At 8 p.m. on Friday, April 22, the Garde Arts Center in New London will be introducing “Speed Dating: LIVE!” The event will be held in the Garde’s Oasis Room and hosted by local New London comedian and magician Elijah Pysyk.

Twenty brave, single strangers will be matched on questionnaires and video submissions, or randomly. The matched couples will then, after being introduced by Pysyk, take turns in the spotlight on stage.

Sitting together, the paired couple will have a conversation the event’s audience will judge for compatibility.

Pysyk and event co-creator Sophie Walsh will pair couples off based on the participant questionnaire which asks questions such as “how do you feel about change?” and “what is a good date night?” as well as general questions about age, gender for preference of partner and type of relationship desired.

If the dialogue runs dry, Pysyk will guide it to a more entertaining place by using conversation-starting questions he comes up with similar to those of the game We’re Not Really Strangers.

Pysyk and Walsh were inspired to come up with the idea for the event from popular dating shows such as “Love is Blind” and “Too Hot to Handle.” Pysyk also feels that everyone could enjoy a little fun.

While Pysyk said he loves “the idea of someone getting married because of ‘Speed Dating: LIVE!’ on stage,” the ultimate goal is to give everybody a good “belly laugh.”

The whole night is guaranteed by Pysyk to be a “great time you’re not going to want to miss,” with the hope of the event going so well that the Garde will host more repeat “Speed Dating” events in the future.

All participating contestants will receive a $50 Northern Gem Lights voucher, a $10 Hot Rod Cafe voucher and a split of champagne. The winning couple will receive a Joshua’s Limousine ride, a three-course meal for two at Hot Rod’s, as well as a bottle of wine from Northern Gem Lights.

An afterparty is planned where “singles are welcome to mingle.”

People age 18-plus who are single and vaccinated can apply before April 1 to be a participant.

Tickets to attend the event can be purchased in advance at gardearts.org for $12 or at the door for $15. COVID-19 vaccination or proof of negative test and masks are required.

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