The Best Billy Elliott- Page 2

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/1/09 at 2:01pm

Is Tommy truly an understudy or a 4th Billy? Makes a world of difference.

If he's an understudy, there's nothing UNfair about it...that's the way the business works.

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 1/1/09 at 2:06pm

He is an understudy. I guess it's just the fact that he's a kid which makes me feel the way I do.

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 1/2/09 at 7:48pm

I saw the best Billy tonight in my opinion 'Brad Wilson' that's right 'Brad Wilson' he performed at the Victoria Palace, London.

[Salene]

Posted: 1/2/09 at 8:21pm

Why the quotation marks?

[feline0favenueQ]

Posted: 1/2/09 at 9:29pm

[cudramacat]

Posted: 1/3/09 at 12:47am

Tommy is an understudy but unlike a lot of understudies in other shows, he doesn't have any actual part in the show. So as far as I know he has never actually performed for an audience in this show. I understand why in a "typical" understudy situation one may never actually get to cover the role they're the understudy for but since Tommy isn't in the show at all, it would make sense to put him on at some point. Besides, there is always that chance that when one of the current Billys leaves they could bump Tommy up from understudy and I would think that they would want to see Tommy perform in the show before making that decision....if that's even a possibility.

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 1/3/09 at 12:54am

Tommy is in the show.
He plays the Tall Boy.

[BwayFan832]

Posted: 1/3/09 at 12:58am

No he doesn't- Keean Johnson does. Tommy understudies Tall Boy.

[cudramacat]

Posted: 1/3/09 at 1:09am

Tommy is credited in the Playbill as playing Tall Boy but it is indeed Keean. I don't know why the playbill credits it to Tommy though....oh well.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 1/3/09 at 4:10pm

I interviewed David and he told me that each of the Billys have their own choreography (especially for "Electricity") and are not allowed to watch each other's performances so they do not pick up any business. The idea was to keep the original Billys as 3 distinct performances.

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 1/3/09 at 6:51pm

^^^
So David and Kiril couldn't sit in the audience opening night?

[homeimp]

Posted: 1/3/09 at 7:13pm

David and Kiril were definitely both at the theater Opening Night. I'm not sure where they sat while the show was on, but all three boys came out for the curtain call. In fact, it was Kiril who walked offstage to bring on Sir Elton John for his bow. In Australia all the boys appeared for the opening night curtain call. If you find the "13" Opening Hight curtain call video, Corey Snide, the alternate lead, and the other swings/understudies seem to walk out onstage to be with the O.N. cast as well. I think this is a nice way to acknowledge that everybody in the show is important its success.

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 1/3/09 at 7:14pm

I know. I said "sit in the audience" because the post before said they can't watch each other.

[homeimp]

Posted: 1/3/09 at 7:29pm

Sorry, I misinterpreted your post. Yes, that's a good question then. I know there are always 2 Billys in the theater for each performance. It must be kind of boring for the second Billy to just have to sit somewhere for 3 hours and wait for the end of the show. I guess there must be things for them to do, a computer, TV/DVD, games, etc. But still...that's a long time. When I saw The Prince & The Pauper a few years back I was sitting beside the official understudy for both the Prince and the Pauper, who was required to be at every performance. He was definitely sitting in the audience. He told me that the first time he got to go on, he only found out in the car on his way to the theater. I bet he got awfully nervous awfully fast.

[sgv123]

Posted: 1/3/09 at 8:13pm

No, David and Kiril did not watch the show. If you watch the opening night video on Greg's blog on Broadway.com, you will see the child standbys being brought back to the dressing room. Their chaperone was saying that they were not watching the performance.

[Mamie]

Posted: 1/3/09 at 9:08pm

Yes - David passed Greg in the hall. Greg asked him if he was going to be able to watch the show and he said 'No - I have to spend the next 2 1/2 hours in the dressing room'. Greg said something like "And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the glamour of a Broadway opening".

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 1/4/09 at 2:17am

That's horrible how David and Kiril were treated on opening night by that man right before the show, I just watched the video blog.

[sgv123]

Posted: 1/6/09 at 1:03am

Here is some footage from all three Billys.

David
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=FuWDV73qrLI
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=fid_O2zQiS4

Trent footage:
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=r3pWOIOXy54

Kiril:
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=bV7trm-BTRQ

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 1/6/09 at 1:50pm

I don't know if everyone is aware of this, but in 1960, all 7 of the actors who played the Von Trapp children were nominated en masse for Best Featured Actress in a Musical (even though there were 2 boys among them). They were listed as "Lauri Peters and the Children" to fit, I assume, in this category.

You see, this kind of thing has been going on for a long time with the Tonys. Don't expect any one "Billy" to be singled out.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 1/6/09 at 3:05pm

I've seen Kiril and Trent once and David twice and all three boys are fantastic in the role. I certainly hope all three of them can remain with the show come Tony time and that all three win for best actor in a musical. They deserve it.