I just want to say that this announcement in the national press that Billy Elliot the Musical is launching a "National Tour", is very misleading. The truth is, and I've been saying this all year, is that Billy Elliot CAN NEVER go on a NATIONAL TOUR. For both legal and economic reasons. This announcement yesterday describes, an Open-ended Sitdown production in Chicago, which could and may run for YEARS, before they pack it up and move it to another city. Additionally, there is a third sitdown production planned to San Francisco in the fall of next year. They are doing this, because a show like Billy Elliot cannot travel like traditional tours can. SO WHY DO THEY CALL IT A TOUR IN ALL THE PRESS? Well firstly you should know, that the PR firm for Billy Elliot writes these press relseases, and they chose to call it a "Tour" so that all the local newspapers in every state would cover the story! If they call it a "National Tour" then it makes National Headlines. SO WHY IS THAT BAD? Well its not too harmful, but it may get many peoples hopes up that Billy Elliot will visit their state or local tour house on a tour, this is simply false. Billy Elliot cannot and will not tour, it can only afford to produce sit-down productions that must run for years to work.
Why can't it tour? Well there are two answers. And they are both the same reason. Children. This show has so many children that all children would need so many childhandlers, and parents, that it would be far too expensive to pay all those people. The second reason, and the more significant reason, is that Child labor laws and Union rules prevent these children from working the demanding hours of a tour, most people on tour work the equivialant of a 40+ hour week. And their only day off (Sunday) is used for travel. Each Child is also required to have tutors, meals, and otherwise that would make a tour financially impossible. The number of people it would take to make a tour of Billy Elliot, would be outrageous, bigger than any show before in history. (ask me about Annie) And Billy Elliot already has one of the largest casts on Broadway. Sitdown productions would rely on hiring more local actors for adults and kids.
Bottom Line --- Don't sit at home and wait for Billy Elliot to come to your nearest city, plan a trip to New York, or Chicago next year. Otherwise you'll be waiting for a long time. Most Likely forever!
Stephen: "Could you grab me a coffee?"
Me: "Would you like that with all the colors of the wind?"
