There’s been much talk about the record 15 Tony nominations for Billy Elliot: The Musical and the unusual joint Best Actor nomination for the three young actors rotating in the title role. (Last week, The New York Times reported on a controversial ruling that Tony voters could vote for the Billys without seeing all three performances.)
But there has been relative silence on another curiosity concerning the Tony front-runner:
the fact that although two actors switch off in the role of Billy’s
best friend, Michael, only one of them got a nomination for Featured
Actor in a Musical. The nod went to David Bologna (left), the 14-year-old who performed on the
show’s opening night last fall (as the Tony rulebook dictates). But that leaves poor Frank Dolce (right),
the 13-year-old who sings and dances and cross-dresses up a storm in half the
performances, out in the cold. Why? Because apparently the producers
screwed up. According to a spokesperson for the Tony Awards, the
show’s producers never submitted a request to the Tony Awards’ administration
committee for a special ruling to consider both boys eligible (as they
successfully did for the three Billys, who earned joint eligibility on
Feb. 12). A spokesperson for Billy Elliot says that while the role of Billy is so physically demanding that one boy couldn’t do it eight shows a week, “you couldn’t make the same case for the role of Michael” and so producers didn’t make a special eligibility request. The spokesperson declined to say whether the producers regret that oversight now. One suspects that Bologna’s nomination might have just taken them by surprise (the London production’s Michael didn’t get an Olivier Awards nod). Still, the omission seems all the more glaring now that all five boys have been drafted to promote the show in a series of pre-Tony events.
Frank Dolce just got a new tv series ordered to FOX (“Sons of Tucson”), so let’s not feel too terrible for the kid. At their age, and with their talents, I’d say the sky’s the limit for both young Dolce and Bologna. Best to them both.
My daughter and I had the good fortune to see Billy Elliot on a night when Frank Dolce was performing as the character, Michael. Each time he was on stage he had our complete attention, the crowd absolutely loved him. We were carried away by his talent and his wit. It would have been most appropriate to nominate both actors who play the role of Michael, just as was done for the three actors who play Billy Elliot. Nomination or no nomination, ultimately Frank Dolce’s talent can be measured by all the positive reviews and standing ovations he has recieved since the show opened. We are two huge Jersey fans who will be following his career.
FRANK DOLCE FAR SURPASSES MR. BOLOGNA IN PORTRAYING BILLY’S FRIEND. THERE IS NO COMPARISON. NONE! DOLCE BRINGS DOWN THE HOUSE. THIS YOUNG MAN IS A MUST SEE. HIS REVIEWS ARE AS GOOD AS ANY IN THE 33 YEARS OF MY BROADWAY
EXPERIENCE.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT DOLCE WILL BE ONE OF THE STARS OF A NEW TV SHOW. BRAVO! LA CAN SPOT
HIM FROM 3000 MILES AWAY AND NY CAN’T SEE HIM
UNDER THEIR NOSE/
SOMETHING IS VERY ROTTEN IN NEW AMSTERDAM.
WJT
Last November I had the pleasure of seeing three performances of “BE the Musical.” I saw all three Billys and both Michaels. Both Frank D. and David B. are brilliant in the role. However, I believe that David B. is the topper here and I’d have (reluctantly) voted him the Tony-nom nod anyway. It’s too bad that both Michaels are not nominated as are the 3 Billys, but that’s the way it works sometime. Tommy Batchelor, the “4th Billy” who was official understudy from the beginning is not nominated either. Leave it to EW & Hollywood (stay there– leave NY alone!) Insider to stir up a controversy that doesn’t exist! The boys in Billy Elliot are a committed group and very supportive of each other. I doubt any will pay attention to an online flap created by a “entertainment” rag.
By the way– Paul Jbara, who is in competition with David B for the support-Tony, is generously high on David B’s chances. Paul J’s brilliant Dad should get a special award of his own! He’ll probably win that Tony!
uh…it’s *Gregory* Jbara, not Paul Jbara, who plays the dad in BILLY ELLIOT.
Frank Dolce is my 2nd cousin. I unfortunately did not get to see him in Billy Elliot but would’ve loved to. I did, however, get to visit with him here in CA along with his mother. Frank is one of the nicest, most polite, witty young men I have never met! No wonder the producers of Sons of Tucson chose him for the part of Gary Gunderson. I am so proud of him words cannot express. Frank & his mother were very modest in all that he has accomplished. I’ve seen things written about Frank on the Web and can’t believe all he has done so far. I will be watching, following everything from now on that’s for sure. I can’t wait until our next visit! Yea!!!! Frank!!! Knock em dead!!!