Okay---why were there three boys playing Billy Elliot? Was it because of child labor laws?

Also, are they the youngest recipients of a Tony?

It is quite possible that child labor laws factored into it; I can't guarantee that I am right though.

I do know though they are not the youngest recipients.

Frankie Michaels was 10 (6 days shy of 11 I believe) when he won Best Featured Actor in a Musical for "Mame".

Then Daisy Eagan, who was 11, won Best Featured Actress in a Musical for "The Secret Garden".

The Billy Elliot boys would come next.

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I am not familiar with child labor laws, but having one boy perform the title role of a Broadway musical eight times a week would be cruel and wrong. Sometimes adult actors complain about the energy and discipline it takes to keep up with that schedule.

The role is incredibly demanding. Billy truly cares the show, the same way Mama Rose carries Gypsy, maybe even more so, because of the physical demands.

From what I understand the other productions (London and Sydney) have four boys covering the role. I would imagine that child labor laws come into play, but the demands dictate the need for more than one Billy more than anything.

I think the situation may be different in England, but in the US, I do not believe that child labor laws fall into play here. Andrea McArdle played Annie 8 times a week. The "ballet girls" in Billy Elliot are scheduled to perform 8 times a week. There is nothing that legally prevents there being a single Billy.

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Yeah, it doesn't have anything to do with child labor laws...it's just a hugely demanding role for a performer that age, especially the dance component.

And actually there are now 4 actors who rotate the role.

Is there a reason the 3 boys playing Billy shared their nomination but only David Bologna got the nomination for playing Michael? I believe he shared his role as well...

David Bologna performed on opening night so technically only he was eligible for the nomination (since the producers did not petition to have he and Frank Dolce considered jointly). The thinking seems to be that the producers probably never thought they'd get nominated, which is why they didn't bother to do it (I don't know why, since anyone who has seen the show will attest that Bologna and Dolce are great and the role is a scene-stealer). I also don't know why the Tony administration committee couldn't have just thrown the red tape out the window and declared both boys eligible on its own...either way it's a major failing in this year's nominations and Dolce must have been very disappointed.

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