Billy Elliot the Forum

According to this tweet from whatsonstage.com:

"Killian Donnelly, currently playing Raoul in Les Mis, is moving across town to play Tony in Billy Elliot, from 12 Nov."

https://twitter.com/Whatsonstage

Here's some information about Killian from Wiki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killian_Donnelly

Another Irish connection .

I've always been surprised at the casting of Tony. I never saw Joe Caffrey playing the role but, when I saw him as Dad, I thought it seemed ridiculous to have had him playing Tony, Billy's big brother, only a couple of years earlier.

It is strange that they have no difficulty in finding Billys, Michaels and Debbies but never seem to want to or be able to find a suitably aged Tony.

Pat

Cullen Titmas, the current Tony on the US/CA tour is in his 40's. Even Santino Fontana, the original Tony in the Broadway show, was too old, not to mention Will Chase. So were Patrick Mulvey (Chicago, Toronto and Broadway) and Jake Epstein (Toronto), who are both in their mid to late 20's. But as we know, none of the ages referred to in the script and the songs add up to any logical sense, so why worry?

Couldn't agree more, Pat and Brian.

Here is an announcement from LondonTheatre.co.uk:

http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/londonth ... 111645.htm

The Elton John ballad was supposed to be a local folk song, not about the Elliot family. The connection between the two was irony for the audience to discover.

I would prefer a younger Tony, even though the older Tony always worked. Soon it will be time for a long-retired Billy to take the part of Tony somewhere in the world, just as Elton John predicted.

Remember that in Lee Hall's ballad, the sons have already left home and the father is an old man. So the ballad is not about the Elliot family, and the age of the father when his wife dies has nothing to do with the plot.

Anyway, best of luck to Killian Donnelly. His age will not matter, just how he plays the part.

Broadway.com has an article:

http://www.broadway.com/buzz/164374/bor ... ly-elliot/

Killian, who is in his first week of rehearsals to take over the role of Tony on November 12, saw the show last night and tweeted:

"Watched @BillyElliotUK last night. Incredible cast & great performance by @Michael_Peavoy. Nice to meet you today pic.twitter.com/tYrleE22"

https://twitter.com/killiandonnelly

And the reply from Michael Peavoy:

"@killiandonnelly the pleasure was mine fella! Glad you enjoyed last night bud - get working those pirouettes lol have a cracking few weeks!"

https://twitter.com/Michael_Peavoy

A brief article from the Meath Chronicle:

http://www.meathchronicle.ie/plus/round ... -elliotbr/