Billy Elliot Casting Complete!- Page 2

[Skywalker3]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 3:14pm

At first I had some doubts,

But I think Gregory can play the role perfectly! Love the hear him sing 'Deep into the ground'

[ACL2006]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 3:18pm

YEAH for Grant Turner!!! I knew he had another show coming up, so glad it's Billy Elliot!!

[Mamie]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 3:34pm

Of course for all you know they may have called 'the name' in 7 or 8 times.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 3:44pm

I hope they did.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 4:06pm

The original auditions were hellish. A three hour sing-dance-read epic. A bunch were sent away for 3 weeks of dance and accent coaching before another long seige at the audition gates. And these were for the adult leads. One of those up for Mrs. Wilkinson recently won a Tony. This wasn't a bunch of no-reputation kids.

Then the women were all told they didn't get it, and this was when the actresses figured they wanted somebody from London.

The same thing was done to the men and Greg Jbara was the last man standing.

[WesternSky2]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 4:27pm

So glad this was finally announced! Very excited about this show... Greg Jbara is going to be fantastic. I can feel it.

[WickedScoundrel]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 4:30pm

I couldn't be more excited the Greg Jbara is gonna be back in NY! I never got to see DRS (except on tour -- woo Joe Cassidy!), but maybe there's a chance I can see him in this :)

I wonder if he'll do his dressing room webcam again...

[TooDarnHot]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 4:49pm

Jbara will be the only decent thing about this show...

saw it in London. it was so terrible

[Weez]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 5:06pm

Because your opinion counts for SO much to everyone here. XD

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 5:07pm

WSOQ- you sound so incerdibly bitter about Hadyn Gwynn coming to NY for some reason. The show is cast very differently to the film. Every aspect of the casting (of which i was partially involved) worked. Audience reaction and reviews proved this from day one!
Most 'names' go thru tougher auditions than 'non-names' believe me!

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 5:26pm

Haydn was really really good as Mrs. Wilkinson, not my fav. but very close (Sally Dextor was WOW). I think they're goin a very different road on Mrs. Wilkinson on film and on stage, so the whole Julie Walters thing doesn't work out onstage (though I would personally LOVE to see Julie tackle the stage role after seeing Acorn Antiques!)

The rest of the cast sounds very promising/exciting! Carole Shelley, I bet she can play anything! And I'm interested in listening to Leah Hocking as the mother cuz I think I've only heard her as Velma in Hairspray.

[TooDarnHot]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 5:27pm

"Because your opinion counts for SO much to everyone here. XD"

So therefore my right to free speech just dissapears?

that's hilarious.

you sound like a George Bush goonie

[Weez]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 5:33pm

You're entitled to say whatever you like. We're entitled to say whatever we like. If that somehow creates a situation where you say something and other people laugh at it, that's a pretty pure example of free speech, I'd say. ^_^

[elphiesmagic]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 5:46pm

Jbara is a master of manipulating his fans. He's brilliant - I've worked with him and seen him at the stage door remembering people's names who have come to see shows multiple times! He also makes their day by inviting random people backstage for tours and such, responding to emails, etc. Of course that dressing room cam is the most blatant example. He's a great performer, but rather obvious with working his fans to prove himself to be a ticket-selling name. Nice guy otherwise, good family man. I look forward to seeing him in BILLY, also excited about Hayden Gwynne!

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 5:59pm

Hayden Gwynne was definitive as Mrs. Wilkinson. I would not be surprised if she wins a Tony for her performance. She was simply superb in London.

[Jon]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 7:11pm

I know Betty Buckley auditioned for Grandma.

[Mamie]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 7:18pm

Nice guy OTHERWISE? I guess I don't understand why treating his fans well makes him a bad guy.

At any rate, I understand that this is going to be a huge cast so there won't be any personal dressing rooms, so probably no backstage visits or webcams.

I guess that means he's a nice guy again!

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 7:27pm

Betty Buckley utterly wrong for the part! Lol

[WesternSky2]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 9:40pm

"Manipulating" his fans? Really? I probably shouldn't even dignify that with a response, but I can't help but point out how ridiculous that is. As if he's the only actor ever to remember names and take people on backstage tours.

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 10:56pm

SO excited for this!

[SirLiir]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 11:19pm

Ditto on Greg being in this. Looks like something I will def see.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 7/20/08 at 3:13pm

Is the Heather Burns credited as being in the ensemble the same Heather Burns (of both Miss Congeniality films) currently appearing in THE MARRIAGE OF BETTE & BOO?

If so, I had no idea she could sing.

Delightful casting all around!

[JbaraFan1]

Posted: 7/20/08 at 4:15pm

The Heather Burns in Billy Elliot is one of the children in the show. She's playing ballet girl Sharon Percy. Just happens to have the same name as the ...Bette & Boo actress. :)

I'm pretty certain the BE Heather is pictured on Trent Kowalik's blog of July 7th. (http://trentkowalik.com/post/69658603/more-answers)

[edited much later to update link to Trent's 7/7/08 blog]
here's the cast list & roles we have at GregoryJbara.com Updated On: 7/26/10 at 04:15 PM