Chat About North Shore Music Theatre Sep. 29-Oct. 11, 2015

[porschesrule]

Ashley Lanzoni, who will play Debbie in the North Shore production, posted this picture on Twitter with the show's two Billys (Brooks Landegger and Nicholas Dantes):

https://twitter.com/AshleyLanzoni/statu ... 56/photo/1

[porschesrule]

The website "Danvers (MA) Wicked Local" has this article announcing the upcoming North Shore Music Theatre production:

http://danvers.wickedlocal.com/article/ ... /150929021

[kport]

Young North Shore performers take stage for 'Billy Elliot'

This comprehensive article includes interviews with Julia Yameen (Susan Parks; Debbie at Ogunquit last summer), Jake Flynn (Small Boy), and Adam Pelty.

http://www.salemnews.com/news/lifestyle ... 59efc.html

[CJ-Rochester]

NSMT posted this photo album to their Facebook page, showing the head shots and bios of all 32 cast members.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 868&type=3

They just added 13 more photos to the previously posted Facebook album, showing some great production photos of Nic and the rest of the cast. Even if you looked before, check this out again!

https://www.facebook.com/NorthShoreMusi ... =3&theater

[kport]

Broadwayworld.com posts some photos:

http://www.broadwayworld.com/boston/art ... e-20150930

[CJ-Rochester]

Here's a great promo video on NSMT's Facebook page, showing small pieces from just about every number in the show.

https://www.facebook.com/NorthShoreMusi ... =2&theater

[kport]

The heightened dramatic intensity in this production, when Billy effectively says a goodbye to both parents - to Dead Mom, in 'Dear Billy'- and also to his Dad - with whom, at NSMT, he has just had the longest embrace I have ever seen in BETM - for 35 seconds he is in Dad's arms - before he and the miners descend into the pit - is extraordinary. The pit is stage center, so that moment is right there for all to see, close up.....and that moment is made more special by the light and smoke emitting from the pit, as though Dad is being consigned to hell on earth. Add to that his goodbye to his best friend, Michael, all happening within a seven minute time frame, and you sense that Billy's old life has come to and end - and a new one awaits.

This is another moment where seeing it 'in the round' adds to the dramatic intensity of the piece.

[kport]

There was a cast talk-back following Tuesday's evening show. A good crowd of about 300 stayed back to have a chance to learn more from the cast (just about everyone was there).

After each actor, from the oldest to Small Boy, intruduced and gave a little information about themselves, we were given a chance to ask questions. Most of these were personal ('what school do you go to?' etc. - some Ballet Girls are very local, and some come from as far away as Louisiana). When asked if it was a challenge to take part in such a complex musical at such a young age, Piper Birney (Alison Summers) reminded us that they are all experienced Broadway Kids

The most poignant moment came when C J Eldred gave an eloquent account of how this cast has grown and bonded since its first rehearsal together; and how it has become a family - a point enthusiastically seconded by Timothy Gulan (Dad) and Janet Dickinson (Mrs Wilkinson).

CJ Eldred finished by saying it is a shame this great cast will go their separate ways, in under a week, and this amazing experience for him will soon end. Something this great should be around a little longer.

That observation got the loudest applause.

[porschesrule]

Ashley Lanzoni, the production's Debbie, tweeted this picture of the NSMT's "talk back" session with members of the cast.

https://twitter.com/AshleyLanzoni/statu ... 60/photo/1

[atreyu]

A few other tidbits from the talk-back. There is no dialect coach for this production. Instead, the BETM veterans were able to coach the others on speaking Geordie.

One of the peculiar challenges of performing in a theatre-in-the-round, according to Timothy Gulan, is the occasional ease of getting disoriented.

A lot of the excellent skills of Brian Padgett (Mr. Braithwaite) derive from being a figure skater in his earlier days. As Brian put it, when he developed the body of a football player, it was clear that figure skating was not going to be his future, but the skills serve him well in a role such as this.