ERinVA wrote:According to this article, which I read with the help of Google Translate, it seems that there will be auditions in Copenhagen ...
Here I dared a translation of that article w/o the help of 'google-transmess'
Musical Billy Elliot in preparation in Copenhagen
That is impossible, that cannot be done. That was the first thought, theatre boss Niels-Bo Valbro had when he sat in the Victoria Palace Theatre beeing so fascinated of BETM that he wanted to stage that musical in his own theatre in Copenhagen. But now it shall become real. Opening Night will be in January 2015.
...(Explaining what BE is about)...
The musical demands much of the kids who play Billy and Michael and it demands much of the theatre, says Niels-Bo Valbro, boss of Det Ny Teater (The New Theatre) in Copenhagen. There are no kids at all who would be capable of doing everything what is needed to play the role. And furthermore are there barely few adults to find who could do ballet, tap, streetdance, sing and act. One cannot expect there are kids who can do all that natively.
Over the years Det Ny Teater has staged a number of plays/musicals with kids involved. Most recently in Love Never Dies which has a big role for a kid, earlier fx Annie and Sound of Music. And the kids have been doing their work excellently - therefore I now believe that it is possible to do Billy Elliot. Possible but difficult, says Niels-Bo Valbro.
In London they set up special boarding schools for the kids who play in the show. Billy Elliot - London is non-intermittent running for 8 years.
How many hours per week must the kids rehearse for the roles?
That depends on the skills they already have. The training will be individual and shall last one whole year.
Have you been talking to the producers in London and New York and did they give some advise?
The kids there lived in boarding schools since they came from all over the US/UK. Denmark is not so big, therefor we won't have such schools. But it will however get to be a huge piece of work that the kids will have to take on them.
Niels-Bo Valbro looks forward to the work with the musical.
Billy Elliot is one of the greatest theater experiences I had have myself and thatswhy I could not get rid of the idea. The musical is captivating. If anyone asks me for a tip what to see in London, I always answer: if only you have a day, go and see Billy Elliot that'll go strait to your heart.
The success of the staging depends on whether we find the right kids for the roles. Three boys shall alternate in the respective role.. Young swedish boys who can speak danish are also welcome to the auditions.
We had have many swedish artists here and kids can even more easily learn another language. It is no prerequsit to have done ballet but they must show us a dance. And they have to apply beforehand, says Niels-Bo Valbro.
Facts:
Auditions are held on 2/3 of November at Det Ny Teater in Copenhagen. The theater wants boys 9-13 years old and not taller than 1,60m