Neo Del Corral and Sam Duncan may trade off the titular role in the Paramount’s current production of “Billy Elliot, The Musical,” playing through March 24 in downtown Aurora, but ask the two 12-year-olds where they want to be in a decade or so, and the differences in their passions, personalities – perhaps even their strengths – becomes quickly apparent.
Sam? He wants to be at the Oscars, and rattles off a few role models, including Christian Bale and Cillian Murphy. Neo, on the other hand, sees an appearance at the Grammys in his future, and (somewhat reluctantly) names Chris Brown as his favorite entertainer, although he assured me he’s no fan of some of the star’s off-stage theatrics.
When it comes to dancing/singing/acting skills, this duo certainly hit the trifecta. Otherwise they would not have been chosen out of a nationwide search to take on such a demanding role and on such a big stage.
Florida native Neo, already considered a veteran dancer even as a sixth-grader, has played Billy Elliot in smaller productions. But this is the first lead for Sam, a seventh-grader from Connecticut, although he too has an impressive resume that includes television gigs like “Sesame Street” and “Saturday Night Live.”
Still, when their moms gave them the news they had won the chance to play Billy Elliot at the Paramount Theatre, which has the largest subscription base in the country, both realized they were about to embark on, as Sam put it, “the role of a lifetime.”
Well, at least the lifetime of a kid who, like Neo, has been performing for as long as he can remember.
For one thing, the boys had to leave behind their friends, most of their family and their beloved pets – Sam has two dogs; Neo, five cats – to come to Aurora for nearly three full months of rehearsals and performances.
Neo and his mother Susie Rodriguez, a former opera singer, are staying in an apartment at the Aurora Arts Centre, while Sam and his mother Beau Ruland, a lawyer and former actor, are renting a nearby Airbnb.
Even though they live in different parts of the country, fortunately the young actors already knew each other, first, virtually, through a mutual friend who introduced them via the Fortnite video game and later performing in New York City Center’s 2023 production of “Oliver” as members of Fagin’s gang.
So of course they were excited when they found out they’d be sharing the lead in this Paramount production. But it’s also no surprise this friendship has only grown far stronger since rehearsals began that first week in January.
First off, consider all that the time together learning their parts, including hours of “flight school” when they strapped on pads and a harness to master those impressive aerial moves hooked to a cable that, according to Director Trent Stork, dangles 35 feet above the stage.
But Neo and Sam also hang out in more conventional ways. Video games continue to occupy plenty of down time. And there’s those fun Monday movie nights in one of the actor’s apartments for all the kids in this production.
Plus, this dynamic duo seems so in sync they can not only finish each other’s dance moves – witnessed first-hand at this interview in the lobby of the arts center – but also each other’s sentences.
Even this deep into the production’s run, they use the word “amazing” when asked what it’s like to stand on that stage each time the curtain goes up. They watch the audience closely, trying to pick out who might be a critic or judge. And their chatter turns to banter as they discuss such middle school topics as video games, social media, clothes, hair and girls. Neo, for example, considers himself more of a lady’s man, while Sam is contemplating a perm because he’s convinced “my hair is holding me back,” when it comes to attracting those “10s.”
Speaking of high marks, the pair have nothing but praise for their time in Aurora, raving not only about the professional caliber of the cast and crew of “Billy Elliot,” but also the entire Paramount staff, which they describe as well organized and welcoming.
“They are just so incredibly nice,” says Neo.
“They definitely know what they are doing,” adds Sam.
While these young performers expressed a desire to be in the musical “Newsies,” neither are sure what their next role will be, nor do they know if they will even be looking for professional work when high school rolls around.
“I get a little jealous because I have friends who go to regular school and always hear them talk about school drama,” says Sam. “You can have your career into your 90s or until you want to retire. But you can’t really do high school again. It’s a hard decision. Do you keep the momentum going … do you take a break” that could mean “starting all over again?”
It’s a conversation that reveals a couple of things about these young stars: Sam and Neo are certainly mature beyond their years, but they are also listening to the counsel of their parents, who want them to weigh the pros and cons of their their less than normal childhoods and how it plays into such promising futures.
Then again, things could be changing, even as they speak.
Sam acknowledges this show might be his last “as a little kid” because his voice dropped soon after hitting Chicago. Still, although that might mean a few more challenges “hitting some of those high notes,” he doesn’t seem all that concerned, and is having a blast working alongside his close friend as he continues taking classes, including ballet, to improve his skills.
For Neo, who has been training as a dancer all his life, those acting chops are improving with each show under his belt. Once you get it down, the fun is in being able to mix things up a bit, and give each audience a different version of themselves, he and his friend tell me.
“And that,” concludes Sam, “is the magic of theater.”
dcrosby@tribpub.com
