Billy Elliot Rules the Tony Awards
June 8th 2009 17:57
In recent years, many movies have made the transition from the big screen to the theater. This year there were three standout productions. "Nine to Five", "Shrek" and "Billy Elliot" were all nominated for Best Musical by the American Theater Wing. All three were by all accounts wonderful productions. In the end though only one could be the year's best musical. Winning one Tony is an honor but last night, "Billy Elliot, the Musical" took home 10 awards.
You may remember the movie "Billy Elliot" (2000). Set during the 1984 miners strike in England, it is the story of a Billy (Jaime Bell), the son of a miner (Gary Lewis) who discovers that he has a talent for dance. Forbidden by his father to dance, Billy sneaks to take lessons with the help of a teacher Mrs. Wilkinson (Julie Walters). Billy eventually gets an audition for the Royal Ballet School. His father, after seeing Billy dance comes to terms with the idea of his son following his passion for dance. The film ends with Billy taking the stage on the brink of fulfilling his dream.
"Billy Elliot" was nominated for worldwide and won Best British Independent Film (2000). It was named the 39th Greatest British film of all time by Total Film magazine. The movie was adapted for the West End stage as Billy Elliot, the Musical in 2005. It opened in Austrailia in 2007 and on Broadway in 2008.
The musical has received critical acclaim world wide and last nights sweep of the Tony Awards might not have been a surprise to some. The musical had already won the Olivier awards in Great Britain for Best Musical, Best Actor in a Musical and Best Choreography. Last night, the musical took home the award for both of these and eight others including Best Book for a Musical for Lee Hall and Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Gregory Jbara. Sir Elton John and Lee Hall were nominated for Best Original Score.
If somehow you missed the film when it was originally released, go find a copy and watch it. Sure, you can probably catch it the television sometime but I like to watch without commercials. I promise your soul would have to be completely barren not to feel some elation when Billy dances. Even more so when his dad, a hard core miner has his break through moment and decides to help his son. And I'm given to believe that "Billy Elliot, the Musical" leaves you with the same feeling. If you get a chance to catch the musical on tour, try to see it. After all, we've been watching good theater get made over into film for years, it's time that good film gave something back.
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