Tall and Small Boys

[ERinVA]

Thank you for passing that message on, Linda. I hope the Driers get lots of goodies for their album.

[HugsY2k]

The parents of Alex Dreier have asked me to post the following message:

"It was a pleasure meeting so many "super" fans of Billy Elliot this weekend and over the past 1-1/2 years Alex was in the show. We have seen many great pictures and some videos posted on the "Forum" site from this weekend and other times since June 2010 when Alex started in BE. We have been able to download some of these pictures and videos but not all of them. We also suspect there are other pictures and videos with Alex that have not been posted publicly. We are trying to collect all of these photos and videos and would be very grateful if you have any to please contact Linda (hugsy2k) directly. Linda will then send you a special e-mail address we have set up to receive these items and to otherwise correspond with you directly. Thanks to all of you for your kind words and support of Alex. It was a terrific experience for him and for us and your enthusiasm for the show helped to make it so special. Happy trails. The Dreiers."

Received a handful of responses ... Keep them coming.

[ActingDude17]

I saw former Small Boy Zachary Maitlin as Chip in NETworks' national tour of Disney's Beauty and the Beast tonight. His name seemed to ring a bell when I looked at the cast board, but I figured that was because I'd seen his name while perusing the cast on NETworks' website. Lo and behold, I look through the Playbill, and his name is nowhere to be found. I believe Zach has recently replaced Noah Jones in the role. Of course, his name seemed familiar because I'd read about him on here! He seemed to be having a wonderful time onstage and I have a feeling he will grow into the role very well. The audience really adores him already.

[porschesrule]

Former Small Boy Alex Drier Singing the Blues at Birdland in NYC:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHVRSkTJ ... e=youtu.be

[ERinVA]

Okay! Suitably impressed!!!

Thanks for the link, porschesrule.

[CJ-Rochester]

Okay! Suitably impressed!!!

I agree!

[CJ-Rochester]

Alex Dreier shows off his tap and singing skills in "I Can Do That". Great job Alex!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28BIXx7m ... ploademail

[atreyu]

Alex Drier shows off his tap and singing skills in "I Can Do That". Great job Alex!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28BIXx7m ... ploademail

With that kind of singing talent and tap dance ability on display, I think there can be no doubt: Someday he's going to be a great Michael!

Thanks for the link, Chris, although it seems you had an inadvertent auto-spell-checker edit of Dreier.

[CJ-Rochester]

Thanks for the link, Chris, although it seems you had an inadvertent auto-spell-checker edit of Dreier.

Thanks atreyu. Original post has been corrected. I agree Alex will be a superb Michael when the show returns to New York.

[kport]

Alex has been selected for the cast of And A Child Shall Lead running Oct. 24-27 at HERE Arts Center, NYC. This is a play about the marvelous bravery and inspiration left to us in art and poetry by the children of Terezin Concentration Camp near Prague; children about the same age as Alex.

This is one such poem, which is breathtaking in its simplicity and hope, seen through the eyes of a child facing overwhelming adversity that we can hardly imagine:

3. ON A SUNNY EVENING

On a purple, sun-shot evening
Under wide-flowering chestnut trees
Upon the threshold full of dust
Yesterday, today, the days are all like these.

Trees flower forth in beauty,
Lovely too their very wood all gnarled and old
That I am half afraid to peer
Into their crowns of green and gold.

The sun has made a veil of gold
So lovely that my body aches.
Above, the heavens shriek with blue
Convinced I've smiled by some mistake.
The world's abloom and seems to smile.
I want to fly but where, how high?
If in barbed wire, things can bloom
Why couldn't I? I will not die!

--Michael Flack, 1944

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/17 ... uc-Directs