AOL Chat Transcript
ABC Wendy: Welcome to the LIVE chat with the cast of the Broadway musical, the SOUND OF MUSIC! Chatting today are Tracy Alison Walsh, Matthew Ballinger, Andrea Bowen, Ashley Rose Orr, Ryan Hopkins, and Natalie Hall!!! Ask them anything you want about singing, acting, going to school...you name it! On with the show! ActOnBway has the first question! How did you guys get into acting!
SoundStars: Matt: I got started because a friend of mine was Cossette on Broadway so she said I should get an agent. And I did! And the agent sent me on auditions!
Tracy: My brother liked acting and I came along for the ride!
Ryan: I got started because a girl down the street was doing modeling and I thought it would be nice to try that out. But instead of doing modeling, I started taking theater classes. Because a neighbor who provided the antique props for the TV show Dallas said try him out and if he likes it then keep with it!
Natalie: I had a few friends who did it and I thought it sounded fun and I did a few shows when I was little then did more and more!
Andrea: I have 5 brothers and sisters and they all were doing acting and singing and dancing and I thought it looked fun so I wanted to do it!
Ashley: I started modeling and I was singing around the house a lot and my mom asked me if I wanted to go on Broadway. And I said SURE! And then I auditioned and I got the part!
ABC Wendy: Georgie25 asks...
Question: Hey! What is it like being in a play about a movie that won an Oscar?
SoundStars: Ashley: I feel good!
Andrea: I feel like that's very cool!
Ryan: It's nice to know that you're in a show that did so well as a movie!
Matt: I think it's really cool. I just hope that we win the Tony! We all agree with Matt!
ABC Wendy: Sar10ku wants to know..
Question: I am trying out for an agent on Wednesday, I'm 11 years old, do you have any suggestions about what I should say and do?
SoundStars: Natalie: since you're 11 you'll want to act like an 11 year old! Think about what you want to say first. Act all bubbly and happy and act like yourself. If you don't act for yourself it will get harder for you as you go along!
Matt: Have a good night sleep and be energetic!
ABC Wendy: Stephieas wants to know how old everyone is..
SoundStars: Ashley: 7 1/2
Andrea: 8
Ryan: 12
Tracy: 10 and 3/12
Natalie: 13 (and 1/4 hee hee)
Matt: 13
ABC Wendy: WBS2141 asks..
Question: do u enjoy working on Broadway and do u plan to continue for a long time?
SoundStars: OH YEAH!
ABC Wendy: Tennis877 wants to know...
Question: What was the biggest blooper that ever happened to you guys on stage?
SoundStars: Someone dropped a bicycle into the orchestra and it hit someone playing in the orchestra. No one was hurt, but they had to call another to take his place!
ABC Wendy: BPiattFam wants to know..,
Question: Did you enjoy making this show. And what was your favorite thing about it?
SoundStars: Tracy: singing
Andrea: Jumping on the bed! And singing!
Natalie: It's kind of hard moving away from but I like the shopping in NY! All the other stars love to sing!
ABC Wendy: Sunny396 asks..
Question: do you have any pets?
SoundStars: Tracy: I have a dog. Black labs rule!
Ashley: In Florida I have a few snakes (they're my Dad's) and I have a dog! I sold my other dog and I have an iguana. I used to have a ring tail lemur.
Ryan: I have 4 goldfish and 2 dogs! And I did have an iguana!
Andrea: I have a dog but we're thinking about getting a new one because my doggie is 9 years old and in doggie years that's very old!
Matt: I have a little dog that weighs 3 pounds--it's a Maltese Shitzu and I have an iguana!
Natalie: I have 3 dogs and 3 cats!
ABC Wendy: LOG09 wants to know...
Question: What is your favorite food?
SoundStars: Ryan: Chicken a la King!
Tracy: French fries
Ashely: I like hamburgers, vegetables, fruit, ice cream and pizza!
Andrea: I like watermelon, macaroni and cheese, and all fruit!
Matt: I like Chinese food, ice cream, and barbequed alligator!
Natalie: I like Reses Peanutbutter Cups and licking the flavoring off Cool Ranch Doritos!
ABC Wendy: Here's another question...
Question: Have you ever been in other shows if so which ones?
SoundStars: Ryan: I originated the part of Louis Leonowes in The King & I!
Natalie: This is my first Broadway show, but I've been in lots of other shows in other places!
Andrea: Les Mis! I played young Cossette!
Ashley: This is my first Broadway show. I've done 2 shows in Florida: Gypsy and Green Willow. In Green Willow I was Shebey and in Gypsy I was Baby June!
Matt: On Broadway I've been in King & I, Christmas Carol (for 2 years) and I've also been in Inherit the Wind!
Tracy: This is my first Broadway show, but I did theater camp at NWCA (Northern Westchester Center for the Arts).
Ashley: I've done school shows too!
ABC Wendy: SMARTSKAR wants to know...
Question: How do you schooling arrangements work out?
SoundStars: Natalie: I get out of school at 1:15 so I make it to the theater for the early show, so I don't have any problems!
Tracy: I go to school in the morning and do the show in the evening. For the early shows I don't go to school.
Ryan: I get home-schooled until my call time.
Ashely and Andrea: We're home schooled now, but when we were in previews we used to be tutored (with other Sound of Music Kids too!)
ABC Wendy: Adam asks...
Question: Is it hard being in a musical
SoundStars: Natalie: We're used it!
Tracy: No!
ABC Wendy: Crnbry wants to know...
Question: What are your favorite colors?
SoundStars: Andrea: My favorite color is a dark purple mixed with a dark blue or a light blue or a light purple! Or purple!
Ashley: Same for me!
Tracy: I like very like purple and blue mixed together! Light, not like!
Ryan: I like pine green!
Natalie: silver!
Matt: blue!
ABC Wendy: Crnbry asks...
Question: what are your favorite songs to sing in the play?
SoundStars: Ashley: I like Favorite Things, Anastasia songs, and Matilda songs!
Andrea: I like Unchained Melody, and All that Jazz (from Chicago!)
Tracy: Any show tunes!
Ryan: I like to listen to Blues guitar and to sing the song, Not While I'm Around (from Sweeny Todd!)
Matt: I like listening to the band Black Street!
ABC Wendy: Spillanee wants to know...
Question: What part do each of you play?
SoundStars: Ryan: Friedrich
Ashely: Gretl
Andrea: Marta
Natalie: Louisa
Matt: Kurt
ABC Wendy: AdidasHop wants to know
Question: WHERE DO U LIVE YOUR AGE
SoundStars: Tracy: Westchester, NY
Ashley: I was born in NJ, then moved to Florida, then I auditioned for Annie and Sound of Music and I got both of them! I got to pick the one that wasn't on tour, so I go the Sound of Music!
Matt: Pleasantville, NY (home of Champions--we're going to the states this year!)
Ryan: I live in West Palm Beach, Florida!
Andrea: I'm originally from Columbus, Ohio and moved to NY because I wanted to do Broadway!
Natalie: St. Louis, Missouri
ABC Wendy: CHERDIE wants to know...
Question: Hello each of you. I imagine making this movie was tiresome. What was the hardest part of your schedule?
SoundStars: Tracy: tudoring
Andrea: being there early every day. We have to get up early! And I'm very crabby in the morning!
Natalie: I get no sleep because I go to bed late and have to wake up early for the show.
Ashley: Same for me!
Matt: I think the worst part of the schedule is not getting to play all the sports I like to do!
ABC Wendy: CHERDIE has the last question...
Question: What are some of the greatest sacrifices you have had to make?
SoundStars: Tracy: my sleep!
Matt: Not getting to play sports or go to parties!
Ryan: Not getting to see my friends or my brothers and sisters!
Ashley: Same for me!
Andrea: I had to move from a really big house to a small apartment. But I like the balcony!
Natalie: My biggest sacrifice was having to move and I missed out on my first year of my new school!
ABC Wendy: Thanks for chatting! You were great! And thanks to everyone for coming! You were eeexcellent!!!
SoundStars: Good-bye everybody! So long! Farewell!