Fil-Canadian sketch comedy show now on its 3rd season

Filipino Canadian Joy Castro (right) is geared up to make audiences laugh in the sketch comedy show “Abroad.” CONTRIBUTED

TORONTO — Joy Castro is geared up to make audiences laugh in another season of “Abroad,” the Filipino Canadian sketch comedy television series.

Now on its third season, the show focuses on the Filipino immigrant experience with a hilariously lighthearted point of view. Audiences will have fun with its send-ups of social issues, tech trends, celebrity culture and family dynamics with over-the-top characters.

Created by Isabel Kanaan, who was inspired by her own experiences having moved to Canada as a child, the series presents scenarios in both English and Tagalog.

The show is brought to life by an ensemble of actors. Joy Castro is one of the members and she’s been with the show since the first season.

Castro’s TV credits include Netflix’s “Locke and Key,” FX/Hulu’s “What We Do in the Shadows” and Paramount+’s “Star Trek: Short Treks.”

“I just submitted a self-tape audition like everyone else,” she says of how she became involved with the show.

“My fellow cast member Nicco Lorenzo Garcia and I helped each other with our audition tapes. When we found out we were cast, it was the best news ever. Booking a job is great but booking a job with one of your friends is even better!”

Growing up

Castro has lived across the country. “I was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba and then moved to Vancouver, British Columbia with my family at the age of 10. Currently, I’m based out of Toronto, Ontario,” she says.

Castro’s affinity for acting began in the third grade during a class trip to see a play about Anne of Green Gables. “I fell in love with the whole experience. I wanted to be Anne up on that stage!”

“I spent most of my younger years doing speech arts festivals, community theater and high school plays.” Castro went on to graduating from a professional theater training school. “And I haven’t looked back since.”

Castro admits that, in the beginning, “it took some time to convince my mom that I would pursue acting at a professional level,” but these days, “my mom is my number one fan.”

When asked if comedy was something she’s always had a knack for, she replies, “I didn’t think it was in my wheelhouse at all.”

“Some days, I still don’t!” she adds with a laugh.

She credits her high school acting teacher for sensing her talent for it. “Mr. Hughes cast me in a small comedic role and I got my first taste at making an audience laugh.”

Rewarding

Castro says that it has been rewarding to be able to act in Tagalog. “I grew up watching Filipino movies and TV shows but I never would have imagined that I’d have that kind of an opportunity here in Canada.”

As for their ongoing success, “a show is only as good as its writing so I must give props to our writers! They continue to outdo themselves season after season and it truly is a rewarding experience to bring their visions to life on screen.”

“I am so excited and also so grateful for Season 3 of ‘Abroad.’ We get to revisit some favorite characters from past seasons but we also get to meet some kooky new ones,” she adds.

“‘Abroad’ is such a fun show to be a part of so my hope is that our audiences can feel that from watching us and will continue to tune in week after week!”

The cast also includes Justin Santiago and Aldrin Bundoc, with guest appearances by Christian Smith, Jon Blair, Nile Seguin, Natalie Metcalfe, Paloma Nuñez, Jillian Welsh, Sharjil Rasool, Carolyn Fe, Adelio Moras, Byron Abalos, Li Chen and Alanis Foroughi.

Produced by Longhope Media and airing on OMNI Television, the show’s third season is set to premiere on May 26.

Walter Ang is the author of Barangay to Broadway: Filipino American Theater. Available at Amazon, Bookshop and other online booksellers.