Cameron Clifford: Michael, Broadway and US Tour

[ERinVA]

That was very special, I'm sure.

[Billy Fanatic]

Cameron was the Michael for 3 of the 5 shows I saw last week. Each time I was amazed at his performance and found it hard to believe he'd only been doing the role for 2 weeks. Very, very impressive for this 10 year old who's small enough that both Joseph Harrington and Alex Ko - both of whom themselves are far from being tall - have to very noticeably lean forward in order for Cameron as Michael to give his kiss to Billy when it's just the two of them in the hall after the Christmas party. (I believe Cameron's 10 since the web site for the Star Maker School for Performing Arts where he's a student states that Cameron was 8 when he landed a role in the 2009 off-Broadway production of Waiting for Godot at the Roundabout Theatre.)

From the notes I jotted down after my first time seeing Cameron perform on March 24: "Plays role less broadly than some other Michaels but very, very funny and engaging. Will continue to grow in the role and claim as own." On my second viewing of Cameron at the matinee on Saturday, March 26 I made a note "Still very impressive. At curtain call actually received longer louder applause than either Greg Jbara or Will Chase." Actually, the louder and longer applause than Dad and Tony (which role on the 24th was played by Jason Babinsky) was the case for all three of Cameron's performances I saw; the third being the Sunday matinee on March 27.

I'm not the only one taken by Cameron's performance. At the stage door after Saturday's matinee, Joseph Harrington, our Billy for that performance, was signing autographs. When a fan handed Joseph a souvenir program book that had already been signed by Cameron, upon seeing the signature Joseph commented, "Cameron, I love Cameron."

[Todd]

this 10 year old who's small enough that both Joseph Harrington and Alex Ko - both of whom themselves are far from being tall - have to very noticeably lean forward in order for Cameron as Michael to give his kiss to Billy

Interesting that the production team continues to cast the Michaels to be younger and smaller than the Billys. I'd be interested in hearing why this is done more frequently now, as opposed to casting them roughly the same age and size as the Billys, as was done in the early years of the musical.

Maybe they decided that the cross-dressing comes across more as "just playing around" with Billy when Michael appears to be of grade-school age, rather than it being more of a sexual awakening if Michael looked like a young teenager. Could be another case of "softening" the more controversial elements of the show, like they've done with the profanity in the U.S. tour.

[kport]

this 10 year old who's small enough that both Joseph Harrington and Alex Ko - both of whom themselves are far from being tall - have to very noticeably lean forward in order for Cameron as Michael to give his kiss to Billy

Interesting that the production team continues to cast the Michaels to be younger and smaller than the Billys. I'd be interested in hearing why this is done more frequently now, as opposed to casting them roughly the same age and size as the Billys, as was done in the early years of the musical.

Maybe they decided that the cross-dressing comes across more as "just playing around" with Billy when Michael appears to be of grade-school age, rather than it being more of a sexual awakening if Michael looked like a young teenager. Could be another case of "softening" the more controversial elements of the show, like they've done with the profanity in the U.S. tour.

You could be right, but I think it might also be due to casting boys so that they may progress from Michael/Tall Boy to Billy as they grow. I understand from a recent interview that Daniel Russell had to wait quite a while until he was tall enough to become Billy (so that he would be at least as tall as the Michael). In the movie, both boys appear to be the same age and size.

[dongringo]

Developing Billys through the ranks makes a lot of sense. Kylend Hetherington is one that comes to mind.

[CJ-Rochester]

As I recall the Michael in the movie was quite a bit smaller than Billy as well.

[ERinVA]

As I recall the Michael in the movie was quite a bit smaller than Billy as well.

I think you need to watch the movie again. They really were about the same size and appeared to be the same age, although Jamie Bell was 13 at the time, and Stuart Wells was (incredibly) 17.

[dongringo]

"Stuart Wells was (incredibly) 17."

[Todd]

"Stuart Wells was (incredibly) 17."

I remember being shocked when I found that out, as well, since he could have easily passed for about 13 in the movie. Still quite a change in philosophy from how they cast the current Michaels, who are - or appear to be - about 10 or 11.

[ERinVA]

But we digress, so let's get back to the wonderful Cameron.