Chat: Civic Theatre, Allentown, PA - 10/12-28/18

[accessmenj]

No worries about a random incident or terrorism. It was an isolated incident of murder-suicide in which the perpetrator died.

[CJ-Rochester]

This article in The Morning Call has a great interview with the director, William Sanders, as well as gives the names of the major roles in the cast.

“Billy Elliot: The Musical” is a leap of faith for director William Sanders

http://www.mcall.com/entertainment/mc-e ... story.html

For Civic’s production, Parker joins a cast that includes Civic veteran Kathleen Oswald as hard-boiled dance teacher Mrs. Wilkinson.
...
Todd Croslis plays Billy’s cross-dressing best friend Michael and does a “marvelous job,” Sanders says.

James du Chateau plays the adult Billy.

Other cast members include Robert Trexler as Billy’s father; Joann Wilcheck Basist as Billy’s grandmother and Ryan Murphy as Billy’s brother Tony.

[andrewcraig]

Civic Theatre restoration reveal almost ready
http://www.mcall.com/entertainment/mc-e ... story.html

Billy Elliot: The Musical” is a leap of faith for director William Sanders
http://www.mcall.com/entertainment/mc-e ... story.html
I woke up one morning and said ‘let’s do it.’ I just threw caution to the wind.”

So when he received a video audition from a boy in California who had played the role twice before, it seemed like fate.

“I knew he was perfect,” Sanders says. “His audition was beautiful and he had played the part before, so clearly he had an understanding of the role and could carry the show. That’s the biggest concern when you have a 12-year-old in all the scenes.”

Parker James Fullmore, who already had portrayed Billy in New Jersey and California, thought his Billy Elliot days were over. He and his family have been living in Los Angeles, where Parker is doing film and TV work.

B

[accessmenj]

For those of you who are attending the Allentown presentation of Billy Elliot The Musical, be sure to travel north on the turnpike to view what could be the most spectacular fall color change in the world. Hundreds of types of trees and this year’s perfect weather should result in one of the best years and locations for fall foliage.
The warm beginning of autumn means that the peak change will require a two hour drive (north of I80) for the opening of BETM in the middle of October, and only a one hour drive in the end of October.
Four major airlines serve ABE Airport, an experienced actor is Billy Elliot, and the leaf-peeping is the best in the world. I’m checking the weather, and going when it will have bright sun for the most spectacular viewing outside during the day, and inside in the remodeled theater in the evening. This could be my best BETM overall experience ever.

[andrewcraig]

As director of Repertory Dance Theatre, which has locations in Allentown and Emmaus, Jennifer Haltzman Tracy has choreographed dozens of ballets for her students. But she has never done choreography for the stage.

Then Civic Theatre artistic director Bill Sanders asked her to to help with the ballet sequences for the “Billy Elliot: The Musical,” which opens the 2018-19 season for Civic Friday and also inaugurates its renovated theater, which has undergone a $5.5 million facelift.

http://www.mcall.com/entertainment/mc-e ... story.html

[andrewcraig]

Ribbon-cutting held for Civic Theatre of Allentown
http://www.wfmz.com/news/lehigh-valley/ ... /806009938
Out and About: 2 Tony-winning musicals to premiere in Berks, Lehigh counties
http://www.wfmz.com/features/out-and-ab ... /804841173

[andrewcraig]

https://www.mcall.com/entertainment/mc- ... story.html

[jdmag44]

I plan on attending Billy Elliot at the Civic Theatre in Allentown on the weekend of Oct 20/21. It's been well over a year, I'm pumped!

[kport]

Fullmore is in great form, has a terrific stage presence, clear voice, and is poised and athletic in ballet, dance and gymnastic scenes. He has a great future on stage and screen. See him now in his Lehigh Valley debut at Civic. This is a “do you remember when ... “ performance.

http://eastpenn.thelehighvalleypress.co ... -reopening

[tzwicky]

OMG, the weather Ghods must hate me.

Tickets in hand for the final shows at BETM Allentown.

And now Hurricane Willa looks as if it'll arrive in the greater Pennsylvania area about the same time I do.

So perhaps when I'm not at the theatre I'll be driving around looking for fall colors in a colossal tropical storm (or whatever it'll be called by that time).

This is the sort of thing that separates Billy Fans from BillyManiacs.

tzwicky