Billy Elliot the Forum

According to Broadwayworld.com, Jillian Rees-Brown will be joining the ensemble of the Toronto cast:

http://toronto.broadwayworld.com/articl ... n-20110608

Jillian debuts as Billy's new Grandma in Toronto this evening. Break a leg!

So she's going to be Grandma instead of joining the ensemble as originally announced?

According to the Billy Elliot T.O. facebook page, she is debuting as Grandma today.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Billy- ... 6222745133
I believe she may have been part of the ensemble temporarily while preparing to take over the role of Grandma.

ERinVA wrote:According to the Billy Elliot T.O. facebook page, she is debuting as Grandma today.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Billy- ... 6222745133

It may very well be that Jillian will play Grandma (though I can't get a confirmation from anyone that's the case), but I don't see where on the Billy Elliot T.O. Facebook page it says she will be debuting as Grandma -- just that she's debuting.

On second look, you're correct. I may have jumped to a conclusion there. But if she is not going to play Grandma, then who will be taking Cynthia Darlow's place?

Here is some information about her:

http://www.wildsound-filmmaking-feedbac ... brown.html

As there is only two months remaining in the Toronto run, perhaps they aren't hiring anyone and it could be that the Grandma u/s will take over the role. I don't KNOW this, but it's a possibility. I just think it's strange the press announcements about David Keeley, Jake Epstein and Jillian specified roles for the first two and glaringly didn't for Jillian.

She may be functioning in a dual capacity. The actress playing Grandma could certainly be used in the ensemble as well with a change of costume and wig. Mr. Braithwaite does it all the time!

porschesrule wrote:As there is only two months remaining in the Toronto run, perhaps they aren't hiring anyone and it could be that the Grandma u/s will take over the role. I don't KNOW this, but it's a possibility. I just think it's strange the press announcements about David Keeley, Jake Epstein and Jillian specified roles for the first two and glaringly didn't for Jillian.

I agree. I think that if Jillian was going to play Grandma, they would have said that in the announcement. I think it's likely that Cindy Benson is taking over for the last two months. Of course, I could be totally wrong. I will be at the show tonight and will try to post as soon as I can.

Please do let us know asap.