Kyle Filbeck, our Campus Celebrity, is a real character… literally! This theater star shines so bright, there’s no way we were going to pass up the opportunity to share his story.
Year: Junior at Penn State BehrendMajor: Arts AdministrationCurrent Production: Male lead in upcoming on-campus musical First Date
When did you first realize that you were into theater?“I saw Wicked when I was 9 and it changed my life. I saw it in 2005 when it was fairly new, and I remember at the end of act one there was this big, giant musical number where Elphaba flies and I was gripping the edge of my seat, and I was like, ‘this is amazing!’ So I saw other shows and they were all so good! Then I moved to Erie and auditioned for my first musical and made it as a lead so, I have just always gone for it.”
How old were you when you auditioned for you first production?“11, I sang ‘Happy Birthday’ because I didn’t have anything prepared. That was my first time singing in front of anyone ever, and it was terrifying, but it was awesome.”Â
How many plays and musicals have you been in?“Plays, I’ve done only three, but I want to do more. And musicals… I’ve done like 21 musicals. I also do some concerts where theaters will have a Broadway concert where you sing songs from a show. And for the part of the Arts Administration major you have to organize an event, so I think I am going to do a cabaret thing.”
Who is your favorite musician? “Despite the common thought, my favorite musician is actually not Kelly Clarkson. She’s my number two, a very very close second to Idina Menzel. She has been my favorite since around 2003, when I head the Wicked recording, and I’ve kind of followed her career ever since. Most people know her for ‘Let It Go,’ but she has had a career for around 20 years and is amazing. I also like Katy Perry, Avril Lavene and I just saw Walk the Moon and I love them. I love when guys can write and be honest in their music, like One Republic and Adam Levine. I love emotionally charged songs.”
Do you also write/compose songs?“I do, I don’t really play instruments, but often times I write songs. It’s really hard to do because you’ll have something that happens to you and you think it will make a perfect song, so you sit down to write and it’s like- blah. It sucks, but I find that I usually just write lyrics, but my friends Taylor and Brooks both play an instrument so we’ve talked about getting together and writing because I need someone to write songs for my lyrics. I find that the stuff I end up liking I write in two minutes, because if you sit there and try to make things rhyme, it doesn’t sound as honest. I started writing in high school; junior year was rough so I just kind of took it out on my notebook and have continued writing into college. But for every good song there are 10 bad ones, and I’ll look back and say ‘what was I thinking?’ I would love to record an album one day of my own shit… Because when you’re on stage doing musicals, that’s amazing, but being able to write your own stuff and be yourself is incredible too. It’s different and I love it.”
You’re a member of Tone-Acious, now what exactly do you guys do/what does it mean to you?“Tone-Acious is Behrend’s only acappella group, for those of you who don’t know. We generally write our own arrangements, and there are so many talented people in it who write and sing. My friend TK is the president, Kris Knorr is VP, and it is a very fun group to be a part of. Last year I came in and it felt a little weird at first, but eventually I got really comfortable with the people. This year it’s a completely different atmosphere and I love it just the same; my friends are the ones running it so the vibe of the group is completely different. It’s a really fun group to be a part of. I feel weird about when I graduate, because when you’re in a show the cast changes, but Tone-Acious is a little more constant because we practice every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. There is a consistency to it that makes it almost seem like a second home.”
Last year you were in the campus musical The Spring Awakening, how was that experience for you?“Favorite thing I had ever done! I played Moritz, who was very unlike me because I like to think I’m a very fun person, while he was suicidal and struggling with depression. I don’t know, I think I do best with characters who are different from me in a completely removed way, because if they are similar then I can bring too much of myself. The cast was badass too, I met some really great people. Shout out to the awesome director as well!”Â
Is it true that you got the lead in this upcoming musical?“I did! We are doing First Date this November, TK playing my opposite. We are very good friends and I’m playing her love interest who is like me in the sense that he is awkward, dorky and goofy. I’m terrible, like when I go on a date, especially with people who are really cute I don’t know what to do with myself. I stumble over words and do things that are not funny. I hope that it’s charming, but sometimes it probably isn’t… But he is kind of like that as well, he’s fun, open, honest and weird.”
Are you planning on continuing to do theater after you graduate?“Oh, absolutely! My ultimate goal is to do this as a living. I like nice things Kayla, which is why im majoring in what I’m majoring in (Arts Administration) because it is the same world, and I can make a little extra money doing what I love.”
So, is the ultimate goal Broadway?“Broadway, record an album… ultimately I’d love to do it all one day. I’m very stubborn.”Â
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