Full name: Michael-James Walker
Faculty/Major(s): Theatre/Creative Writing
Graduating year: 2017… I hope!!
Relationship status: “Much like the KitKat and Aero chocolate Bars, I’ve decided to go single. I can’t remember the last time I saw someone. It’s at the point where Macaulay Culkin hasn’t been home alone for the holidays as much as I have. However, you never know what’s around the corner.”
Astrology sign: “I’m a Leo and like the lion I have a serious mane. Leo’s are ruled by the sun but so is everyone else because without it we all die! So yes, I’m ruled by the sun. Some Leo’s can be more self-absorbing than a sponge but I think I’m doing a bang up job doing the opposite.”
Hobbies: “I like drawing. I feel like I’m in second place for most unnecessary amount of cartoon characters next to Matt Groening. I also like to sing although the dogs in the area are asking me to stop hitting the Mariah Carey notes. I love to write and play games that involve some sort of public humiliation.”
Last book you read: “Joan Rivers: Diary of a Mad Diva. It’s so funny you’ll swear you need to go to the hospital to get your ribs fixed because the book is side splitting.”
Favorite song: “When the Spice Girls said “every boy and every girl. Spice up your life” they meant it and their songs definitely did spice up our lives.”
Guilty pleasure: “The real housewives, the Kardashians and any group of rich women who spend their days on vacation and earn money for doing nothing. Also anything that seems unhealthy to eat. I collect more garbage than a landfill.”
One thing you can’t live without: “I could say I can’t live without water because after a week without it I’d go from looking like a grape to looking like a prune. However, that’s not a real answer. I can’t live without my siblings who I love unconditionally. My brother has so much talent and my sister is such a genius. I can’t also live without my stuffed monkey named “Yikes” whom I have had since I was a baby. It’s my longest friendship and most important one.”
The biggest risk you’ve ever taken: “I’d say there were two so far. The first was admitting to the world I’m gayer than Elton John and Clay Aiken combined while still in high school. It turned out to be a good risk because my classmates accepted me and I could be every aspect of myself. The second was walking away from living with a parent in order to get out of a toxic environment that was harmful to my health. I started getting seizures and blacking out during the time of my parent’s divorce. I realized that I needed to take care of me otherwise their might not be any me left, so I packed up and moved. I’m glad I didn’t let anyone else’s agenda’s influence me to stay where I wasn’t feeling safe. I wouldn’t take any of it back.”
What is your dream job? “The goal is to teach drama/creative writing at the high school level. Before that happens I hope to have gained some real life experience in theatre and writing so I can give student real advice on what is out there. I want to have worked on shows and shows I’ve written myself in Toronto. I hope to have authored a book of poetry that pushes creativity. I basically yearn to be a mix of Kristin Chenoweth and Derek Beaulieu. So far Schema: An Installation and Telling Tales out of School (YorkU) were my first step in that direction. I don’t plan to stop. My next project with be doing Telling Tales out of School (YorkU) and The Ashley Plays (YorkU). Overall you can say I’m lucky enough to get to do some of the dream work I had hoped to do.”
Something interesting you’ve learned at York: “I’ve learned that you can’t go a block without finding a squirrel. I get why it has its own twitter account. Also I learned that Theatre and Creative writing programs should be funded more. They are programs that have a staff that helps students get careers started and is looking to make everyone a success as much as possible. It has been incredible to feel that sense of community and if they got more attention than more people could enjoy that.”
The best compliment you’ve ever received: “Professor Mark Wilson once said “Why do you pretend not to be a good actor?” He believed in me and it gave me so much confidence and reassurance that I’m in theatre for a reason. He is a person who changes people for the better.”
If you could do anything you wanted right now, what would it be? “If we are under the pretenses that the limitations and advantages of my life are in place I would say hands down it would be eating, like a bunch of chicken wings from my favorite place in Pickering (my hometown). Then it would be going downtown to The Dance Cave, because they don’t charge cover if you’re a student, with my best friends where we would dance like no one is watching after watching a performance downtown at Factory or Tarragon or some theatre in Toronto. If the sky is the limit I would be in Disneyland or Hawaii or watching a Broadway show while sipping on sangria.”
What makes you laugh the most? “Watching We Are Miracles. It is so hilarious!”
Quote that you live by: ““I’ll take the long way ‘round. I’ll find my own way down.” I will get to where I need to get when I’m ready and when the world is ready for me to have it. There is no shame in getting to the party a little later. It’s called being fashionably late. If your there too early than your bored talking to the host who hasn’t even put out pretzels yet. Does anyone really like going to a party to spend the first twenty minutes awkwardly?”