Kay Trinidad: Standing out on Broadway

NEW YORK - At 23, Kay Trinidad is at the season where life seems auspiciously uncomplicated and everything glides smoothly like walking on heelys. The New York-born Filipina last year made her Broadway debut in “Little Mermaid," hoping to one day follow the trail of “idol" Lea Salonga. In the Disney production, currently showing at Lunt-Fontanne, Kay is part of the song-and-dance featured ensemble, her name several lines below the stars’ and many fonts tinier. But on stage, her presence is equally commanding and hypnotic. The fact that she is the only Asian, effortlessly warbling and dancing, makes her stand out even more. “Such a big dream. I always knew I could do it," she told Philippine News, expressing elation. From NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts where she majored in Drama, Kay’s road to Broadway had been paved with nothing but good luck and good vibes. There was a case of bad cold and fever for her “Little Mermaid" audition. She was on a theater tour in Indiana when told by her agent she had to fly to New York right away for the audition. “I was sick on the plane," she recalled. “When I got to the audition, I sang my song and then two more right after. After that they asked me to dance, they gave some more musical sides to sing, more dancing on heelys." In between downing orange juice, blowing her nose and popping lozenges, she endured about five hours of audition. She was one of five talents who made the grade that day. Two weeks later, her prayers were answered; Kay couldn’t be more ecstatic: “I screamed!" From that time on, it was a blurry succession of rehearsals, photo shoots, costume fittings, media interviews and whatever else it took to promote the musical. There was talk of a union strike, but little did Kay know it would erupt on her first day on the Broadway stage. “It was nerve-wracking," she continued. “We didn’t know if we were performing or not." This sense of tentativeness went on for three weeks, with Kay and other “Mermaid" cast members spending time on the picket line in solidarity with fellow equity members. “We carried placards and stayed there, just in case (the strike is settled and we had to get on stage)," she said. “It’s a privilege. The unions are the people that protect you." On January 10, 2007, Kay officially graced the Great White Way. No Marcos connection With her name, Kathleen Imelda Trinidad, you would think Kay was named after the Marcos women. "No way," she shrieked in a voice dripping with disgust. She was named after her mother Imee, and no, her mother, a lab technician, was not named after the former First Daughter. Luis, her father, is an electrical engineer. If being good children is the workmanship of good parents, then Kay and her two sisters are fine products. Oldest sister owns a retail business, and the youngest is studying to be a doctor and a violist in equal measures of seriousness. “My parents always believed in me. They said I could do anything. They were so excited," Kay described her folks, who raised her and her sisters on traditional Philippine values and respect for religion. Kay was drawn to performing as a child, but made her first professional appearance in high school as Alice in Texas’ Casa Manana production of “Bye, Bye Birdie." She would never forget the first time she performed before a real live audience not limited to her immediate family. Although the Trinidads first lived in Long Island in New York, the girls were raised in California and Texas or wherever the father’s job took them. Kay went back to New York for college while another family move to Arizona was made.In Broadway, Kay belongs to a tight-knit community of Asian actors, writers, directors, dancers, stagehands, whom she sees occasionally during auditions, but especially on ethnic calls. “It’s very small. We say ‘hi’ to each other. There are some Filipinos; we don’t hang out, but being around each other brings a sense of home. There’s that connection and closeness, even if you just met," she said. “We’re very supportive of each other." While playing the lead Ariel in “Little Mermaid" is something to aspire for, Kay believes that may take some doing, and breaking the glass ceiling has nothing to do with. “Vocally, I could definitely do it and I’d love to do it. But the reality right now is that children are used to seeing Ariel as this red-haired, white girl…," she theorized, although she noted that Toni Braxton had portrayed Belle in “Beauty and the Beast." With her looks – more North Asian than Malay – Kay has taken on many different ethnic roles including a Chinese girl, a Korean and also a Spanish. “That’s fine with me, I’m not offended. I get more work that way," she said, brushing aside reservations raised by purists that Filipino actors should play ethnic roles they represent. She would like to play Kim in “Miss Saigon," if the opportunity presented itself. She is looking to do some commercials and television. “I would love to see myself performing in principal roles. I can see that happening sooner than later," she said confidently. Performing is an “amazing" way to earn a living, said Kay, declaring that in the next 10 years “I see myself married – with family – and still performing." - Philippine News