Billy Elliot casting????

[coryografer]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 3:12pm

With all the talk about Billy Elliot coming to NYC, what would you think of Dee Hoty as the dance teacher? I think she could be great. Saw Billy in London a couple years ago......... Don't miss it!!!!
Updated On: 4/27/08 at 03:12 PM

[TooDarnHot]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 3:17pm

I'm NOT hating on "Billy" in this thread but I just need to know from anyone else who saw the show in London....

why is everyone soo crazy about this?

I thought it was terrible and I was SO dissapointed because I really wanted to like it. Especially the score (Elton's AIDA score is a guilty pleasure of mine). But it left me feeling empty inside.

"Electricity" was supposed to be this big intense Act Two power-ballad and it didn't do anything for me.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 3:30pm

Beth Leavel (who is apparently being considered) is about as perfect a Mrs. Wilkinson as you could find.

[pking327]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 6:15pm

i agree she would be perfect for that role!!!!

[adamgreer]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 6:17pm

Didn't I read that Leavel is in final negotiations to play the role?

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 6:45pm

I had heard last week about Beth Leavel talking with the Billy Elliot team about being Mrs. Wilkinson. I was thrilled because A) she is perfect for the role, B) I said in July '07 that she would get it: https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?boardid=1&boardname=bway&thread=940345#3137075

[JeaniusIsMe]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 6:51pm

TooDarnHot- I also saw the show in London and it just didn't do anything for me. The Billy I saw was a fabulous dancer, but as a musical I found nothing to latch onto and remember. I am also a closet Aida fan, and found the music in Billy Elliot leaving me wanting something more.

That being said, I'm sure I'll see the NYC production at least once.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 11:22am

If Leavel is indeed in negotiations to take on the role, it's very exciting news.

[StephenSondheimWHOO]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 5:59pm

Beth Leavel would be great, but i don't see why Haydn Gwynn just can't do it on Broadway, she was so great in the London production

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 7:43pm

TooDarnHot, I like some of it. I LOVE "Electricity", and a few things here and there. But I just don't think it can work here. Especially "Merry Christmas, Maggie Thatcher."

[theminutepast]

Posted: 5/4/08 at 4:16pm

So I don't know a whole lot about the story or casting, and I don't really have time to read around about it. I assume Billy Elliot stays the same age and the story doesn't follow him into adulthood. If it's not too much trouble:

Are there multiple children playing the role of Billy Elliot because of rules limiting hours a child can work each week?

How does that work if the performance was good enough to warrant an award nomination, Drama Desk, Tony, or otherwise? I know each award's committee would rule on who is eligible, but I can't imagine how difficult and sad it would be for one child to be nominated while the other(s) are not.

[musicalfan07]

Posted: 5/4/08 at 4:21pm

In London, all 3 boys won the award Best actor in a musical, at the Olivier Awards, making them the youngest winners of the award ever!

[matty159]

Posted: 5/4/08 at 4:34pm

I am curious as to how well it will work here too, but have to admit that when I saw it in London, I found it to be a completely exhilarating evening of theater. It probably has something to do with how much I love the movie too, but I thought it was fantastic. And the casting of Beth Leavel would be most excellent!

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/4/08 at 4:36pm

I'm assumming that Haydn Gwynn is British? It's not always easy to get Equity to agree to hiring outside of the US. They want as many jobs as possible to go to their union members.

I believe that SITPWG and Equus got approval since the sell on those shows IS the stars.

[theminutepast]

Posted: 5/4/08 at 4:37pm

Interesting. I think that's a good solution.

Beth is a fantastic actress. This would be her first gig after Drowsy, am I wrong?

[Jon]

Posted: 5/4/08 at 6:01pm

I know for a fact that Betty Buckley had an audition yesterday.

Sorry, I don't know the show, so I don't know what role.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 5/4/08 at 6:48pm

I guess that would have to be for the grandma. Can't decide if she's really right for it, but it would be great to see her perform "Grandma's Song."

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 5/4/08 at 7:22pm

I'm so not a Buckley fan.
And well, this would be Beth Leavel's second gig after DROWSY (unless you count NO, NO, NANETTE, in which case it'd be her third gig). She is performing in DANCING IN THE DARK on the West Coast with Scott Bakula and Mara Davi.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 5/4/08 at 7:30pm

Ray, you have to admit that she's got pipes.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 5/4/08 at 7:32pm

Oh, she's a great singer (her "He Plays the Violin" is thrilling), I just don't think she can act her way out of a paperbag.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 5/4/08 at 7:34pm

Good point.

[girlsings]

Posted: 5/4/08 at 7:49pm

Someone said they'd heard it was going to be Leah Hocking as the dance teacher.

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 5/4/08 at 7:56pm

Ooooh, Leah Hocking would be AMAZING.
Her or Beth Leavel... both great.
Betty Buckley as the grandmother would be great too.
The anticipation is exciting... I kind of DON'T want to know who gets these roles yet!

[JulianHookbucks]

Posted: 5/4/08 at 11:45pm

Complete newcomer Erin Whyland is the little girl, and her sister Casey who just came off of the original cast of the Annie Anniversary Tour is one of the ensemble girls. The family are all close friends of mine, and they told us a few weeks ago that they were cast. :)

[logan0215]

Posted: 5/14/08 at 7:36pm

I just saw the show here in London while en route back to the US after my semester in Rome.

I found the show absolutely amazing/exhilarating. I was bawling throughout the two scenes between Billy and his mother (a role I'd love to see Lisa Brescia play on Broadway).

I'll write a full review elsewhere but heres my casting:

Dad - Tom Wopat
Brother - Aaron Lohr or Adam Pascal
Nanna - Cass Morgan or Mary Louise Wilson
Mom - Lisa Brescia