a luxury. This is a story about two people trapped in hustle culture who meet and have a connection, but aren't sure they have the time or money to act on it.
SJC: For myself, the label "AAPI" is something new for me to embrace as a human, because in Hawaii being AAPI is a common thing. It's not the same experience as being AAPI here in the continent.
What’s your favorite food from your AAPI heritage(s)?
SF: I'm an indecisive person, so I love izakaya food - you can get lots of little plates of your favorites, and still have room to try something new.
SJC: I think my top three are my great-grandmother's puto, fresh poi, and the superior dumpling, fried mandoo.