Photo Coverage: Tony Winner Kiril Kulish Bids Farewell to Broadway's BILLY ELLIOT

[EddieVarley]

Posted: 10/5/09 at 4:19pm

Click Here to Read Photo Coverage: Tony Winner Kiril Kulish Bids Farewell to Broadway's BILLY ELLIOT

[bythesword84]

Posted: 10/5/09 at 4:28pm

...the woman marked as his mother isn't his mother, that's his sister.

Gorgeous pictures though! It was such a great night. Sad, but with wonderful performances.

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 10/5/09 at 5:01pm

Beautiful

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 10/5/09 at 5:03pm

What happened, did his voice crack?

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 10/5/09 at 5:03pm

Puberty. He couldn't sing the score anymore.

[Billy Whiz]

Posted: 10/5/09 at 6:05pm

Wonderful pictures. They must have changed the caption as it says sister now. It also says Keean Johnson when in fact it's one of the Small Boys.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/5/09 at 6:17pm

Well, she had a good run in the show.

[emo_geek]

Posted: 10/5/09 at 8:36pm

Wow he got tall

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 10/5/09 at 8:41pm

He is quite cute...

What is he 15 now? Almost legal.

[sgv123]

Posted: 10/5/09 at 8:54pm

Kiril gave a beautiful performance on Saturday, and I am so glad that it was documented here on BWW.
Updated On: 10/5/09 at 08:54 PM

[Mamie]

Posted: 10/5/09 at 8:58pm

It feels like it's only been a few weeks since that exciting first performance. I've had the pleasure of seeing each of the boys at least twice (one 3 times) and Kiril was my first Billy and he'll always be my favorite. He's a fabulous dancer and a charming young man and I hope for nothing but wonderful things for him from now on!

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 10/5/09 at 9:48pm

Oh, wow, those photo coverages rarely get to me but that got me quite choked up, seeing Kiril, Keean, and even little Matthew teary eyed, and that last picture and caption did me in. I was lucky enough to see Kiril back in May and he was phenomenal, he'll be missed.

[homeimp]

Posted: 10/6/09 at 8:05am

I was at the amazing evening. Kiril gave a wonderful performance. The unscripted tears, the faltering voice at times. Nothing mattered. His dancing was sublime. The standing ovation for Electricity was enormously powerful. Kiril made his final bow with class, grace and courage. It's so sad when any Billy leaves, but when they take the role, they know this has to happen. The final exchange between Billy and Michael with the small deviation in dialogue quite did me in at the end of the performance. And I agree, that final photo with the plaque brought the tears back again. I went to the theater myself Sunday at door opening to take a picture of the plaque. It had been taken as a souvenir, or else already removed by theater staff. Just a gaping hoe on the board where Kiril's name should have been. The lights on the Imperial are shining a little less brightly today. The role of Billy has seldom been played as well, and it has NEVER been better danced. Good bye, Kiril, a great kid, a good friend to all, and a brilliant talent. You will be missed, but I'm very sure there are many wonderful things in store for you. We'll be watching.

[PeterJamesZielinski]

Posted: 10/6/09 at 8:51am

Thank you guys for the compliments. I really appreciate it...HUGE privilege to be there.

[Scripps2]

Posted: 10/6/09 at 2:33pm

At last I get to see a photo of Carole Shelley as Grandma.

[CSonBroadway]

Posted: 10/6/09 at 3:12pm

"Thank you guys for the compliments. I really appreciate it...HUGE privilege to be there. "


What?

[viola13]

Posted: 10/6/09 at 3:20pm

I think pjzstudios took the pictures.

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 10/6/09 at 3:31pm

Peter took the pictures, CS.

What the hell else would he be talking about?

[homeimp]

Posted: 10/6/09 at 3:56pm

Let it not be forgotten that while David Alvarez did Press Night for BETM, and Trent Kowalik was given Opening Night, Kiril actually performed Billy at the first preview performance. Kiril will forever have a place in theater history as the first boy to play Billy on this side of the Atlantic. I will not forget the sight of Kiril getting in the car across the road from the Stage Door, after signing for his fans for almost half an hour, and driving slowly off with his family down 46th St while the remaining fans, and there were many, lined the sidewalk and applauded an amazing young performer and his wonderful achievement in the show.

[Hank]

Posted: 10/6/09 at 6:24pm

I got to see Kiril at an early preview, when just about everything seemed to go wrong with the stage sets, but the kid came through with a dazzling performance in Angry Dance on an empty stage after many pauses.
I wish him all the best in his life and his career!

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 10/6/09 at 6:30pm

Did someone say "small deviation in dialogue". What was it?

[homeimp]

Posted: 10/6/09 at 6:51pm

I don't like to say this because it's a spoiler, and no doubt it will be done for David A and Trent, but...

In second "Letter" Song, the mother usually finishes singing, then moves to hug Billy, then backs off because she can't touch him. On Saturday the mother gave Kiril a long hug before leaving. Billy left the stage. Michael (Keean) rides in on the bike. He calls out "Oy, dancing boy!" Billy returns to the stage, kisses him, drops down to center aisle. Usually "See ya, Billy". "See ya, Michael." Saturday night "See ya, Keean." "See ya, Kiril". I don't think there was a dry eye in the house, certainly not mine. I will never forget that moment.

[Kev]

Posted: 10/6/09 at 6:51pm

Did someone say "small deviation in dialogue". What was it?

"Cya Keean. Cya Kiril."