Alex Ko's final Billy Elliot Performance!!

[billyboyA]

Posted: 5/15/11 at 11:08pm

I wanted to start a thread to celebrate this incredible kid who did his final show as Billy Elliot tonight. I've seen the show a few times with various Billy's, but there's something magical about watching Alex dance. I hope it's not long before he's back sharing his gift on a Broadway stage again.

Here's my Alex Ko last show report - I'll make it as detailed as possible:

When I got to the theater, all of the other boys who play Billy were standing in the back of the theater to watch the show. There was a buzz in the air. Right before the show began, the director came out on stage and announced that it was Alex's last show, and gave a wonderful little speech about how special Alex has been to the Billy Elliot family, and how he's had to overcome so much in the course of his run with the show, including knee problems and the death of his father (which I think happened just before he started in BE, but correct me if I'm wrong). It was a beautiful and VERY heartfelt speech.

The show went without a hitch. Although poor Alex is at that point in his voice changing where anything in the boy soprano range is virtually impossible to sing. But he masked it well and sang through it beautifully. I remember when my voice changed, it also happened while doing a show, and it's agony when those notes just aren't there anymore for you. So my heart was with him. But he made it through beautifully.

And his dancing - well, it's unsurpassed. He has extensions that ABT soloists could be jealous of. There was a mini standing ovation right after the Angry Dance - not the full audience, but a number of people in the orchestra jumped to their feet. It was the Angry Dance like I've NEVER seen it before. I consider Alex to be the best of the ballet dancers who have played this role, but he REALLY showed off what an extraordinary tap dancer he was tonight. To say his performance in this number was powerful is an understatement.

Then the second act was such a tribute to how audiences and the cast feel about this kid. The audience went crazy during the pas de deux with the Older Billy, and a number of people were on their feet at the end of that.

They changed a few of his melodies to lower certain parts to make it easier for him to sing it, which I'm glad for. Audiences who don't understand the teenaged male voice might not understand that what they might think is a weakness is actually just nature taking it's course. Alex has a wonderful voice, and he did a wonderful job singing through the score.

And then Electricity was pure magic. A song that is virtually impossible for a boy who's voice is changing to sing, was beautifully delivered. And his dancing, was of course exquisite. The audience ERUPTED and JUMPED to their feet at the end of it and the ovation went on for what seemed like forever... and was only stopped because Alex himself broke it and went to his next lines. It could have gone on another five minutes if he had let it. You could tell he was a bit emotional at the end of it, and my guess is that he wanted to get on with it and not give in to the emotion of seeing his last ovation for Electricity.

When Mrs. Wilkinson and Billy say their goodbyes, and she says "Billy, you are f***ing special", the audience AGAIN erupted in applause and cheers, and the actress playing it (it was an understudy), got emotional and her eyes filled with very real tears. She could barely get the lines out for the rest of the scene.

And then when, at the very end, Michael says his goodbye, as Alex was going up the aisle, leaving for the last time, Neil (who was playing Michael tonight), said "see ya Alex", and I don't think there was a dry eye in the house. I was right in the front of the orchestra where the lights go on for Billy's exit and I could see tears in the eyes of everyone in the audience around me. People were really moved by it.

Alex, though, held it together really well. I had expected him to get pretty emotional, but other than at the end of Electricity, I think he held it together really well and kept his emotions in check. Although at times, he seemed a little less joyful during some of his moments on stage that I've seen him be very joyful during before, and I have a hunch it was him keeping himself in check, and the pressure of the final show. But by the encore number, he was having a ball and all smiles. Though I did see some tears from the other actors as they watched him take his final moments in the show.

All in all, a wonderful evening. And another example of what makes Broadway so special.

In closing this out, because in all likelihood Alex or one of his friends or family will probably see this, I want to say: Alex, you Rock! Thanks for helping to create some really wonderful memories of this show for me. I brought my Dad to see this show, and having been a bit of a Billy Elliot myself as a kid, the show is special to both of us - and your performance was a huge part of that. Good luck with everything, and come back to Broadway soon.

[billyboyA]

Posted: 5/15/11 at 11:26pm

I forgot to mention that there were understudies on for both Emily Skinner and Greg Jbara. Emily's understudy was wonderful, and as bummed as I was not to see Emily tonight, I have to say that Liz Pearce was really wonderful in the role, and could EASILY take it over if/when Emily leaves.

I'm not sure why they were out, but I'm sure they were sad to miss it. Updated On: 5/16/11 at 11:26 PM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/15/11 at 11:33pm

It's really none of your business why they were out. They have lives and are allowed to live them. It's a JOB...how many Billys has the show gone through? It's not as big a deal to them as it seems to be to you.

Don't get me wrong, I thought Ko was the best Billy I'd seen. But he's leaving a job, he didn't lose his ability to dance or walk or anything important in life.

I never understand anything more than appreciation for a job well done when ANYONE leaves a show, anymore than I understand people being destroyed by a show's closing. It's live theater, that's what happens.

[lillebjorn]

Posted: 5/16/11 at 12:08am

As far as I know, Emily is sick (it's reported that she's been off for a few shows this week) and Greg J is injured. Greg's been Alex's "Dad" for much of the last two years and he seems to love the show and his surrogate sons... I would wager a bottle of the auld Uisce Beatha that he would have been there if he could.

[billyboyA]

Posted: 5/16/11 at 12:32am

I thank God every day that I not only have had a career working in Broadway theater and in Hollywood, doing what I love and what I dreamed of doing when I was kid, but I also thank God every day that I haven't become jaded and bitter and have never stopped realizing just how special it is what we, in the theater, do for a living... and I'm grateful that I've never stopped realizing that it's NOT just a job. Every day I walk into work and every day I leave that stage door, I realize just how blessed I am. Over the years I've worked with people that come to work every day doing it essentially for a paycheck and biding their time til their next show. And I've worked with people who come in with joy and enthusiasm every day, grateful to be doing what they're doing 8 shows a week (Laura Benanti, thank you very much). No, dramamama, it's not just a job. And to anyone who works on Broadway that considers it "just a job", I feel SO incredibly sorry for you that you either lost the magic or never had it in the first place. And for anyone who doesn't work on Broadway that spouts out "it's just a job", well, you don't really have a true perspective on it, just as I can't have a true perspective on whatever it is that you do for a living.

As for why they were out, you're right. It's none of my business. But I have a right to be curious. But my curiosity was more about whether they don't do Sunday nights or if they, by chance, have left the show. And certainly not about what personally in their lives made them miss tonight's show. It didn't rock my work that they weren't there. I was just curious.

I've made my living in theater and film since I was a teenager, so you don't need to tell me that people have their lives to live. I'm not a starry eyed teenager in Arkansas that doesn't understand the business of Broadway. But I also have been in the position where I chose to change my vacation plans during one show because a cast member I cared about was leaving, and I wanted to be there for his final show. But that said, it was a vacation that was easy to change. Greg does a lot of commercial and TV work, so he could have easily been working on something, and the last thing I'd expect is someone to give up residual earning income to be at a cast member's closing night. I wasn't judging it. Nor did I need you to "clue me in".

I must say, it never ceases to amaze me on this chat board and various others that I've watched, how certain members seem to be sitting there at their computers eager to pounce the minute a post is written that somehow annoys them. There are some really sad bitter people in this world that the internet has given voice to.

I wrote original post as a celebration for a 15 year old kid who just closed out a period of his life, living out a dream to star on Broadway. I got my first equity job when I was 13, just a year older than Alex was when he got BE. And when that show ended, I never felt like it was just a job. And I doubt that Alex feels that way about his experience with BE.

Couldn't you have just left it alone and gotten your bitch on in a thread about an adult, and left this one alone, so that if Alex DOES see it, he can just see the joy that he gave audiences? I actually took a bet with myself how long it would take one of the board bitches to fire off something negative. But man, I lost the bet on this one - it came so much faster than I even expected. It's no wonder so many of my fellow cast-mates and friends who work on Broadway tease me about being active on this board. Most everyone I know, including most of the stars say "I won't go near that board - too many nasty people being bitchy about what we do". And I keep telling them: "but yeah, there are also a LOT of fans that are just passionate about theater and love it, and want to talk about it and share their thoughts with other passionate theater lovers - so shouldn't WE be an active part of that community too, since we're the ones they're talking about?"

But then I read dramamama's post and think that maybe they're right to stay away. Life's definitely too short for all the drama. But in closing, dramamama, no, it's certainly not "just a job". And to a 15 year old, I can promise you, it sure as hell is NOT just a job... and leaving it may not be on the level of losing the ability to dance or walk, but it certainly is an important chapter closing in that kid's life. And I feel so sorry for you that life's made you so jaded that you can't see that.

And having talked with several of my friends who lost their jobs today when Wonderland closed, even with a show they knew was problematic and maybe not the best thing they've ever done, they were bummed to say goodbye to it. Even to them, in a sub-par show, it wasn't "just a job".

And although I agree that if a fan is destroyed because a show closes, that's a bit extreme, (because that IS the nature of our business), I always think to myself "how great that their passion was SO high for this art form that they're having that kind of emotional connection to it". Live theater doesn't exist because it's a goldmine. It exists because of the passion for it. So I, for one, am SO grateful that the fans have the emotional ties to the shows that they do, because it keeps me from having to scoop ice cream at the Dairy Queen...

[Actor2]

Posted: 5/16/11 at 12:46am

Bravo BillyBoy. Bravo.

[billyboyA]

Posted: 5/16/11 at 1:03am

Thanks Actor2!!

[LegallyBroadway2]

Posted: 5/16/11 at 1:11am

Literally a standing ovation. I slow clapped in my bed, reading that monologue performance on my phone. That was wonderful. Crawled out of bed to write this, thank you for that response, BillyBoy.

Now, on with the show!

I had the fortune of seeing Alex my first time at Billy Elliot. Although I have no one to compare him to, I cannot explain how engaging and inspiring his performance was. It felt like no other actor I had seen grace a Broadway stage.

I am returning to the Imperial at the end of May, taking my boyfriend as his first Broadway show. I was so hoping I could share Alex's wonderful portrayal of Billy with him.

I remember waiting outside the stage door the night after I saw the show to gain more signatures, and Alex came out to talk to his family during the show, his night off, and was tap dancing on the side walk. His energy was overwhelming, he was the essence of Billy Elliot. I stood feet away with a uncontrollable grin.

I am overjoyed that his final performance was celebrated as such.

He touched thousands of lives, I am sure of it. That will always live on.

If you are by any chance reading this, Alex, thank you for your art. You inspired me.

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 5/16/11 at 8:27am

LOL. Greg is injured and I believe Emily is as well/having vocal problems. I'm sure they both wanted to be there. Your post regarding that was ridiculous and disrespectful.

Posted: 5/16/11 at 9:13am

i couldn't agree more. what helps me is remembering that the bitchy and bitter people on this board are most likely failed actors. so they have to let their disappointment about how their lives have turned out SOMEWHERE. where better than an anonymous message board!

Your review/tribute was beautiful, and he's a lucky boy to play and TONY award winning role. thousands of boys around the world dream of being Billy, so Alex must be a talented young boy with with a bright future ahead of him.

[suttonfoster]

Posted: 5/16/11 at 11:12am

wow dramamama, you just got bitch slapped LOL

[alex2155]

Posted: 5/16/11 at 11:23am

Thank you billyboyA for you review! And for your response to dramamama. I actually have stopped coming to this board very often because of the unnecessary rude remarks by some posters on here. My sole reason for coming on here today was to see if there had been a review written on Alex's final show. I was thrilled to find your detailed recap of last nights show! I have seen Billy Elliot only once a few months ago. Although I have followed the show from it's opening on broadway. Alex was the Billy I saw and while I'm sure all of the Billys are excellent and extremely talented, Alex absolutely surpassed by expectations of the talent I would be seeing on that stage! He was incredible and my jaw was literally dropped while watching him dance during parts of the show. Alex also seems like such a genuinely nice kid. Congratulations to Alex on a great run and good luck to him in the future!

[moncruzz]

Posted: 5/16/11 at 2:00pm

I have only seen Billy once and Alex Ko BLEW ME AWAY. I was haunted by his performance for months. I still get chills listening to the cast recording, picturing him as Billy.

May this boy have a fantastic career ahead of him!!

[Testing1232]

Posted: 5/16/11 at 5:38pm

Agree.... Bravo BillyBoy !!!

This board gets ridiculous sometimes, and it is always the same people--- People that I am assuming are adults, that act like
5-yr olds !!

<< And having talked with several of my friends who lost their jobs today when Wonderland closed, even with a show they knew was problematic and maybe not the best thing they've ever done, they were bummed to say goodbye to it. Even to them, in a sub-par show, it wasn't "just a job". >>

Totally agree ! We became friendly with one of the "Wonderland" castmembers, and believe me... was not "just a job"- !!!

[theatremom5]

Posted: 5/16/11 at 6:21pm

Wow dramamama611, your name sure suits you. Thanks to billyboyA for the review. Good Luck to Alex Ko in all his future endeavors, may his career be long, successful and bring joy to him and to his audiences.

[billyboyA]

Posted: 5/17/11 at 1:56am

You guys are the best! Thanks for the kind words. I'm sincerely touched by your kindness.