Triple treat from Steven

MANILA, Philippines - Steven Silva is bent to showcase his knack for dancing, singing and acting in the soon-to-be-premiered The Boston: The Kitchen Musical on the Lifestyle Network. The international TV series is the spin-off of the genre-busting The Kitchen Musical, starring Christian Bautista and Karylle. The Boston is Steven’s biggest TV break with the show’s distribution in Asia. It might also be broadcast in such territories as Australia, Europe and the US.

“I don’t think so,” replies Steven when asked if his (Pan-Asian) looks did seal the deal. “They were looking for (actors who fit) the characters. In my first audition, they told me that I could fit in one or two characters. I was asked to read some lines of characters Sid and Noah. They were really focusing (on the characters and) the performance, not more on the looks.”

Steven’s journey to The Boston began when “a friend (told) me that they were doing a show based on The Kitchen Musical in 2013. I auditioned. I had four or five callbacks. After a few weeks, I had callbacks.” He recalls that more than a hundred auditioned for a myriad of roles. Going through one callback after another, Steven says, “The number (of auditionees) got smaller and smaller — from around 60 or 50 down to 40 or 30. Most of them were theater actors.”

The audition started in March of last year. But it was sometime in October or November when Steven’s inclusion in the final casting was confirmed. Christian, an original cast member of The Kitchen Musical, also learned about it and congratulated Steven.  

“When we started doing the table reading, I asked him (Christian) about his experience (in The Kitchen Musical which was shot entirely in Singapore) and his (working) tips,” remembers Steven. “He told me, ‘If you have something to say about the script, you suggest it. Don’t be late. Focus. (And) work hard.’”

Steven had to work harder, particularly in the early part of The Boston production because he was also taping for Sa Akin Pa Rin Ang Bukas. This required him to be on the set Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. He shuttled from one location set to another since the taping of The Boston was also in Manila. “We rotate around Metro Manila,” Steven says. “We do the kitchen scenes here. We do the house scenes in different areas.”

What part of the kitchen will the televiewers see Steven in?

“Sid is a pastry chef,” he says of his interesting and intriguing character. “Most pastry chefs are women. He shows some tendency or inclination of (you know what), but we don’t know whether he is gay or not. Some characters tease him because he is always well-groomed, pogi and malambing mag-salita (soft-spoken). The character named Chris has given him the nickname ‘fruitcake.’ He jokes around with my character.”

Before joining showbiz, Steven studied Culinary Arts and prior taping for The Boston, he attended “immersive” workshops in a local culinary school. 

“We do the table reading,” Steven shares. “We can suggest ideas (that concern the script) like this doesn’t fit or I don’t think my character will say this. I enjoy the singing and the dancing parts. I enjoy the rehearsals. They are truly fun. (The show) has different elements. We call it the DMF. There’s drama, music and food.”

Although the series is a “continuation” of The Kitchen Musical, The Boston offers a different storyline and  set of songs. The music is a good mix of contemporary and original songs. The repertoire is not composed of mainstream tunes. “The songs really interact with the scenes,” says Steven. “(Televiewers) will enjoy them. It’s something new.”

On the local front, Steven is seen in Sunday All Stars and wants to join Cosmo this year.

“Even if I auditioned (for a role), it wasn’t automatic that I had the chance,” says Steven. “There was also a chance that I wasn’t able to make it.”

With The Boston now “up on his sleeve,” Steven can’t help but say, “I’m just very thankful.”

(The Boston will premiere on June 18 at 10 p.m.)