SubscribeTonys 2009: 'Billy Elliot' looks like a winner
The original film version of "Billy Elliot" was an awards fave in 2000. The heart-warming story of an English working-class boy who yearns to dance waltzed off with three Oscar nods, including best director. The Golden Globes nominated "Billy Elliot" for best comedy-musical picture. At BAFTA, it reaped a lucky 13 noms, winning best British film as well as prizes for star Jamie Bell and featured actress Julie Walters.
Then the 2006 stage adaptation dominated London's Olivier Awards, winning four, including best new musical as well as a shared best actor prize for the three boys who play the title role. On Monday, "Billy Elliot" swept the Helpmann Awards — the Australian equivalent of the Tony Awards — with seven wins, including best musical again. Next stop for "Billy Elliot" is Broadway with previews beginning Oct. 1 and opening night on Oct. 17.
To create the stage show, the film's Oscar-nominated director (Stephen Daldry) and writer (Lee Hall) as well as choreographer Peter Darling collaborated with music legend Elton John. John, a five-time Grammy Award winner, has met with mixed success in the theater. He added to the melodies he wrote for the 1995 film "The Lion King" (including the Oscar-winning song "Can You Feel the Love Tonight") for the 1998 tuner version that swept the Tony Awards, winning six, including best musical.
However, Elton John's music and Tim Rice's lyrics lost the Tony to the score for "Ragtime." While they would win that prize in 2000 for "Aida," John's return to Broadway in 2006 with "Lestat" was a disaster. The adaptation of the Anne Rice vampire novel was pilloried by the critics and lasted a mere month. And John's work with longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin was ignored come awards time.
While Sir Elton has a heavy load of hardware weighing down his mantle, he has never been nominated for the Emmy — the one kudo he needs to complete the grand slam of showbiz awards.
(Photo: BillyElliotBroadway.com)
Re: Chmoye's question. Both Alice Ripley and Emily Skinner were jointly nominated for playing the two joined twin sisters in the Bdwy musical Side Show. In my opinion, that is sufficient precedent.
Posted by: Robert Wills | July 31, 2008 at 03:19 PM
How will the Tony situation work out with three actors sharing the part of Billy? In the UK, they all were nominated in one slot. Is there a precedent for this at the Tony's?
Posted by: Chmoye | July 31, 2008 at 11:03 AM
I saw Billy Elliot in London. No, it is not too early to consider Billy Elliot a very strong frontrunner for next season's Tony for Best New Musical.
Posted by: Robert Wills | July 30, 2008 at 01:36 PM
Isn't BILLY ELLIOT's Broadway opening night November 13?? They didn't move it again, did they?
Posted by: saywhat | July 29, 2008 at 11:45 AM
Good catch! TX! Fixed now.
Posted by: Tom O'Neil | July 29, 2008 at 11:44 AM
billy elliot was nominated for director not picture....
Posted by: benito delicias | July 29, 2008 at 11:38 AM
Billy Elliot was indeed nominated for 3 Academy Awards, but it was NOT nominated for Best Picture. It received nods for Julie Walters as Supporting Actress, Stephen Daldry as Best Director and Lee Hall for Best Original Screenplay. And isn't it a bit preposterous to even consider next year's Tony Awards when not all of the upcoming season's openings have even been locked in stone? Sheeesh !!!
Posted by: Jonathan Lewis | July 29, 2008 at 11:04 AM