I read an article in the latest issue of Mvmnt Magazine about the current cast of Billy Elliot, the Musical. (The article I wrote on Criss Angel’s Believe, which Wade Robson choreographed, is on the cover of this issue.) It seems that one, as yet unnamed “Billy” is due to get fired already, and the show only opened on November 13! It seems time does not lie on the side of these child actors/dancers. As soon as puberty hits, they are out!
I would speculate that Kiril Kulish, aged 14, has gotten (or will get) the ax. One of the other boys also is 14, but Kiril is the only one who looks 14. The other two look much younger.
If you recall, my son auditioned for this Broadway musical almost two years ago now, making it through four auditions to the last one which was supposed to last 30 minutes but which lasted almost 2 hours instead. We were sure at the time he would be considered for the role.
When he didn’t get the part, we discovered that the casting directors had to produce time lines on all the top candidates, predicting when they might hit puberty. The “Billys” can’t have cracking voices or peach fuzz on their lips while on stage. And they surely didn’t want to put a ton of money into these boys only to discover they no longer looked or sounded like boys a month or two – or even six months – into the show. (Unfortunately, it seems they miscalculated with at least one boy…) They made the right decision with my son, Julian. Had he been there on opening night, his voice would have sounded much different than it did when he auditioned on that February day in 2006 and the audience might have detected a slight mustache (of which he’s quite proud) if the make up crew didn’t do a good job of covering it up. Whether or not that’s why they didn’t hire him as a “Billy” we’ll never know. He didn’t have any voice training, although the voice teacher we hired just before and just after the Be Billy audition said he had singing talent. And, the audition description said they were looking for raw talent. In fact, when it came to the dancing, the boys were told to bring tap shoes “if they had them.” So, the directors were willing to train these boys.
Anyway, this article indicates that young male (or female) dances and actors must live with the fact that their time in any show is limited by their changing bodies. While they perform, other actors and actresses are being trained to take their places…thus the reason for the Billy Elliot Academy. Adult actors don’t need to worry about this; no other actors waiting in the wings to jump into their role, unless of course they don’t do a good job.
That’s the oh-so-up-uplifting news for today. Sorry I couldn’t be more positive…A reality check is always a good thing, though, right?
On that note, let me also mention that puberty does effect dancers in some other ways. As they grow, their muscles can’t keep up with their bones and they become more prone to sprains and breaks and all sorts of injuries. They become clumsier. They may not be able to do things they could before, or the same actions may feel awkward all of a sudden, because their center of gravity has changed. They may literally not know where their feet are at any given moment. They may not be as flexible, or they may suddenly be able to “get” their splits. They may have aches and pains for no reason. Ah, the trials and tribulations of being a growing child and a dancer to boot.
Let me wish you all a very Happy second night of Chanukah and a week of light and miracles if you celebrate this Jewish holiday. And for the rest of you, may you have a very merry Christmas (in case I don’t write before the 24th or 25th–my schedule has been crazy with driving Julian to tutoring and community service opportunities and trying mostly unsuccessfully to work)! Don’t forget to put a My Brother Can Dance T-shirt in your dancin’ boy’s stocking…or to purchase one before the prices go up in January!
Yep, the world of kid casting is brutal and in a direct inverse to natural law the little ones seem to eat the big ones out there.
My little guy was invited to go to L.A. by a west coast youth manager who would groom him to make the rounds based upon nothing more than his looks and the fact that with and Irish father and a Californio (Mexican/Spanish) mother he could look like ANYBODY’S kid—hence, lotsa casting possibilities and lotsa money for the agents!
The fact that my son was as deadpan an actor as Keanu Reeves–and Keanu is just this side of comatose—didn’t seem to bother them at all…he had “the look”
That’s what’s so cruel when kids think they were cast based upon talent and hard work; while that plays a huge part, so much of casting is based upon being the right height, a workable coloring, the right age, having an unbroken voice…image DOES trump talent at times and I wonder if that isn’t one of the things that demoralizes ex child actors.
You’re told and told that working hard at something will make you improve yet some one thing totally out of your control x-es you out of the running…even if you ARE the best in the room.
Jeeze, it’s like being a victim of racism. “We don’t care how good you are, you look like that so NO.”
The wonderful thing about dance, however, is that it provides a discipline and an anchor. Sure a Billy Elliot may outgrow THAT role but fortunately these guys have enough years for training ahead of them that they won’t end up gazing at the telephone wondering “What happened?”
They can train and improve and look forward to a wonderful future of dancing in roles that aren’t so time sensitive.
Kiril is not going anywhere soon. He is fine where he is and his voice has not broken yet.
So, if it isn’t Kiril, who is it? Does the Movmnt article have it wrong? I was guessing at who was getting the ax, but they were the ones who said someone was being replaced. I wish this anonymous person who left this comment would offer some more information!
Also, as for these child dancers/actors, the article also mentioned that when they are done with that first BIG role, they often go off to learn how to act, which they’ve actually already been doing professionally! The dancers just keep dancing as well, I suppose. The hope is that they don’t crash and burn like some of those who crest early…
Hello,
I have been following this show since it opened in London. From experience, I know that Kiril won’t be going anywhere in the near future. There have been 15 year old boys in the role.They will give the Billys at least 6 months. No matter how old they look every Billy to this date has been garauteed 6 months. It really does not matter how old they look…as long as their voices have not broken and they are not too tall. Kiril has not done either of those things yet. I saw his 2 weeks ago, and he really does not look like he is 14, he actually has a very high voice. Same with David( who I think will be leaving 1st), and Trent. Just like most magazines, they are gossip or they are not
%100 true.If you need more elaboration, please let me know as I would be happy to post more.
Thanks!
Could you post the quote from the magazine about Billy Elliot? Would like to know what it says (and if they say where they get their info). I cannot find the article online. I agree with the above poster that it seems highly unlikely they’d release a Billy before six months. Especially before the Tony Awards, in this case. Thanks.
The magazine does not quote a source but says this info comes from “rumors.” Here’s the quote: “Even before Broadway’s latest juggernaut-in-waiting, Billy Elliot, officially starts previews there are rumors swirling in the theater community that one of the show’s three rotating stars is being tossed to the curb. Why, after endless press events with the child’s face beaming before national camera crews, would the producers fire their star? Or as the ultimate showbiz euphemism would have it, “let him go”? A little life experience called puberty is to blame- that beaming face and blasting voice are changing.” The article, called “Broadway Babies” by Matthew Murphy, by goes on to discuss a variety of child stars that hit Broadway at some point or other. The issue, called Cre-8, is available on newstands and at http://www.movmnt.com.
Just found this. It is now June, and guess what? Kiril is now 15 and a Tony winner to boot, and he has not been axed. In fact, his voice is still higher than that of the other 15 year old, David Alvarez, but no doubt both of them look too big to be 11, and may be nearing the ends of their runs. However, those of us who are fans of the show will enjoy both of them while we still have them and miss them terribly when they do step out.
And now it is SEPTEMBER 28TH 2009 – and Kiril is still there … until next Saturday, October 3rd – yes, growing finally caught up with him but he’s had an incredible year that most of us can only dream of !!