Chalia La Tour
Chalia La Tour is currently making her Broadway debut in the critically acclaimed Slave Play written by Jeremy O. Harris. A graduate of the Yale School of Drama, Chalia’s theater credits include Slave Play (New York Theatre Workshop), Cadillac (Yale Repertory Theatre), and The Review or How to Eat Your Opposition (WP Theatre). She can also be seen on TV in “The Good Fight”, “The Code”, and “Elementary”. Slave Play opens this Sunday at the Golden Theatre!
What do you consider to be your best asset?
My love for humanity, I truly find joy in the beauty of the wide range of the human experience and I try to share that with others.
What was your proudest moment?
Whoa! In life? Well, here’s one — in high school I thought I was an outrageous mess and my little sister stood up in front of our student council and told me I was her hero. To hear a sibling say that was so powerful and to see her choose to take a moment to lift me up at a low time made me very proud.
What is your favorite drink?
Love me some seltzer…like most things with bubbles actually.
What is your favorite food?
Lasagna. Every kind. I was obsessed with Garfield as a kid.
What is your favorite condiment?
BBQ sauce. Oh wow, yeah like almost any kind, from anywhere.
What is your current obsession?
Euphoria, how to be a more compassionate human, different natural hair protective styles, understanding our country’s political/judicial system, various forms of spirituality (I’ve got a lot of Virgo and Aquarius placements, so a lot of stuff swirls around my head).
If you could give up one of your vices, what would it be?
Saying yes when I should say no (so I can say yes to what’s more aligned with me).
What is the one professional accomplishment you long for most?
A knowing that I’ve contributed something to society that makes doing life feel like a communal experience. For folks to feel less alone in all of this. Expanding our collective capacity for empathy. Not sure if there is a definitive thing that will show me that, but that’s what I’m pursuing.
What is the one thing you waste too much money on?
Takeout! If any chefs out there wanna help me out, I’m trying to cook more.
What is the one activity you waste too much time doing?
Scrolling through Instagram.
What do you consider to be the single greatest threat to your health?
A white supremacist, hetero-patriarchal, capitalist system.
What is the single best trait you inherited or learned from your parents?
To value and respect other people. That, that basic thing can open up so much in life and is where the greatest parts of life are.
What is the single worst trait you inherited or learned from your parents?
Haha, we love take out.
What in the world most thrills you?
Oh falling in love, but in all the ways. With people, a place, an idea, a smell… that’s the good stuff.
What current trend in popular culture most irritates you?
Speaking without listening, listening without a desire to understand, but to create a counter to an argument.
What was the single most embarrassing moment you’ve ever experienced on the job?
I was in a show once where I played a 60s go-go dancer with this awesome long ponytail extension and in the middle of a big dance number I whipped my hair around and the ponytail went flying into the audience. It was the end of the number and a person I had a crush on in the audience picked it up and had it in their hand. Not exactly the big finale I had in mind.
What is your favorite place in the world?
My grandparent’s home during the holidays.
What is the most important trait you seek in a romantic partner?
Humble compassion.
Do you prefer the company of dogs or cats?
Neither at the moment, but my animal lover friends are opening me up.
What would have to happen to make today the best day of your life?
The best day of my life?! Okay, um, I guess that we would find ourselves in a place where the Earth is healed, humans are living harmoniously with one another, and I am in a place of complete peace (and not just like a nap and a sheet mask, but that real inner glow).
What is your personal motto?
I don’t have a phrase, but I remind myself to focus on “is this coming from a place of love?” “Is there love here?” and “am I growing?”.
Headshot by Ian Whitt