Spotlight on Kylend Hetherington! ((My Friend is Guest Starring on #AustinAndAlly!! WHAT?!))
Hey #Heartbreakers!
OKAY. SOOO...EXCITING NEWS!! This Sunday, August 23rd (what? it's almost the end of August already?!) my *super awesome* friend Kylend Hetherington is going to be, wait for it......GUEST STARRING ON AUSTIN & ALLY ON DISNEY CHANNEL. Can I get a what what?!! Cue the celebratory confetti cannons cause this is out-of-this-world fantastic news! He's the coolest person and I'm very proud of him and all of his hard work. So I'm happy to shine the spotlight on my friend Kylend Hetherington in this article - remember his name, #Heartbreakers, because his star is definitely on the rise!
The episode follows Trish (Raini Rodriguez) and her boyband client, Boynado - cause not-so-spoiler alert: Boynado threatens to call it quits & split (hence the episode's name "Burdens & Boynado"). Kylend plays Devin, one of the three members of 'Boynado,' and there's no doubt you're gonna heart all the boyband-ness and epic dance moves in this episode! You'll be left thinking: If only Boynado were real, *sigh.*
Check out the episode's sneak peek HERE:
Bottom line: It's an Austin & Ally you definitely don't want to miss!
I met Kylend about 6 years ago in NYC serendipitously and unexpectedly - kinda worked out that we got "lost" on the Subway (not my family's travel method of choice) and ended up (long story short) meeting Kylend and his family and going out to eat with them and our friend Giuseppe Bausilio (and his family, too!). At the time, Kylend was in the auditioning process for Billy Elliot The Musical on Broadway. My Mom and I just knew Kylend would be a Billy (#starpower or maybe we're just psychics, idk.) AND AFTER LOTS OF HARD WORK HE BOOKED THE SHOW. YES.
Anyway, our families became fast friends over Pinkberry trips, gumball hogging at the Skechers store in Times Square, singing and dancing our way down the streets of NYC (as opposed to just walking), and even driving out to Pittsburgh, PA to see Kylend as Billy in the National Tour of Billy Elliot - YAY!! After the tour, Kylend and his younger brother Kaden moved to Los Angeles (palm trees, please!) to pursue their acting careers, so we obvs miss them on the East Coast! BUT...surprise!! I asked Kylend to do an interview for you guys (read below!!) where he shares some behind-the-scenes secrets from the Austin & Ally set, spills who he'd have in his dream boyband (rumor has it he's a 1D fan!), and lots MORE!
YAY! INTERVIEW TIME! YAY!
Kristina: Hey Kylend! Introduce yourself and tell my #Heartbreakers about you!
Kylend: Hey guys, I'm Kylend Hetherington. I'm 17, almost 18, I'm an actor, singer, dancer. I love playing guitar and I'm a black belt in Hapkido.
Kristina: What was the casting process like for Austin & Ally?
Kylend: I got the audition for Austin & Ally and I was a bit nervous cause I hadn't had to sing for an audition in a long time. But I went in, did my scenes, sang my song ("Body Language" by Jesse McCartney), and did 30 seconds of freestyle dance. Then a little while later I got a callback. I went in and they paired us up in groups of three. The three of us then went in the room and did our scenes, songs, and dance in front of the head of casting and the network people at Disney. I was really nervous. When we were driving home from the audition we got the call from my agent that I had booked it. I was sooooo excited!
Kristina: I believe it! So...what's your character's name? Can you tell us a little bit about him?
Kylend: My character's name is Devin. He's the more shy and sensitive one of the group. He doesn't like when the band fights and really loves his fans. So much so that he writes personalized notes on every autograph he signs.
Kristina: What was your experience like filming Austin & Ally? Any funny stories or memorable moments on set?
Kylend: Filming was SO much fun! The cast and crew are ridiculously nice and welcoming. The days leading up to filming were spent reading through the script, better understanding my character, and memorizing my lines. The first day on set I met the cast and we had our table read where we all sit at a table and go through the whole episode. It was so funny to hear the episode with all the other characters for the first time. The rest of that day and the next day were spent rehearsing our scenes, learning choreography, and recording our songs. There are a couple funny stories that happened. When I was little my favorite boyband was Dream Street. When I got on to set I found out that one of the members of Dream Street (Chris Trousdale) was gonna be in the boyband with me! I was so excited! Another one was during lunch. None of us were in the mood for what catering prepared so Raini ordered a couple pizzas and we all went back to Calum's dressing room and ate pizza.
Kristina: So, I met you while you were in the auditioning process for the Broadway show Billy Elliot in NYC (Back in 2009?! That's #crazy!) You booked the show and got to #FollowYourHeartsDream, working on Broadway and in the National Tour of the show! What was the best part about being a 'Billy' (the title role!) and how do you think it prepared you for your future endeavors?
Kylend: Before moving to LA to pursue acting I spent a little over 3 years with the Broadway show/tour of Billy Elliot. It was the greatest and hardest thing I've ever done and probably will ever do. I made so many memories with that show and learned so much. It really taught me about work ethic and how important it is to be a hard worker. It taught me how to be tough and push through so that no matter what I was dealing with, the show looked just as good as ever.
Kristina: That's awesome! Okay, now for some fun questions!!! Dream role? Go!
Kylend: Ever since I was a kid I have had four dreams. Be in a boyband, be on Disney Channel, play a spy in a movie, and play a superhero. I already knocked two of those off the list with A & A, so now all I gotta do is be a spy with super powers and we're good to go!
Kristina: Which A&A character are you most like?
Kylend: In a way I'm like a mix of Austin and Dez. I love music, playing guitar, and singing; and sometimes Dez's mouth goes faster than his brain and he says random things... I can relate to that lol.
Kristina: Fave song at the moment?
Kylend: My favorite songs at the moment are "La Vie En Rose" by Andrea Bocelli feat. Edith Piaf, "Cuando Me Enamoro" by Andrea Bocelli, "Stitches" by Shawn Mendes, "Worth It" by Fifth Harmony, almost everything by Ed Sheeran (especially his mashup of "Don't/Loyal/No Diggity/The Next Episode/Nina" and his cover of "Take Me To Church"). My favorite song to play on the guitar and sing is "Shut Up and Dance" by Walk The Moon.
Kristina: Fave/go-to dance move?
Kylend: The sprinkler.
Kristina: Fave boyband of all time?
Kylend: Like I said earlier Dream Street was my fave for a looonngg time but now I'd have to say 1D (Harry and Niall cause I know that's the follow up question ;))
Kristina: Funny story...Greg Raposo from Dream Street brought my Mom onstage at one of his performances! #DreamMoment lol.....Now, pick 2-4 celebs that would be in your own dream boyband & name it!
Kylend: Ed Sheeran, Harry Styles, Jimmy Fallon, and Liam Neeson in case any of us get.... Taken. We'd be called EdHarryJimmyLiamandMe or how about General Bewilderment and we could all wear soldier costumes.
Kristina: I'd pay money to see that concert! What do you miss about NYC?
Kylend: The energy of the city.
Kristina: What do you heart about LA?
Kylend: The weather and the beaches.
Kristina: Let's be honest....did you touch Ally's book?
Kylend: I licked it. Jk I didn't touch it.
Kristina: It's time for your sign-off, Ky! Anything else you'd like to add or you want your fans watching the show to know?
Kylend: Thanks for those who tune in to watch Austin & Ally August 23. Follow me on Instagram and Twitter at @kylendh. Also you guys are awesome for all your support towards Kristina. She's a really good friend and super kind and talented.
Kristina: Thanks Kylend for the awesome interview!! I hope everyone tunes in and enjoys Austin & Ally on Disney Channel this Sunday, August 23rd (8pm ET!) ;D
BUT.......WAIT........THERE'S MORE.....................
Guess what! You're never going to believe this, but you should because it really is a small world afterall: On Saturday, September 19th Calum Worthy ("Dez" from Austin & Ally) and Peyton Meyer ("Lucas" from Girl Meets World) will be in Albany, NY at the Albany Back To School Expo. And you guessed it....I'll be there, too!!! Hear my new single "R.S.V.P." when I perform at 11:30am. Then get prepared to see your fave Disney stars Calum & Peyton from 12noon-3pm! Click HERE for more information & how to meet us at this AH-MAZING event that will totally kick the Back-To-School blues!
The fact that Kylend just worked with Calum Worthy in California and I'll be working with Calum next month in Albany, New York is pretty unreal (but really real at the same time). I just think it's so funny how things works out....It's a total East Coast meets West Coast coincidence that had me thinking: "What in the world?!" and left me knowing: "Whoa! Gotta share this with you, #Heartbreakers!" Looks like you need to mark your calendars for 2 days then: Sunday, August 23rd (See Kylend on A&A from the comfort of your couch!) and again for Saturday, September 19th (meet me, Calum, and Peyton in Albany, New York!). See ya then!! :)
xoxo
love, the girl with the big pink heart ;D
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