By Amy Somensky
Oct 7, 2004, 17:35 GMT
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The Billys: McGuire, Mower, and Lomas @Evening Standard |
UK:Three young men were picked from thousands who attented auditions all over the UK for the title role in Elton John's new musical
Billy Elliot. All of the young men who made it through the first audition were given classes in singing, ballet, tap, street dancing, and acrobatics at the Billy Elliot school set up in Leeds. James Lomas (14), George McGuire (13), and Liam Mower (12) have been given the role.
Each one commented on their feelings about being chosen:
James Lomas: "I told a friend of mine in the drama club at school that my ambition was to be in a West End musical in London. He told me that I would have to learn to dance. That night I told my mum I wanted to learn. She found a dance school not too far away. Sharon Berry the dance teacher told my mum that I would be the only boy in the class, but I didn’t care. I was nearly thirteen and started doing modern jazz and I later joined in with tap. I really took to dancing; it was also great working with all the girls!"
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George McGuire: "I started singing lessons when I was eleven with a local teacher and did a few shows for charity which I loved. I decided that I also wanted to act, so I joined Colin’s Performing Arts agency, so I could be in adverts and stuff. My Mum wanted me to join the school of dancing but there was no way I was doing Ballet, I eventually joined six months after. I had been going to the school a year before I was sent up for the audition for Billy Elliot. On my first audition, by mistake, I left with a group of boys that were asked to leave, I thought it was all over, I was devastated. The next day we had a phone call to say “Where did George go, We want to see him again! Look at me now!!"
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Liam Mower: "When I was 8 years old I started my first dance school doing disco, rock and roll and also ballroom and latin. There I became a champion at disco and rock and roll. Two years later at the age of 10, I felt something was missing, I wanted more so I joined gymnastics but 3 months later I left wanting to dance. I was encouraged by my mum’s friend to join the Northern Theatre Company where my interests grew for modern and tap, which I loved. A year later my dance teacher Julie, after much persuasion, introduced me to ballet, that’s when everything changed."
Three press nights have been set up beginning May 11th, one to feature each boy. The show will be slightly altered for each boy.
The musical is billed as "A funny, heart-warming and feel-good celebration of one young boy's dream in a gripping tale of triumph over adversity." It opens on March 11th. Click here for an article featuring the boys.
