Boys who may be interested in auditioning for the Croswell Opera House’s June production of the musical “Billy Elliot” are invited to take part in a free dance and physical fitness camp on Saturday mornings in January and February.
The camp will take place from 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays, beginning Jan. 9 and ending Feb. 27. It is intended for boys who may be interested in auditioning for the title role, a young boy named Billy who dreams of becoming a ballet dancer, or the role of Billy’s best friend, Michael.
“This is an incredibly powerful show and also a very demanding one for the boys who play these parts,” said Jere Righter, the Croswell’s artistic director.
Righter said the workshops will focus on building strength and endurance, as well as teaching the dance styles required for the show, which include ballet, tap and jazz. The show also requires some acrobatics.
The actors who play Billy and Michael should be roughly 10 to 13 years old and must be able to sing soprano. The workshops are for boys at all levels of dance experience.
“Billy Elliot really could be the role of a lifetime for a young performer,” Righter said. “The Croswell is one of the first theaters in our entire region to produce this show, so we’re hoping to see boys from across southern Michigan and northwest Ohio taking part.”
Participation in the camp is not required to audition. It will be offered on a drop-in basis, meaning attendance on all eight Saturdays is not required.
The production will be directed by Julianne Dolan. The Saturday dance camp will be led by Jessica Adams, who studied the Cecchetti method of ballet at the Dance Center in Adrian and has choreographed numerous productions around the region; Davante Buie, who has performed with the Muskegon Dance Company and taught at Muskegon Community College and the Boys and Girls Club of Lenawee; and Meg McNamee, who studied at Diane’s Dance Academy, Teri Newman’s Dance Shoppe, Brighton School of Ballet and Hope College, and has danced with Ann Arbor Civic Theatre and the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra. All three are frequent Croswell performers and Adams has choreographed several Croswell productions, including last summer’s “Big Fish.”
“Billy Elliot” is part of the Croswell’s 2016 summer season. Open auditions for the summer season will take place on Feb. 28, March 5 and March 6, with an additional date for the youth roles in “Billy Elliot” on Feb. 27.
“Billy Elliot” will run three weekends, from June 11-26.
For more information about the “Billy Elliot” camp or about auditioning for the Croswell’s summer season, email [email protected] or call 517-263-6868.