"Anything's Possible When It's Unpredictable" - Chatting with The Unpredictable Times Actor Owen DeMaio!
I would like you to meet a very talented young man in Owen Demaio. Owen will be playing Carl in the upcoming Regional Premiere of The Unpredictable Times this June at Rise Above Performing Arts. Owen currently attends Booker High School and is a part of their VPA Theatre program which has produced some very talented artists. Some of his favorite credits include - West Side Story (Tony), All Shook Up (Chad), The Addams Family (Lurch), 13 (Archie), and Macbeth (Macduff).
Owen was also featured in my 2020 edition of "Five Young Performers in this Country You Should Know" for OnStage Blog. The one thing that everyone collectively agrees on is when you have an amazing actor and person like Owen in your cast, your show truly becomes 100% better. I am very happy to feature this talented young man with a bright future ahead of him!
Do you have a favorite play or musical and an artist you are strongly influenced by? Why?
My all-time favorite musical would have to be West Side Story. I have been watching the movie with my grandma since I was around 10, but I’ve been listening to the music with her for as long as I can remember. It also sparked my love for musical theater.
You have truly performed a gamut of roles at Rise Above Performing Arts. A true theatre chameleon! What has your favorite role been so far? And what do the opportunities Jacob Ruscoe and Rise Above have provided mean to you?
Thank you! My favorite role would have to be a tie between Archie in 13 and Tony in West Side Story. I loved Archie because of the experience, the knowledge I learned about people with neuromuscular disorders like his, and the challenge of accurately portraying him. I loved Tony because of being able to embody a character I have loved forever having been listening to the music from the show with my grandmother my whole life. I have been given so many opportunities by Jacob Ruscoe, and I’m incredibly thankful for them. When he first gave me Archie in 13, I was very surprised and felt this feeling of responsibility along with the role. Jacob was able to help me with the character and the difficulty in the role. He has given me so many opportunities here at Rise Above, and I’m extremely thankful for every single one.
After 20 plus years Scott Keys has decided to hang it up as head of the Theatre Department at Booker High School. What has Mr. Keys meant to you when it comes to your development as a performer?
Mr. Keys opened up an entirely new aspect and new door for me in the world of not only musical theater but also acting as a whole. He has taught me so much in just the two years I have been at Booker, and I am sad to see him go. I will miss his presence extremely. He always believed in me, and I will forever be grateful for that. I don’t know where I’d be in the world of acting without him. If you’re reading this Mr. Keys, Thank you so much.
How do you relate to the role of Carl in The Unpredictable Times?
Though I can’t even begin to imagine what Carl goes through and how his emotions are, I do relate to him on how much he loves his friends. He’s willing to do anything just for them to be happy and get together.
Why should people come to see the regional premiere of The Unpredictable Times at Rise Above Performing Arts?
It’s an amazing story and the actors performing are amazing people. The chemistry will be impenetrable, and the story will change you. If you miss it, I am willing to bet you are going to regret it because it’s going to be a whole new story with some of the greatest actors I know. I can’t wait to work with them and have this experience with them. I guess you could say it’s going to be unpredictable.
The Unpredictable Times is a coming-of-age drama opens on June 18th and will running through to the 27th. For more information about the play make sure you visit www.riseabovearts.com or www.theunpredictabletimesplay.com
Check out the promo video -https://youtu.be/Z3xziK8lL_Y