Young Singer Gets His Kicks on Stage

Kevin Cabriales thinks he was born to perform.

Before his first solo performance in a boys choir, he told his mother: “Mom, I’m not scared. I’m not nervous . . . I was born to be on stage.”

Now the Chaparral Middle School seventh-grader has the part of a lifetime. The 12-year-old performs each afternoon and night, singing and dancing at the Universal Amphitheatre in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, which stars the Rockettes.

Kevin, the son of Moorpark school board member Gary Cabriales, has been living with his mother in an apartment provided by the show’s producers near the amphitheater since he began rehearsing for the show last month.

The show, which will appear at the Universal Amphitheatre through Tuesday, features dancers, renditions of classic Christmas songs and, of course, the high kicks and seamlessly choreographed routines of the Rockettes.

“I love it,” said Kevin, who wants to be a professional singer when he grows up. “The people here are really nice. They’re like family.”

Already a veteran of several musicals, Disney commercials and a European film, Kevin tried out for the role of the show’s only boy in May.

While he isn’t exactly kicking with the Rockettes, the role has Kevin dancing challenging, choreographed routines with performers twice his age. He is sometimes at center stage singing solos.

Kevin’s mom says her son really knows how to ham it up.

“You have no idea,” said Sandra Cabriales. “I don’t know where he gets it from. . . . He just has this stage presence. He draws the attention. He has this light around his face.”