It has puzzled me for a long time why the huge London hit musical, Billy Elliot has not transferred to the Great White Way. At long last, we find that the musical will begin performances in New York on September 17, 2008, though no theatre or casting information has been announced. 

I saw the show in previews on my first trip to London, and it ranks among the top three of my best theatrical experiences. I’m usually not a terribly weepy theatregoer, but from the first number of the show, I found myself getting all lumpy-throated throughout the entire evening. 

From Broadway.com:
“Based on the successful feature film, Billy Elliot tells the story of a boy with a dream of becoming a dancer while living in a northern England town where men box and work in the mines. A funny, heartwarming musical and a feel-good celebration of his triumph against the odds, Billy Ellliot opened in the West End at the Victoria Palace Theatre on May 11, 2005 and went on to win the Olivier Award for Best New Musical.” 

I’m always a sucker for characters who overcome societal prejudices to realize their true calling, and Billy Elliot resonates with this theme through and through. 

While you’re waiting for the 2008 opening, go ahead and check out the film version which inspired the musical and gave Jamie Bell (as Billy) his start. I feel like the stakes are a little bit higher in the film, as there is always a pervading tension leading up the moment when Billy’s gruff father and hyper masculine brother find out he’s been taking ballet instead of boxing lessons. 

But definitely see the stage version as well. It tugged yanked at my heart strings as only a musical can, and examines the inner emotions and longings of the characters in a more…well, theatrical way than the film. It also fleshes out the character of Billy’s grandmother (played in the original musical by Ann Emery) more than the film, creating a portrait of a funny, wise and startlingly honest faded matriarch. 

I have found that listening to the music on the OCR doesn’t take me away nearly as much as “being there.” I’m always torn whether to see a show first, or listen to the CD, but in this case, if you haven’t seen the show, I say wait until after September 2008 (if you can).

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