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Friday, March 29, 2024

20 questions with David Z Cohen

Meet Vancouver theatre artist David Z Cohen.

David next appears as JD in the Fighting Chance Productions presentation of Heathers: The Musical. Based on the 1988 cult film, Heathers is the story of high schooler Veronica Sawyer who finds revenge after realizing that part of the ruling clique in high school isn’t all that it is cracked up to be. Heathers plays in repertory with Green Day’s American Idiot at the Waterfront Theatre on Granville Island from July 28 to August 27.

Meet David Z Cohen

David Z Cohen was raised in Richmond with his two older siblings. After going through French immersion programs in elementary and secondary schools, David attended the University of British Columbia where he received a degree for his studies in Political Science.

Inspired by the magical world of Peter Pan, and his brother’s performance in its production, David has been performing since the tender age of four, and has worked on dozens of productions of plays, musicals, and contemporary performance at Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts in the UK. David has been lucky to have performed in Pick-Of-The-Fringe, Ovation, and Jessie award winning shows, even earning himself an Ovation Award. He also competed in the Canadian Improv Games representing his High School as a player, and later co-captain of his team.

David is also very musically inclined, having played trumpet, guitar, and drums since elementary school, and has since been growing that number of instruments. His love of music and rhythm, starting with tap classes at a young age, have helped him as he now finds himself writing, composing, and recently even directing music, as Assistant Music Director of Fighting Chance Production’s American Idiot.

David is excited to be a part of the fantastic group of people bringing Heathers to the Waterfront Theatre this summer as he tackles the role of JD! At the end of the day, David has to make sure to thank his friends and family for their unbelievable support in all facets of his life.

20 Questions with David Z Cohen

1. Your first job.

Babysitter, teaching assistant for K and 1.

2. The job you always wanted as a child.

Actor, because I wanted to be every job and that was the best way!

3. Your pet peeve.

Closed mindedness.

4. Your hero.

I can’t pick just one. I admire/ look up to far too many people for too many reasons.

5. Your biggest indulgence.

Movies. Nibs. Chocolate. Froyo.

6. One thing no one knows about you.

I don’t know, I’m pretty open.

7. Three things you would want with you on a deserted island.

A functional satellite phone, a friend, a hammock.

8. The one word your best friend would use to describe you.

I would hope ‘caring’, ‘funny’, or ‘smart’, but knowing them, they’d probably just say ‘busy’.

9. If you were not pursuing a career in theatre, what would you be doing right now?

Going to law or journalism school.

10. Hero or villain?

I think I’m a hero, but I also think that’s intrinsic. Everyone probably thinks they’re the hero, but no one is everyone’s hero.

11. Your life’s motto/mantra.

I have two. The first is “This too shall pass”. The second is more motivational, “Be Smart, Make Memories, Have Fun, Take Risks, Be Bold”.

12. The song that gets the most play on your iTunes playlist.

This changes week to week. Right now it’s “Same Drugs” by Chance the Rapper, although anything with Shad is constantly playing.

13. The one role you are destined to play, and why.

I don’t know if it’s been written yet.

14. If you were a cartoon character what cartoon character would you be and why?

Linus from Peanuts.

15. What will it say on your grave marker?

I don’t want to think about this.

16. Who would you most like to have dinner with?

Ummm… The Prime Minister and his father, Tom Hanks, Stephen Spielberg, Emma Watson, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tina Fey, Robin Williams, my grandparents, my great uncle. I can keep going.

17. Your idea of happiness.

Anyone and anything at all that’s loved by you.

18. The one thing in your life that makes you most proud.

My family.

19. If you could go back in time, what would you tell your 20-year old self?

Wasn’t too long ago, but I would tell myself to get out there more, take more risks and push myself.

20. To be or not to be?

That certainly is the question, isn’t it.

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