Chat About MTW Wichita - July 8-12, 2015

[CJ-Rochester]

Here is a new 'sneak peek' promo video showing some interview footage with the director, choreographer, and Janet Dickinson:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3TGyFLWjLw

This longer version (7+ minutes) has the above plus some words from cast members: Craig Bennett, Mitchell, Kilty Reidy, Evan Lennon, Brandon, and Tanner. I especially enjoyed hearing how Brandon had originally auditioned for the tour and that Nora Brennan remembered him. It was also nice hearing Tanner's thoughts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NQKe4bnMms

Both videos show a bit of the rehearsal scenes we saw in the previously posted 'rehearsal footage' video.

[kport]

Here is a great publicity interview with Wayne Brian, director of MTW, on Wichita's KAKE.

The publicity for these seven perfomances is extraordinary.

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

[kport]

I am not sure what this is, beyond the tag given to the video, but it appears to be in connection with the Wichita show. This young singer is extraordinary:

Timothy singing for Music Theatre Wichita's 2015 season Electricity from Billy Elliot

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6qkW2mGRvs

On further searching, Timothy Cao has appeared in Broadway's Matilda:

http://www.kansas.com/entertainment/art ... 56045.html

https://www.backstage.com/timothytvcao/

[FM-Switzerland]

Interview with Mitchell Tobin:

http://www.kwch.com/news/local-news/mus ... n/34039456

[angelenroute]

Interview with Mitchell Tobin:

http://www.kwch.com/news/local-news/mus ... n/34039456

I love how he said Billy has to play mom in a way, cleaning up after the others. So true and such a good thing to have mentioned, great reminder of his place in the household.

[Todd]

This longer version (7+ minutes) has the above plus some words from cast members: Craig Bennett, Mitchell, Kilty Reidy, Evan Lennon, Brandon, and Tanner. I especially enjoyed hearing how Brandon had originally auditioned for the tour and that Nora Brennan remembered him. It was also nice hearing Tanner's thoughts.

Brandon looks like he could step in and play Billy if needed, based on his already-developed talents that are evident in this video. Wonder if he's going to be playing the posh boy in this production ? And I assume Tanner will be in the ensemble ?

[CJ-Rochester]

Tanner posted this short video on his Instagram of the past, present, and future Billys doing their Electricity warmups together:

https://instagram.com/p/4-nJyPKWQx/?tak ... edancinman

[kport]

This popped up today.

It is certainly 'one for the album':

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mN7tqbdiXvo

[kport]

This is a very interesting article, written by Peter Filichia, that appears on the MTI website, using the Wichita show as a means of explaining to producers just why they might want to put on a regional production of Billy Elliot the Musical:

http://mtiblog.mtishows.com/filichia-fe ... to-kansas/

Peter Filichia is the former New York-based theater critic for The Newark Star Ledger newspaper in New Jersey and New Jersey's television station News 12.

[ERinVA]

Thanks for that link. It is a good read.