Billy Elliot The Musical- Page 9

[WestEndPro]

Posted: 8/8/05 at 6:29pm

Click here for bigger picture Updated On: 8/9/05 at 06:29 PM

[Electricity]

Posted: 8/9/05 at 4:34am

As you can see from this magazine article that WEP has posted, it must be a really tiring job for the young "Billy" stars to not only perform in the show on a weekly basis but also land up having to do interviews for the media and photo shots etc and to think they must fit in school work at the same time... what an experience and opportunity they have (even though it is hard going) but I guess some people would dream to be in their shoes!

[loopy_lucy_loo]

Posted: 8/9/05 at 9:21am

Coolios picture. Im liking George's socks. but im sure James's socks are nicer :-P Updated On: 8/9/05 at 09:21 AM

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 8/9/05 at 11:21am

OMG! James' leaving! SO soon! I wanna see him! I have a recording of him (oops!) and he sounds SO different to Liam! more mature! I REALLY wanna see him... plz don't leave! *CRIES!*
btw, when is the cast recording out? I heard it's out at the end of autumn!

[loopy_lucy_loo]

Posted: 8/9/05 at 11:44am

I think the cast recording is out towards the VERy end of August but im not sure. But when i went to see it i asked the merchandise guy (he said HI in a really cool way) and i asked him and he said august to me, then he did a little thing with his hand and went ENNNNNDDDDDD of august and then smiled at me (kinda scary smile) so not sure best wait for WestEndPro's reply
Updated On: 8/9/05 at 11:44 AM

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 8/9/05 at 1:02pm

Saw the show last week and it was excellent. I really hope that they seriously consider bringing it to NYC but I also hope that they don't Americanize it. It will lose its charm if they do that. Saw James as Billy and he was adorably great! :)

[WestEndPro]

Posted: 8/9/05 at 6:19pm

The kids truly work very hard, they have very busy schedules (school plus show plus social life), and still they gladly do show after show and usually meet their fans with a happy smile. Not all is glamour, but some is.

The cast recording is due soon, that's all I can say at the moment.

WEP

[Chloe]

Posted: 8/9/05 at 6:28pm

When I first got interested in the show, I visited a couple of British boards along the lines of this one, but couldn't find very much about it. It's kind of interesting that some of the Billy fans have found a home on BWW - and of course we're glad to have you here.

Although it is a very English show, the one thing about it that struck me as somewhat American is it's basic optimism. Despite all the difficulties you see the characters go through, I came away with a feeling of hope.

I'm really glad to have been one of the lucky Americans to see this.

[WestEndPro]

Posted: 8/9/05 at 7:02pm

Isn't the basic optimism universal?

That's at least what I gather from people from other nations who's been to see the show...

I'm glad you enjoyed the show, and it might just come to Broadway one of these days.

WEP
Updated On: 8/9/05 at 07:02 PM

[Chloe]

Posted: 8/9/05 at 9:43pm

"Isn't the basic optimism universal?"

I would hope so, but America has often been portrayed as more than usually inclined to look on the bright side. If the show does come here, I'm thinking that element will help overcome any difficulties with accents and national politics.

[Electricity]

Posted: 8/10/05 at 5:54am

I guess wherever the show opens next, the producers will want it to be a hit. In my opinion they should leave it the way it is.

Now here's a thought... I know that the audition stages for Billy Elliot over here in England was intense, but I wonder what it would be like in other countries?
Lets hope it doesn't get turned into a reality tv programme...
here we've had "Pop Idol", next it could be "vote for the next Billy!"

[BillyFan2]

Posted: 8/10/05 at 6:42am

If you're not into reading people babbling about nothing in general please scroll down to <***You're safe and can start reading again***>

Following a family emergency several hundred miles away, I found myself last night having to drive 300 miles home having had 4 hours sleep in the previous 48. Actually more like 60. This meant driving back was a bit of a nightmare, it's nearly all motorway and staying awake was going to be a problem, even with all the coffee and diet-coke.

Well, I have a 6 CD autochanger in the boot and I tend to have 5 CD's by various artists and then a made up CD of the best songs from the other 5. At the moment I have some Avril Lavigne, Green Day, Robbie Williams, Meatloaf and of course Peachtree Road with the 3 bonus "Billy Elliot" tracks. Most of the CDs I've played to death and on the way back I was listening to the combination disc over and over again singing my head off all the way home, especially "Electricity", "Merry Xmas Maggie Thatcher" and "the Letter". I was getting very strange looks from some of the other drivers. Especially at one set of roadworks where I also happened to have the windows wide open.

With about 100 miles to go even this wasn't working well to keep me awake, I'd sung the songs too many times. I stopped again for an injection of caffeine and then put on the final spurt up the M6 for home. I decided that rather than listen to the CD again, I would sing songs from "Billy Elliot". I've seen it six times now so know most of the tunes, but not all of the lyrics. I started working my way through the songs, starting with "The Stars look down" which I absolutely love. Kind of avoiding "Shine" and "We'd go dancing" as I don't really know those at all apart from the chorus's. Next I reached "Solidarity" which was brilliant. I couldn't remember some of the interplay between the miners and the police so made up some of my own on the spot:

Oi, you, white van man.
You're gonna cause a shunt.
travelling in the fast lane,
driving like a $%^&.

Solidarity, solidarity, solidarity forever,
travelling in the fast lane,
Solidarity forever.

It would have probably gone even better if I could have found a driving word that rhymed with solidarity but it worked for me, keeping me awake for the last hundred miles. I carried on through most of the other songs, but always kept coming back to "Solidarity" when I felt like giving another driver a piece of my mind. Hurling abuse in song really is most gratifying.

I'm not sure how Lee Hall would have appreciated me mangling his lyrics or how Elton would have appreciated me mangling his tunes trying to get my made up lyrics to fit, but it did keep me awake all the way home, giggling most of the way.

I've said it earlier in the thread and in PM's but thanks WestEndPro for this thread, the pictures, and the information. Most of all though, thanks to the cast and crew for a wonderful musical which I plan on seeing a lot more times.

Well, it's time for your normal programming to be resumed.

<***You're safe and can start reading again***>

Updated On: 8/10/05 at 06:42 AM

[kyle33nyc]

Posted: 8/10/05 at 7:09am

Just saw the show last week, and it really is terrific. One of the best pieces written in the past ten years. The score isn't amazing, but a huge improvement over Aida. And the show actually improves on the film.

[S Wilkins]

Posted: 8/10/05 at 1:38pm

I think that if it is true that James Lomas has been asked to leave while George and Liam continue then he should get to do the cast recording. Think how devastated the boy mustve been to be told that he had to stop while his two new best mates could carry on, if there worried about him getting older then its only 3 more months!!!

It shouldnt be liam coz he got to do press night and in my opinion has become nore recognised and gotten more credit for the role. Also, George got to do the posters and billboards for the show, therefore i think James should get the cast recording to make it fair.

I intend to write to him with this comment.

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 8/10/05 at 2:04pm

its harsh, but its the reality. I think they should do three cast reocrdings! They should do flyers and buses with James. Well, I wouldn't mind, but a DVD of it wud be nice! (NEVER gonna happen I know... cud only dream on...)

[loopy_lucy_loo]

Posted: 8/10/05 at 2:27pm

I think they should just share the songs out between all three of them! I can only see the problem between which michael to give expressing yourself too as it is a strong song and i am sure all three of them love it as it is Michael's main part in the show.

[WestEndPro]

Posted: 8/10/05 at 6:04pm

Click here for a bigger picture!

[Electricity]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 6:59am

Great photo WEP. Whose the girl? Did you take this yourself or do you get them sent in from fans?

Does anyone else have any good photo's of the show or cast members?

James looks so different to when I watched the DVD and the Billy Elliot diaries.

Updated On: 8/11/05 at 06:59 AM

[S Wilkins]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 8:04am

When people say that you can meet James, George, Liam and other cast members at the stage door, do you mean the actual stage door or the pub next to the theatre called 'the stage door'?

Anyone?

[BillyFan2]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 8:22am

The stage door of the theatre I believe.

[x-Sophiee-x]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 2:18pm

Hello im sophie and i dont really know what to do on this!! loopy_lucy_loo gave me the link and im still a bit confused!! just like to say it is at the stage door of the theatre its opposite the pub because i met them yaay!! anyway nice meeting you even though i havnt achually met you but bye X

[Chloe]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 2:32pm

Just read and enjoy the thread, Sophie, and check out some of the rest of the message board if you're interested in other musicals too. Congratulations on meeting some of the Billy's!

[x-Sophiee-x]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 2:34pm

woo thanks!! this is soo cool im so excited!! xx

[Chloe]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 2:38pm

It's a great show and I'm glad to see all the fans here.

[x-Sophiee-x]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 2:56pm

yeah it is indeed!! have you seen all three billys?! x