On my time off...

A lot of people write in to ask what I do in my free time when I'm not on stage or rehearsing. Well, here's the answer . . .

I play Rock Band 2! (I'm totally obsessed and can't wait to get it!!)


. . .And hang out with Mary Poppins!



This is my friend Scarlett who plays Mary Poppins on Broadway. (She wears a wig as Mary!) You might remember her from this old post.

Trent

Flying!

Hi! Since I've been rehearsing all my flying recently, I thought I'd answer all the flying questions I could find:

After spinning to the ceiling in Swan lake does it effect your balance at all. How long did it take you to master the fear of spinning so far off the ground, or are you not afraid of heights at all?

BA
May 28, 2008 11:17 PM

After spinning in "Swan Lake," it can make you dizzy and affect your balance. I found if i hit my heels to the floor when I came down, it grounded me.

While practicing Swan Lake have you ever got stuck on the harness?

June 3, 2008 8:27 AM

One time I did get stuck up at the top and they had to close the curtain! It took a few minutes to get me down so they could reopen the curtain :)

do you ever get dizzy after you spin in your dances?

when we saw you in billy elliot, I was amazed at how you could spin (and go up on the rope thing) and then stop without stumbling over!

how do you do it!?

Laura
June 3, 2008 3:24 PM

Spinning in on-ground dance does not make me dizzy. As for flying, find out how we Billys do it in Layton's video! (You can spot me in the background.)





Trent

More Answers!!

Hi everyone!

Here's answers to some of your BETM on Broadway questions and some pictures from our first week of rehearsals:

Will performing Billy on Broadway be much different to performing Billy in London?

Louise x
May 29, 2008 10:14 AM

I think it'll be total different because I'll be with my parents in my hometown!

What is your favourite style of dance? And what do you plan to do after performing in Broadway?

Kathryn
May 29, 2008 10:40 AM

My favorite style of dance is tap. I still want to be on the Broadway stage when I get older!

When you come back to NY to do BETM on broadway will you be living at home or at a brand-spanking new Billy House? When you were London, did someone make all the dinner (and I literally mean the dinner that comes after lunch!) and if yes, is there a menu like school lunch?

R
May 29, 2008 11:31 AM

Back in London, we did have a hot lunch cooked for us, but for Broadway, we're all still trying to figure out our housing.

Who do you share a room with in the Billy house?

Victoria
May 30, 2008 7:01 AM

I started as roommates with Sam, Sean and Corey, and by the time I left, I was with Layton and Hogan! With Billys retiring and leaving for Australia and a house change, it was always different.

Other than your friend David Bologna, do you know who else will be playing the role of Michael on Broadway?

Margie
May 30, 2008 11:06 AM

Here's a picture of them! All three Billys, along with two Broadway Michaels, David Bologna and Frank Dolce:

David thinks something's funny.

With David B. and ballet girl, Heather.

We all come from Irish dance schools! Here's proof:

Lunch break with Kiril at Chipotle. Mmm...tacos!

Trent

Favo(u)rites!

Hey!! Here's another question I picked for today:

What is your favourite song from Billy Elliot, What is your favourite scene and what is your favourite ballet move. Also what is your favourite tv show in the UK and the US?

Thanks Scott

Posted: May 29, 2008 9:50 AM

Fave Song:
Electricity
Fave Scene:
Expressing Yourself
Fave Ballet Move:
Entrechat
Fave TV Shows:
I haven't watched enough of it lately to even have a favorite show here or in England . . . but I can't wait to see Layton's show when it's on!!


Trent

More Answers!

What are you doing now at home?

Andy wanted to know what I was doing during my time off in between London and Broadway BETM. Well, I've been catching up on some much needed vacation, hanging out with friends and family, playing Wii and swimming in the pool, and then I start rehearsals in late June with the Broadway cast!!

What do you miss?

About 5 of you asked what I miss most about London and what I missed most about NY when I was there.

I missed my NY friends when I was in London, and now I miss my London friends in NY! About the food ... I missed my Reese's Puffs cereal (which was hard to come by in the UK) and now I miss my meal of mash (baked potato) covered in beans in London!

What's the strangest thing that's happened to you since you started with "Billy"?

Steamboy wanted to know what the most interesting thing was. I have a pretty interesting answer. So right around the time my final show in London was happening in the beginning of June, they discovered a World War 2 bomb near a place we were having rehearsals in, so we had to be evacuated.

By the time my parents and cousin came to visit to see me from NY, it was the same day they were blowing the bomb up so that it wouldn't blow up for REAL! They were diverted to another tube station once they got out of the airport and had to drag all their bags with them up and down stairs.

If you thought I was making this up, here's a link! WWII bomb detonated in London

What type of mobile do you have?

Jenna wanted to know what kind of cell phone I have. I still have my UK phone I used to keep in touch with my family back in NY ... with a UK #, so it's not working now. Grr. But my mission for the summer is to get a new one I can actually use so I can call and text my friends again!!

Trent

Trent Answers Your Fan Questions!

You asked them, Trent's answering them!

Trent's fans submitted over 100 questions for him to answer, and he picked his four favorites from the bunch.

Watch Trent's responses to his top four now:



Trent had so fun answering them, he wants to tackle the rest of his top 10 picks from your submissions here on the blog! Keep checking back at TrentKowalik.com as he answers more of what you wanna know!


-TrentKowalik.com

Will He Pick Yours?

If you've ever wanted to ask Trent a question, now's your chance! Trent will be selecting his favorite questions and answering them here on the blog. Let's get started!

Steps:

1. Think of a cool question.
2. Post it as a comment here.
3. Repeatedly tap foot. Eat a bowl of Reese's Puffs.
   
4. Wait and see if yours got picked!

He will be picking four of the best questions submitted, so make sure it's a good one!

Check back next week when we reveal the best of the best...and the answers!

Catching Up!

Sorry you haven't heard from me in awhile...

I had lots of school work so i didn't have time 2 write.
I'll continue on my day since I left you all hanging in suspense!

After lunch or dinner i have 30 minute break, usually playing proper slam (one handed, no doubling up cards, only slamming when you get rid of your cards, get the first pile you slam) against Corey. (Those of you who don't know, Corey is another Billy who went to perform as Billy in Australia and is now back in London!) Either that or playing proper slam against Scarlet(Debbie) except with 2 hands. When I don't do that, I read.

Calls - Depending on the day, we will split up and go to rehearsals (they'll vary from acting, ballet, tap, *hip hop now!*, and acro) in different places. If that doesn't happen, we carry on with another hour of school (not my favorite days) then usually go to the theater to stand by or go on the show. We have up to two calls (rehearsals) before a show. If were on stand by (like an understudy backstage) we often get a massage before the show. I can go on as Billy 2-3 times a week and 2-3 times on as stand by. When people are sick, it can be more. (4)

Night Late Call
A rehearsal at night.
After the call we/I go home and go to bed around 9ish.
or

Show
Sit back relax and enjoy Billy Elliot the Musical.
(The show's a little different for each of us, and our Billys have totally different personalities.)

Someone asked what kind of music I have on my iPod. Well, I listen to stuff like Beyoncé (I like "Irreplaceable" in Spanish!), Carrie Underwood, Nickelback, and some musicals too--like Wicked, Hairspray and Legally Blonde. Another question was about how I started Irish Dance. My older sisters did it so I wanted to, too!

My family is here from New York to see me this weekend, so I gotta go. I'm on TV next week (24th of February) for a birthday celebration for Bruce Forsyth. Check it out if you're in England. (We have the same birthday--the 22nd!)

Trent

The Latest & Greatest

Hi!

Corey, the Billy who went to Australia, is here in England tomorrow. Yes!

By the way, I didn’t see the play before I auditioned, but I did see the movie plenty of times. I saw the play 3 times in between my 2nd and 3rd auditions and 2 more times since being in the play.

Trent

Q&A with Trent

Trent answered some of your questions posted here on the blog. See if he chose yours, and leave a comment or question for next time!

Q. Have you read the book Twilight by Stephenie Meyer? What other books do you read or are your favorites?

A. No, but I love the Harry Potter books and The Curious Incident of the Dog at Night Time. Oh yeah, and I want to read The Dangerous Days of Daniel X. Looks really good. (My cousin's sending it to me. Yeah!)

Q. Will the other Billys be blogging with you? You could invite other cast members to do guest blogs on your site? Fans really enjoy your website!

Not sure yet, but unfortunately I don’t think so. Thanks!

Q. What's the food like over there? And do you find yourself speaking in an English accent even when you're not on stage?

A. At first I didn’t like the food, but I eat most of it now. Sometimes for fun I speak in a Geordie accent. I basically have the same accent except when I ask certain questions, they sound totally different!

Trent