Where in the world am I today: Vacationing in Peru
Prologue: I just met Dana recently while performing at the Edmonton International Street Performer’s Festival. She and Rick Kunst were working as ‘The Privy People’ catering to festival goers needs to use ‘the facilities.’ Dana’s infectious enthusiasm for performing and creating were a lovely shot of adrenalin to my spirit and the fact that we were both exposed to the Improv Games in the Ottawa area during our high school years (about a generation apart mind you, but still) gave us lots to talk about. I’m pretty sure that she’s under the mistaken delusion that I’m a half decent improvisor, but I have no immediate intention of waking her up to the reality of my skill level. Why spoil such a lovely delusion.
STATS
Name: Dana Fradkin
Birthday: March 19th
Place of Birth: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Started Performing/Working in the Industry: Started performing at 14, professional 7 years.
Discipline: Actor
Websites: comediccatastrophes.com, keystonetheatre.net
Video Link: http://www.privypeople.com/Privy_People/Movie.html
Venues Worked: Edmonton, Red Deer, Grand Prairie, Toronto and Dundas Busker FEstival, Waterloo Arts Festival, Luminto, Toronto Renaissance Fair, Toronto Fringe Festival, CNE, Misouri, Nebraska and Arizona State Fair, Kennedy Space Center, Canadian Opera Company, Sony Center, Second City Comedy Club, Bad Dog Theatre, and many Theatre Companies across Canada.
Hot 10 Questions:
- What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream and why? • Gold Medal Ribbon, I don’t know why, I like the caramel? Close second Cookie dough and mint chocolate chip.
- Name one movie that would make it to your Top 10 all-time great films. • Apocalyse Now.
- What was your favorite toy from childhood? • My stuffed puppet dog Wrinkles. I still have her.
- Who were your biggest inspirations when you got started? • The Seniors at my high school. In Theatre School in was the third year students. Now it’s unique people in the industry who have a curiousity about the world.
- From the world of animation what one character do you most identify with or see yourself in? • Buffy the Vampire Slayer (she is a comic book character, I think it counts).
- Name something that scares you. • Dying.
- Apart from the entertainment industry, name one other job you’ve had. • I worked at McDonalds for 3 years.
- What’s something you haven’t done yet that you’d like to try? • Make a documentary film.
- What’s your least favourite thing about being a performer? • Grumpy people.
- If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? • “You make me proud.“
The Nugget:
Pick one nugget of wisdom you’ve picked up from your career in Show Business to share with the World.
“Don’t ever let anyone tell you what you can or can’t do. People saying that to you is usually about their issues, not yours“
–Dana Fradkin
