At just 14-years-old Alex Ko is already starring in one of the most celebrated shows on broadway. Ko plays the title role in "Billy Elliot," a heart-felt musical extravaganza that's taken home a plethora of awards including the Tony for "Best Musical" and TIME Magazine's best musical of the decade.
Set in small-town northern England during the crushing miners' strike of the mid-1980's, "Billy Elliot" follows the trials and triumphs of a young boy who finds solace in a dance class and discovers an amazing talent that irritates and then inspires his gruff working-class family and community.
Blazing a trail to an illustrious career on Broadway, Ko plays the role of Billy beautifully. Carrying a show of this magnitude certainly requires a lot of rehearsal time, but Ko agreed to take a little time out to answer a few questions about his early childhood, his journey to the stage and life in New York City.
Where were you born?
Iowa City, Iowa
What was your early childhood like?
It was a lot of fun! I was always busy with gymnastics and dance since I was 4 years old. We lived across from a park in Iowa City with a big hill, so during the nice weather months I played football and soccer with all of my friends. I always went bike-riding and fishing with my dad when the weather was nice. In the winter, we went sledding on the big hill almost every day. In my Iowa neighborhood, we all played together just about every day. As I got a little older, I started taking more dance and gymnastics lessons and had lessons about 6 days a week, but still had time for friends and bike-riding with my dad.
How long have you lived in New York?
I arrived in NYC in May 2009 and started working on training in June 2009 and began rehearsals for Billy Elliot in July 2009.
You're very young to be such an accomplished dancer, singer and actor. How old were you when you started? How often do you practice?
I started gymnastics when I was 4 and dancing at 5. I started practicing my singing and taking voice lessons in Iowa after I auditioned for Billy Elliot back in June 2008. I never took any acting until I started training and rehearsals with the show in June 2009. When I was a gymnast, I worked out 4 days a week with the team and had a one-on-one lesson with my coach once a week. For dance, I went to classes 6 days a week. After I started singing, I practiced just about every day. Now that I'm in the show, I practice 6 days a week with scheduled rehearsals, lessons, and classes.
How did you get started in theatre?
Billy Elliot is my first theater experience and I really love it! I'm so glad that I found out about the show and auditioned for the part of Billy. It's the most fun thing I've ever done in my life and I really hope I get to do a lot more acting, which I really, really enjoy.
How did you come to play the role of Billy Elliot?
This is a bit of a long story. In June 2008, I went to NYC with my dance teachers, Eloy and Sarah Barragan, when they went to NYC for teacher certification training at the American Ballet Theater. I was with them for 10 days without my mom.
During the 10 days when they went to ABT, they would drop me off at Steps on Broadway at 9:00 a.m. each day. At Steps, I would take classes all day long until they were done with their ABT training at 5 p.m.
During those 10 days, Ray Hesselink, who was working with Billy Elliot the Musical at the time, noticed me dancing at Steps. Ray gave me his business card and asked me to have my mom call him. My mom called Ray from Iowa and then the casting director of Billy Elliot called my mom and said she'd like to see me audition for the part of Billy in July 2008.
Meanwhile, one of my ballet teachers at Steps on Broadway recommended me for a full scholarship to their 6-week summer intensive, so my mom and brother and I went to NY for 6 weeks so I could go to the Steps on Broadway summer intensive from July-August 2008 and audition for Billy Elliot. Then, after we went back to Iowa in August 2008 we got a phone call asking me to return to NYC for the final Billy Elliot auditions in November 2008.
In November, after the auditions were over, the creative team of Billy Elliot asked me to stay in NYC an extra day and watch the show in previews. It was the best show I've ever seen. On the way home from Iowa, I remember telling my mom that I really hoped I got the part because I wanted to be Billy so much.
Then, in January 2009, I was invited to come to NYC in February 2009 to meet with the creative team one more time to do a week of training. During that week in February 2009, the associate director Julian Webber told me I got the part! I was so excited and I ran out of the rehearsal and told my mom with Nora Brennan, the children's casting director.
How long have you been in the show?
I started rehearsals the first week in July 2009. I started performing October 6th 2009 (with some time off with an injury).
What similarities do you see between yourself and Billy?
That one's easy. Both Billy, and myself, lost a parent. Billy lost his mom and I lost my dad, and we both have a parent looking out for us from above.
Why do you think the show is such a hit?
I think the show appeals to everyone. It's a story about a community that comes together and helps each other succeed. It's a great story about a good friendship between Michael and Billy. It's a story about becoming successful without a lot of money. It also has the most amazing choreography and the cast is awesome!
What's your favorite thing about being on Broadway?
I like being with other people who love to do what I love to do. It never feels like "going to work." It feels like "going out to play on a big stage in a beautiful theater."
What do you want to be doing 10 years from now?
I hope I'm still doing what I love to do. I'm sure it will be acting, singing, and dancing.
What do you like to do when you're not on stage?
I really like to play with my dog and go to the park with my brother. I also like to go to other Broadway shows and learn from the other actors doing the roles.
What's your favorite thing about living in New York City?
There is so much to do here and you can get the best training in the world.
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