Aging out of Billy Elliot

[midwestsarah]

I know that the actors who play Billy Elliot are replaced when they grow too tall, look too old, have their voices crack, etc. I believe that I read or heard somewhere that there is some sort of program for the boys who age out of the role. However, I have searched the archives and web and cannot find anything. Did I mishear and/or misremember reading this? Or can anyone point me to a link with more information? Thanks for your help.

[TheatreKid3]

I think there might be a program for boys to age into the role, like say, they being in the role of the "small boy" or "posh boy" and are trained from that young age until they are old enough to assume the role of Billy, ultimately replacing a Billy who, by that time, will have grown too old to play the role. I haven't heard of any type of program for the Billys after they get too old, just the one for boys to be trained into the role.

[midwestsarah]

Thank you. I thought it was some sort of counseling for them or something since they're essentially going from attention, busy schedules for performances, etc. to essentially nothing and potentially obscurity.

[wonkit]

Which sounds like an actor's life.

[mikey2573]

Kylend Hetherington, who has been with the tour for about two years, will be "aging out" this Friday night in TX. It will be his final show as Billy.

[justoldbill]

They have a WITHDRAWAL program????
Is it like Sylvester and Birds Anonomous?

[Wee Thomas2]

I thought they sent them to a farm in Kentucky.

[AEA AGMA SM]

They get sent to the same "farm" that mommy and daddy sent your golden retriever Max to when he started peeing on all the furniture.

[justoldbill]

I'm afraid most of those farms in Kentucky are for purposes that would be considered immoral for young men of that age, not to mention illegal.

[lalaleeloo]

There's a London farm. The US "farm" might just be the ABT school.

"[T]he producers hired a social worker who not only counsels the London Billys during their employment but also provides “aftercare” when they age out. She may help find an agent, a ballet school, or just a way to relinquish stardom. Still, all Billys dread the day their adolescence becomes undeniable, notwithstanding (or perhaps because of) the onstage ceremony in which they are handed back to their families, with parting gifts."
The Peter Pans of Broadway

[justoldbill]

Nice, in a spooky sort of way.
Wait- I think I meant that in reverse.