When I arrived in Denver, one of the first things I did was sign up for an improv class. Like Michael Scott in The Office, I did not want to start over at Level One when I moved. But I did, because I wanted to get involved, get a new perspective and make friends. The coach of my Level One (or Level Six, as I liked to think of it) was Royce Roeswood. He used his hands a lot when he spoke, and he asked a lot of questions, like “What did you think of that exercise?” He was kind of like an improv therapist-slash-mime. After that Level One class, I was selected by Royce to play on his new house team, and, while I didn’t end up actually doing so, I got to enjoy a number of practices with him. He’s an incredibly interesting guy, a wonderful improv coach, an inspiration to any creative or thoughtful person, and, still – in my mind, a funny therapist mime.

Meet Royce Roeswood.

What is your name?
Royce Roeswood

How long have you been a non-vegan?
I had a shredded beef burrito Monday night. Then I had food poisoning on Tuesday. Is this a message from the Secret Society of Vegans?

Why have you decided not to be a vegan? Describe your journey to veganism and where you got stalled.
The biggest reason why I am not a vegan is probably cheese. Yum! Even though it makes me feel gross sometimes. I try to limit my meat intake, actually – mostly because it’s expensive, but I’m also concerned about the environmental impacts of meat consumption. When we do buy meat, we try to buy grass-fed organic.

Where do you get your protein?
Eggs and beans, mostly. It probably wouldn’t be too hard for me to become a vegetarian.

What vegan food do you feel you’re missing out on as a non-vegan?
I eat vegan food! I love Watercourse and City O’ City.

Do you eat fish? You eat fish, right?
Oh yes. My wife is from Alaska, and her family keeps us well-stocked with wild Alaskan salmon.

Are there any animals in your life, such as pets or funny neighborhood squirrels? Tell us a story about them.
I don’t currently have a pet. I didn’t have a dog growing up, and it has taken me a long time to be comfortable around dogs. My wife really wants to have a dog, so that is something I am preparing for.

What do you do for fun besides eating meat and dairy?
I love tabletop strategy games! I was at Gamefest last weekend trying out all sorts of new games. If you come over to my house, I will probably ask you to play one. It’s okay, I’m really good at teaching rules and I play nice.

Do you have any upcoming projects you want to plug? Tell us about them.
Several! I am working with Lu Cong, a local visual artist, as part of a gallery show at the McNichols Building. The opening was Friday, May 9, and I’ll be performing every Saturday morning for the next few weeks.
I have shows with Geek Out at the Bovine Metropolis Theatre and Makeshift Shakespeare at the Voodoo Comedy Playhouse coming up.
I just got cast in a production of Twelfth Night at Off Square Theatre Company in Jackson, Wyoming. That will be playing in July.
For more details, you can check out my performance calendar at www.roeswood.com/performances

If you were to write a children’s play about veganism, what would you title it and what would the plot be?
It would be called Captain Vegan and The Meat Men. It would be about a superhero, Captain Vegan, who infiltrates a factory farm, sets all the cows and chickens free, and fights giant people made of meat.

Make up a question of your own and answer it.
Did you really have food poisoning?
Yes. Either that or stomach flu. It was awful.

Song: “Kale”
Recipe: Sun-Dried Tomato Cashew Cheese Spread