Publicity - Norway

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angelenroute
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Re: Publicity - Norway

Post by angelenroute »

Billy123 wrote:Older billy looks very different! http://instagram.com/p/tFTR0qSSS8/
thm wrote:Swan Lake is one of the best bits in the show. Yes Older Billy weares a swan cap. The choreography is the same as London.
Please do correct me if I'm wrong, but in Swan Lake, the prince falls in love with the swan, but in Billy, it's just his older self he's dancing with. Why on earth would Older Billy be the swan? I get the parallel to the end of the movie version, but you can't just make both true at the same time. Right? Should I assume then that he isn't called Older Billy, just the swan? :?

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kport
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Re: Publicity - Norway

Post by kport »

I had exactly the same thought...that Dream Ballet presents a case of Billy 'meeting' his older self...his future self....at a crucial moment in his life, when he desperately needs some guidance. It is the 'make or break' moment for his terpsichorean ambitions, and it provides the rekindling of his dream. I have always considered the similarity in appearance, between the 'two ages of Billy' we normally see, to be a very important aspect of the symbolism of that moment. The swan's mask, or whatever it is, has absolutely no meaning to that concept, and is distracting.
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thm
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Re: Publicity - Norway

Post by thm »

Here is an article from the production company's homepage:
The pic in it shows Kevin at the end of 'Solidarity'

http://www.scenekvelder.no/blogg/2014/9/en-non

Here's a revised google translation:

MANY MUSICALS HAVE ACHIEVED A STATUS AS CLASSICS AND ARE RELEASED WORLDWIDE IN DIFFERENT THEATRES. LIKE OPERA PERFORMANCES, MANY MUSICALS HAVE BEEN STAGED QUITE LIKE THE ORIGINAL VERSION.
MOSTLY BECAUSE THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS REQUIRE THAT, BUT ALSO BECAUSE IT IS SAVE FOR PRODUCERS TO RELY ON AN ARTISTIC CHOICE THAT IS APPROOVED TO BE WORKING.


The problem with not being allowed to design their own version of a show, is that it makes it difficult to adapt to local conditions. This could be, for example with regard to the soloists, theatrical possibilities or references in the story that are not appropriate for the region the play will be performed in.
____________________________________________________

Traditional theater plays often have the opposite principle. Theatre Producers and directors are usually looking for just special versions of the titles they set up. Thus, the public will always come to the theater with a high degree of curiosity, even though they may already have seen the play elsewhere.


Our opinion at Scenekvelder is that musical tradition would be enhanced by the licensees dared to trust their own intellectual property and allowed the artistic freedom to design classics in a way that attracts attention and curiosity of the audience. We keep trying to contribute to this with productions we have produced or by cooperation with institutional theaters.

It is therefore a pleasure for us, as the first theater production company in Europe, to be allowed to set up a so-called non-replica version (not a copy of the original version) of Billy Elliot at 'Folketeateret'. We see this as a huge vote of confidence by the publisher in London, and we have taken the task and responsibility very seriously.

The musical Billy Elliot is based on the blockbuster movie of the same title. The film is the UK's biggest film success, the musical has played to full houses in London, New York and Sydney for soon 10 years.
One of the world's most successful songwriters, Elton John, has written all the music for the play and Lee Hall has written lyrics and dramatized it for the stage. The play has become a theatrical masterpiece and we are confident that the story will hit the Norwegian audience, allowing us in a few years to refer to Billy Elliot as a musical classic also in Norway.

The musical Billy Elliot requires a large ensemble, talented soloists, actors at a high level and a large orchestra to redeem its theatrical potential. We at Scenekvelder have once again taken the opportunity to engage a large number of stage performers, musicians and theater personnel to provide audiences in Norway a taste of Broadway and West End. We believe that the 'Folketeateret' and its stage here is made for great musical performances, and we wish to redound to our country to get a producer that is able to fill the stage with continuous operation, for the joy of audience and performers.

Billy Elliot grows up under very difficult conditions in northern England in the mid 80s. The economic challenges facing the country are lining up, and the starting point for Billy's future is pretty bad. He chooses to pursue his dream, even with strong opposition from both family and community. The moral of the play can be read as that through hard work and dedication, we all can manage to release our potential. The entertainment industry in Norway trades a greater and greater extent of short-term success through talent shows etc. The story of Billy Elliot shows us that it is laborious to succeed in the long term, and that there are no shortcuts in the artistic field for anyone who wants to live from expressing themselves.

However, talent will always be noticed, and we are delighted that it teems with hard-working talents in the Norwegian musical industry. We are proud that many of them are on the stage here today and help each in their own unique way to our version of Billy Elliot. We thank the audiences who come in such great numbers that we can justify the continued operation of this beautiful theater, and look forward to Billy Elliot and future musicals we will present at The People's Theatre.(Folketeateret)
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ERinVA
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Re: Publicity - Norway

Post by ERinVA »

Thanks so much for the article and translation, thm. :D
Ellen



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thm
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Re: Publicity - Norway

Post by thm »

Some opening night pics from the red carpet and further links on scenekvekder's webpage :
http://www.scenekvelder.no/blogg/2014/9 ... -september

Here's a pic of the blue team which will premiere this matinee:
https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=7 ... &source=54
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ERinVA
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Re: Publicity - Norway

Post by ERinVA »

Here's a page from NRK Super with two videos publicizing BETM in Norway. The first is an interview with Kevin, and the second is Kevin, Hilde Lyran and Jan Martin Johnsen performing "Born to Boogie":

http://nrksuper.no/super/blog/se-kevin- ... ly-elliot/
Ellen



"I don't want people who want to dance; I want people who have to dance.”
-George Balanchine 1904 -1983


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cglaid
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Re: Publicity - Norway

Post by cglaid »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0Ol7-n9Jrw
The curtain call was posted on youtube and I must say, the liberties they've taken with it makes it look so cheesy and unprofessional.
I remember seeing some early footage of the show and the choreography was pretty juvenile, but this appears to be further confirmation.
Why waste the talents of some of Norway's most fabulous dancers? This doesn't really give them a chance to shine. I could've choreographed that.
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ERinVA
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Re: Publicity - Norway

Post by ERinVA »

Well, it isn't a tap number, so that is part of the difference. It certainly wasn't a carbon copy of what we have seen before, but neither was the show. However, I do recognize some parts of the choreography from London and Broadway.

I have the impression that the production has done very well in Oslo, and that audiences have enjoyed it greatly. And when you come down to it, isn't that the point?

Now that the rights are available for the show to be produced independently, we are going to see all kinds of variations, but the heart of the story will remain the same, regardless of the differences in production values.
Ellen



"I don't want people who want to dance; I want people who have to dance.”
-George Balanchine 1904 -1983


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kport
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Re: Publicity - Norway

Post by kport »

Not sure where to place this. It is from (as far as I can tell) a Norwegian morning show 'Julemorgen'. It may have been posted before.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuXWfiiO-1s

and this interview (and card tricks), with Kevin, from the same program:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOeMczc37BU

(Apologies if they have been posted before.)
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