Billy Elliot the Forum

CJ-Rochester wrote:The second of the original cast of Llewelyn Davies boys leaves tonight. Aidan Gemme plays his final performance per this Instagram post co-star Carolee Carmello. I was very moved by his performance both times I saw the show. Happy trails Aidan!

Aidan will be missed, as will Sawyer. But from the playbillvault page, Hayden Signoretti was actually the first to leave. Thus Alex Dreier is the only boy remaining from the original Cambridge cast.

Although Aidan Gemme has just left the casy of Finding Neverland, he will take part in the 54 Below Sings You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown! On September 2-3, at 54 Below:


http://www.broadwayworld.com/videoplay. ... id=1096966

I was in the area for a wedding this weekend, so decided to spend Sunday in New York and take in a show. I was interested in seeing "Finding Neverland" again after all the recent cast changes. I thought Anthony Warlow filled in quite admirably for Kelsey Grammer and really seemed to fit the part. Two of the Lewellyn-Davies boys were new since I was last there and they both blended in seamlessly. Eli Tokash played the lead child role of Peter. Not sure if he's the "regular" in that role now since Aidan Gemme left the show, but I thought he was very good. I didn't think his singing was quite as polished as Aidan's, but he probably does look more like he fits into that era with his traditional, shorter haircut parted on the side. His acting was also a bit more understated than Aidan's more theatrical take on the role. (here's an entertaining interview with him from a year ago https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqE7GXVQZTM . . . . apologies for the sound distortion over the last part of the interview) Casey Butler played the oldest brother - George - and seems to have picked up the ukelele playing without any problem, and has a fine singing voice.

Not sure what it is about this show, but it really pushes my emotional buttons. I suppose it's the idea of kids dealing with the loss of their parents and moving on the best they can with their reconfigured family at the end of the show - while always holding their mother's memory close to them. Matthew Morrison continues to be an excellent leading man, Laura Michelle Kelly seems just right as Sylvia Lewellyn-Davis, and the supporting cast all seem to be having a great time with broadly-written, fun parts to play. There appeared to be a near-capacity crowd at yesterday's Sunday matinee, so hopefully it will be there for a long run.

Here's another cast change. Kelsey Grammer will not return to the show. Anthony Warlow, who has filled in quite nicely this summer as Charles Frohman/Captain Hook, leaves Sept. 27. Three-time Tony nominee Terrence Mann will play the role beginning Sept 29.

http://playbill.com/news/article/three- ... urn-363153

Good news for the UK theater scene....According to Gary Barlow, the musical co-writer of Finding Neverland. this fantastic show will arrive in London sometime in 2016.

http://www.broadway.com/buzz/182170/exc ... t-musical/

Also good news for aspiring young actors in London as there are several great roles to be filled in this production.Former Broadway small boy Alex Dreier has been sensational as Michael Llewelyn Davies in New York.

IMHO, this show is the best thing since BIlly Elliot, going for the third time next week.

On Wednesday, November 25th FINDING NEVERLAND star Matthew Morrison will visit LATE NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS.

http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/DV ... 5-20151119#

Finding Neverland and Ticketmaster are offering this promotional deal:

http://www.ticketmaster.com/promo/fik7e8

Here's the video of some of the Finding Neverland cast performing at the Gypsy of the Year 2015 show earlier this month in New York. It features Chris Dwan and some of the Pirates of Kensington kids including Alex Drier and the short-lived return of Aiden Gemme.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p98Vd5H ... e=youtu.be

According to this promo, Matthew Morrison's final show is coming up on January 24th:

http://us10.campaign-archive1.com/?u=b8 ... affa07bcd9

On the Town Tony nominee Tony Yazbeck, will succeed Matthew Morrison as "Peter Pan" creator J.M. Barrie beginning Jan. 26.

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/br ... man-377476