Billy Elliot Opening Date Announced

[Not Barker, Todd.]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 3:10pm

"As previously announced, Billy Elliot — the Olivier Award-winning Elton John-Lee Hall musical based on the 2000 film of the same name — will play its first Broadway preview Sept. 17 at the Imperial Theatre.

Playbill.com has learned that the eagerly awaited musical will officially open at the Imperial Oct. 16.

A search has been ongoing for the triple-threat lads who will alternate in the role of the working-class boy with dreams of ballet stardom. The musical is a London sensation (at the Victoria Palace Theatre), hailed as composer Elton John's most mature writing for the musical theatre (following The Lion King, Aida and Lestat). A Sydney production opened in January.

Stephen Daldry, who directed the inspirational motion picture, also directs the stage production. The music is by Elton John with book and lyrics by Lee Hall."


Solid-Date-Already!

[NDR]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 3:17pm

I am actually really excited to see this show.
I loved the movie and despite the fact that it is yet another movie to musical show, I think it sounds like a great show.

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 3:26pm

This isn't 'new news' -- I thought it had been known since the initial announcement. If nothing else, I've known for a long while now. Glad that they've .... made it public. LoL

Nevertheless, I am *VERY MUCH* looking forward to this one!

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 3:52pm

I am soooooo excited and hopefully soooooo there that night

[James2]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 4:12pm

Interesting that it's opening on Oct. 16, for that is the same day that The Boy From Oz opened at the Imperial.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 4:28pm

Just got back from Sydney where I saw Billy twice. I had also seen it in London.

There have been a few tweaks to the show for the better and Mrs. Wilkinson is very well cast in Oz, much better than London where she was too young, too thin and too pretty. Genivieve Lemon is physically perfect for the role--just frowsy enough to be completely believable. One of the two Billys, a lad named Lochlan, was terrific. The other, an American named Corey who is an understudy (and flies between UK and Oz as needed!), was very good but not quite Lochlan's caliber of showmanship.

My biggest concern is that the physical production is huge and the Imperial is comparatively small. Where in hell will they put all that scenery and all those lighting instruments?

We shall find out come fall.

[Chloe]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 5:11pm

I wouldn't say Corey is an understudy exactly. In London he's been a star rotating as Billy for a while. He was sent to Australia when one of the boys there was injured and couldn't go on for a while. Maybe they sent Corey because as an American he was already far from home while appearing in England.

I saw the English version a month after it opened there, and am really looking forward to seeing what they do with it here.

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 5:15pm

WOSQ, I don't know about Australia, but I don't remember the London one being such a huge physical production ! What's so special about it, besides Billy's house ?

And this is such an incredible show ! NYC will soooo fall in love with it !!

[Scripps2]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 6:35pm

Any word on casting?

[greybaby231]

Posted: 3/13/08 at 10:45pm

I saw it in London, and loved it! I can't wait to see it on Broadway. It will be interesting to see how it translates on Broadway.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 3/14/08 at 9:42am

Spoiler alert: (you've done been warned)

They have to go into the ground to excavate to fit the 3 story center set in. That house is a big baby. Plus there is the elevator upstage center. The Capitol Theater in Sydney is huge and Lion King, no small show, had already played there, and they still had to dig.

At times all the scenery disappears yet they need a lot of open space for the choreography. Specifically for the Pas de Deux in Act Two, although Billy's solos use every bit of open stage.

I suppose the walls that are almost always on stage can be telescoped, but still, where will they put them?

NY casting is happening now. There is a 3 month rehearsal period.