BEHIND THE SPOTLIGHT

Last week, I was asked to do a quick Q&A session with Kyrian Friedenberg, our wonderful Charlie in The Golden Ticket.  I don’t know if this mini-interview will ever be published, but some of Kyrian’s answers were so entertaining, I thought I would share it with you…

How old were you when you started performing?

 I was 5. I was Hercules in The Sorcerer, at a theater near my house.

Do you play any instruments?

Piano and Violin.

Were you nervous working with Broadway legend Patti LuPone in Gypsy?

I wasn’t nervous – I just tried to stay out of her way and do what I could to please her. She was very nice to us.

What has been your favorite role to perform?

That’s quite a question – I have no idea.  I’ve done a lot of fun shows.

What musicals have you seen recently?

Lion King, A Catered Affair, and West Side Story.

What is your dream role?

Billy Elliot.

Aside from performing, what are some of your other hobbies?

I like to go on my laptop and play games, go on facebook and  hulu. Oh, and  look at armadillos – I’m kind of obsessed with armadillos.  They just interest me so much. I’m gonna get an armadillo when I’m older. So what, they can carry leprosy – I still want one because now they have cures!

“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” is written by beloved children’s author, Roald Dahl. What is your favorite Roald Dahl story?

The Witches.

What is your favorite candy?

Twix.

You are playing the role of Charlie Bucket in American Lyric Theater’s workshop of  the opera The Golden Ticket, which is based on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Are you like Charlie at all?

Yes and no. I don’t get chocolate that often, and Charlie only gets it once a year. Also, I think that when people around me are acting  spoiled and getting into trouble, I’m usually just sitting there trying to be good .  Oh, and I think it would be very nice to own a chocolate factory.

What is biggest difference between performing theater and opera.

Theater is, in a way, a lot easier, because you can read lines anyway you want or however the director wants, but with opera, all the rhythms and pitches are set. You absolutely have to be sure to get those right!

Why do you like doing opera?

I love how it all comes together. I just like the music and how there is so much around you, so many singers, the chorus… It’s overwhelming…  but in a good way!