Auditions for Billy Elliot this weekend in NY

It's not open in NY yet is it? Have I missed something? Surely they're casting for opening rather than a possible two years down the line?

This is how they did it in London. They put out a casting call and then spent over a year training several kids for the role of Billy, since he has to master ballet, tap, jazz and modern as well as sing several numbers. While the three kids who eventually went into the show as Billy (they rotate performances through the week) all had a good deal of training in one dance form or another when they auditioned, it took a year to get them to the point of being able to handle all of the extraordinary demands of the role.

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I've seen the show. It's fantastic! I can't wait for it to come to NYC.

I believe one or two of the original Billys turned 15 before he left the show, so this is not out of line. Each boy had his own keys for the show, which probably changed over time also. The timeline on casting is the same as they had for the London version. What's the point of a "publicity stunt" two years before a show opens?