Posted: 7/6/15 at 8:07pm
I was just curious about the rules for child actors on Broadway. Why can Sydney Lucas do all 8 shows a week but the boys in Finding Neverland have the rotate parts? And the same with the Matilda's? I get that the Matidla's carry the show but the Finding Neverland kids don't. Why don't they just have the 4 boys?
Posted: 7/6/15 at 8:11pm
I'll say this much- whatever the future of FUN HOME is, be it Nat'l Tour or movie or otherwise, the girl who succeeds Sydney Lucas will have ridiculously large shoes to fill. It's bittersweet to think of when she will outgrow the role.
Posted: 7/6/15 at 8:17pm
I worked with Eli Tokash on a lab recently and he was simply the best. Sometimes the kids are really ment for this biz
Posted: 7/6/15 at 8:38pm
"I'll say this much- whatever the future of FUN HOME is, be it Nat'l Tour or movie or otherwise, the girl who succeeds Sydney Lucas will have ridiculously large shoes to fill. It's bittersweet to think of when she will outgrow the role."
I could be wrong, but I could've sworn that there were rumblings on this very board mentioning that Lucas' contract goes until October. (Which, as sad as that is, makes sense, if you look at how tall she's gotten.)
Posted: 7/6/15 at 9:45pm
There is no set rule. It's what the producers want to do. The Matilda group are really careful with their children - don't let them sign autographs, take photos with fans, etc...work as a group..limited time as the lead, limited shows each week. On the other hand, the Annie people signed one actress for their part (and then had understudies fill in on a regular basis). Fun Home IS a shorter show - small Allison has a nice role but it's not huge. But hey...Sydney was so worn out and sick recently - she missed a whole week of shows.
Some shows want to bank on the "stars" - even if they are kids while others just want to give more children an opportunity for a great experience.
And yes Sydney is just fabulous but her understudy Gabby got raves when she went on recently. I am sure there are many talented girls who can do this role.
Posted: 7/7/15 at 12:58pm
"There is no set rule. It's what the producers want to do. The Matilda group are really careful with their children - don't let them sign autographs, take photos with fans, etc...work as a group..limited time as the lead, limited shows each week. On the other hand, the Annie people signed one actress for their part (and then had understudies fill in on a regular basis). Fun Home IS a shorter show - small Allison has a nice role but it's not huge. But hey...Sydney was so worn out and sick recently - she missed a whole week of shows.
Some shows want to bank on the "stars" - even if they are kids while others just want to give more children an opportunity for a great experience.
And yes Sydney is just fabulous but her understudy Gabby got raves when she went on recently. I am sure there are many talented girls who can do this role."
Sounds like the producers at Matilda are doing it right. They are looking out for the kids with rotating them (school, childhood) and then good to keep them away from the public like that.
Posted: 7/7/15 at 1:12pm
Like anything else, the producers have to follow child labor laws. It depends, I believe, on the stage time and the age of the child.
EDIT: This chart lays out he maximum hours for child performers. If the amount of time adds up to more than these limits, the role must be split.
https://www.labor.ny.gov/formsdocs/wp/LS559.pdf
Updated On: 7/7/15 at 01:12 PM
Posted: 7/7/15 at 2:05pm
"Like anything else, the producers have to follow child labor laws. It depends, I believe, on the stage time and the age of the child.
^^Absolutely...I should have mentioned that when I said it's up to the producers. But within that framework, different shows have different thoughts on what they want their kids to do. I don't think FN needs that many boys but more boys get a great opportunity by rotating.
Matilda has had 4 girls all along but they have had 3 recently and while it's probably temporary, it's obviously within the legal limit. (and 3 on tour).
Posted: 7/7/15 at 3:36pm
I unexpectedly had lunch one day with a woman and her son who was on his way to his Broadway play. We had a conversation about him doing all 8 shows (I asked how they determined he didn't have to split the role), and his mom was telling me it was something they discussed with the production early on. They considered the kid, the family dynamics, consulted with parents, ect... and decided he could handle it. Not sure what the child "rules" are specifically with each production.
Posted: 7/7/15 at 3:46pm
Maybe the Matilda producers watched Life After Tomorrow and got the message.
Updated On: 7/7/15 at 03:46 PM
Posted: 7/7/15 at 4:32pm
Posted: 7/7/15 at 5:12pm
I remember hearing an interview with the producers answering why they wanted to rotate four Matildas. I think no matter whether you agree with them or not, I like that they made a proactive decision to protect their childhood, and they said they got the benefit of keeping the Matildas fresh for their performances. That is not saying they still wouldn't be fresh if they only used on actress or rotated with one other alternate, but they made a conscious choice after going over all their options. I don't know why people were somewhat up-in-arms about it when Matilda premiered, and keep negatively comparing it to A Christmas Story or telling us that it is unneeded. I don't know what the harm is.
Updated On: 7/7/15 at 05:12 PM
Posted: 7/7/15 at 5:32pm
I have also heard from a Matilda family member that by having four, they are not just" Matildas" but part of a team. They have three other kids besides themselves who are going through the same experience as they are...they look at each other as friends and are a huge support system for each other = which is why you never see a real interview with just one. They are grateful to have each other..and that's important for little kids.
You might say that the Billy Elliot role is more demanding which is why they needed more boys..but the Billy Elliot boys were a couple of years older at least (there were no 8 year old Billy's I don't think). But the girls are really young and it works.
Updated On: 7/7/15 at 05:32 PM
Posted: 7/7/15 at 5:48pm
you never see a real interview with just one
I remember reading about that rule -- that no Matilda was allowed to be interviewed without the other three present -- and thinking it sounded very wise.
Posted: 7/7/15 at 8:25pm
Posted: 7/7/15 at 8:36pm
And you've been harping about that forever. Weren't the Matildas ineligible for to be nominated due to procedural reasons (not enough stage time)? So they couldn't be in a competitive category unlike Johnny Rabe who was eligible and didn't get a nomination. Sorry you're bitter about that, but demeaning the performances of the actresses and downplaying the role demands of Matilda has nothing to do with whether A Christmas Story kids were robbed of recognition, which seems to be the bone you have to pick. It's fine if you don't think they should have gotten special recognition (not sure why though since they didn't rob anyone else of getting it), but that has nothing to do with whether the producers made a good choice in rotating the roles, which many of your arguments are touching upon (such as how it is not a demanding the role and could be done with one Matilda). The producers made a conscious choice for reasons beyond whether or not one actress could do the role 8 times a week. I guess I just don't see what the Matildas getting a special Tony has anything to do with Johnny Rabe and the other members of A Christmas Story's cast not getting nominated or a special Tony since even if the Matildas didn't get a Special Tony, it doesn't mean they were going to give it to A Christmas Story's cast.
Why don't you pick on the actual Best Actor nominees that year or lament the fact that the Tonys don't have a competitive award for ensemble?
Updated On: 7/7/15 at 08:36 PM
Posted: 7/7/15 at 10:00pm
Posted: 7/7/15 at 10:06pm
You're are pretty funny in how hard you're trying to reach now. I mean what does the Matilda ensemble have anything to do with it? Did they get a special Tony for their electrifying performance? As to your Eleven o'Clock number "argument", try harder.
Updated On: 7/7/15 at 10:06 PM
Posted: 7/7/15 at 10:52pm
The ACS children were eligible. The Matilda's were not. If the committee did not feel they deserved a recognition, they would not have gotten any award. Let it go.
Posted: 7/8/15 at 9:09am
Then you agree that the Matildas got the special Tony because they were not eligible for a competitive Tony?
All the children were eligible for a special Tony for juvenile performance. I just believe that the kids from ACS were more deserving of a special juvenile Tony than the three or four Matildas.
