Broadway Gets Billy Elliot Preview
The Billy Elliot boys with Elton John and director Stephen Daldry
Billy Elliot introduced three soon-to-be Broadway stars with a dynamic media showcase held at New York's Professional Performing Arts School yesterday afternoon. Sir Elton John, Billy Elliot's composer, performed an excerpt from the show, only to be out-shined by the stunning talent of three boys who will rotate the title role of Billy. Trent Kowalik, Kiril Kulish, and David Alvarez joined the pop legend in a chorus of Electricity before exploding into a tremendous dance break of handsprings, pirouettes, and pure youthful energy. The number was put together specifically for this event and provoked an enormous roar from the crowd as the boys concluded their finale of synchronized ala seconde turns. Broadway audiences will undoubtedly have a similar reaction when the show opens at the Imperial Theatre on October 1st.
After a lengthy nationwide search, Trent Kowalik, Kiril Kulish, and David Alvarez are the three lucky lads who've been chosen to share the title role of Billy Elliot on Broadway. The role demands a tremendous diversity of skill and charisma that would challenge any performer...especially one so young. As director Stephen Daldry points out, the story demands that Billy demonstrate enough potential to contend for a place at the Royal Ballet School. But it doesn't end there. Billy has to hoof it through some big tap numbers, sing a few Elton John ballads, and perform the whole show with a unique accent from Northern England. With such a wide range of criteria, it's no surprise that the three boys chosen to share the role come from tremendously diverse backgrounds.
Trent Kowalik, who recently played the role in London, is a local kid from Long Island with lighting fast feet that made him a World Irish Dancing Champion at the ripe old age of 11. For Trent, the tap was a breeze. The challenge was brushing up his ballet to play Billy. In contrast, Kiril and David both began studying at American Ballet Theater at a very young age, but had little experience with tap dancing. None of the boys had much acting or vocal training and have all been working hard to develop their theatrical chops. While they were all scouted years ago, they're talents have clearly been sharpened to handle the role of Billy Elliot.
For those youngsters who feel that they may have missed their chance to be Billy Elliot, never fear. As boys will continually grow out of the role, the search for Billy continues. Nora Brennan Casting will resume their nationwide search for talented youngsters once the show opens on Broadway. For more information, visit their website: Be Billy.
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