RIALTO CHATTER: The NY Times on BILLY ELLIOT's 'Billys' Tony Voting Requirements

The New York Times sheds a light on the fact that Tony Award voters have to see only one of the three boys rotating in the title role of "Billy Elliot: The Musical" before voting on their joint nomination for leading actor in a musical. The following official decision was handed down in a memo from the Tony Awards administration committee that reached voters yesterday.

The document answered the question that was being thrown around the theatre district, would the Tony voters be invited to see all three boys before voting, or just only one of the talented young performers? To read the full Times article click here.

The complete letter that was sent to Tony voters can be read below;

"Upon completion of the eligibility review process for the production of Billy Elliot, The Musical, the Tony Administration Committee determined that all three young gentlemen performing the role of "Billy Elliot" would be considered eligible jointly in the category of "Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical".

The Tony Administration Committee also determined that it would be the sole requirement of the Tony Nominating Committee to view a performance by each of the young gentlemen.

If the Nominating Committee were to ultimately vote to nominate the joint eligibility, it would do so with the determination that the three performances mirrored each other, hence the joint eligibility decision.

For Tony Voters, having viewed the show once (having seen any one of the three young men performing the role of ‘Billy Elliot"), the voter will have fulfilled their obligation as it concerns that nominated actor in the category of "Best Performance of a Leading Actor in a Musical."

However, the producers have made tickets available again to Tony Voters who wish to take the opportunity to see other performers in that role."

Billy Elliot, about a coal-miner's son with a passion for ballet, earned 15 nominations for the Tony Awards this week, tying a record set in 2001 by the comedy The Producers, which went on to win in 12 categories.

A hit in London and one of the most highly anticipated shows of the season, Billy Elliot officially opened at Broadway's Imperial Theatre on Thursday, November 13th, 2008.

This joyful musical lights up Broadway eight times a week! The multi-award winning Billy Elliot the Musical features David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, Kiril Kulish, Haydn Gwynne, Gregory Jbara, Carole Shelley, and Santino Fontana.

Featuring music by Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall, choreographed by Peter Darling and directed by Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot the Musical is presented by Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions in association with Weinstein Live Entertainment, based on the Universal Pictures/Studio Canal film.

Billy Elliot the Musical is the funny, heartwarming tale of a young boy with a dream, and a celebration of his triumph against the odds.

Set against the historic British miners' strike of the 1980s, the story follows Billy's journey as a boy in a small mining town who, after stumbling across a ballet class while on his way to a boxing lesson, realizes that his future lay not in the boxing ring but on stage as a dancer.

Billy Elliot is currently playing at: Imperial Theatre -249 West 45th Street.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.