When a Bountiful 11-year-old steps into the Broadway spotlight on Tuesday, he enters a world far different from the one where he grew up.
Tade Biesinger is taking over the role of Billy Elliot in the megahit Broadway musical of the same name. The story, about a young boy who discovers a passion and talent for ballet, is set against the rough and bleak world of northern England during the bitter mining strike of the 1980s.
"I'm really excited and I'm kind of nervous, though," Biesinger said during a telephone interview from New York City, where he has been rehearsing the role for the past few months. "It's amazing that I get to do this. I'm really excited to have this opportunity and excited to finally get out there and perform for everyone."
Biesinger is the 13th actor to play the role of Billy on Broadway. "Billy Elliot," which debuted on London's West End in 2005, features music written by Elton John, with book and lyrics by Lee Hall. It was choreographed by Peter Darling and directed by Stephen Daldry, who also directed the 2000 film.
It premiered at Broadway's Imperial Theatre in November 2009 and won 10 Tony Awards, including best musical and best choreography.
"When they asked me to be Billy, I was excited but kind of surprised and shocked at the same time," Biesinger said.
Those who have followed Biesinger's dancing career are probably not surprised by how quickly his star has risen.
When he was "younger," Biesinger said, he loved dancing around the house.
"My mom (Tanya Biesinger) saw that in me and she signed me up at a dance studio in Bountiful named Dance Impressions," Biesinger said. He also trained at Ballet West Academy in Salt Lake City and played Fritz in Ballet West's "Nutcracker."
Biesinger went on to win West Coast Dance Explosion "Mini National Male Elite Dancer" for 2009 and New York City Dance Alliance "National Mini Male Outstanding Dancer" for 2010.
He caught the attention of the casting director for "Billy Elliot" and was asked to audition for the role. Biesinger was offered the part after three auditions, and on Tuesday will begin alternating the role with three other actors.
"There are actually four of us because it is such a demanding role," Biesinger said. "We don't go on every day, thankfully, but we are able to switch off with two to three shows a week."
In addition to dancing and singing, Biesinger has been working with a dialect coach so he can speak with a northern English accent.
"At first, it was a little challenging, because I never really talked liked that," Biesinger said. "But once you start doing it over and over again, after so many weeks and hours, it comes a lot easier to you."
Billy's story unfolds in Durham County during the 1984-85 miners strike, which pitted coal miners against Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's powerful Tory government.
While Billy's father, brother and other miners are striking and clashing with riot police, Billy is supposed to be taking a boxing class, but alas, the lad gets sidetracked.
"He kind of gets trapped in this ballet class and he doesn't really know what he is doing," Biesinger said. "He starts going more and more to these ballet classes because he is trying to discover things. Then his dad finds out, and his dad is not happy about it at all. He doesn't want him to be doing that because he thinks that is something for a girl and not necessarily a boy's sport."
Billy continues to dance, though, thanks to a hard-drinking, chain-smoking dance instructor who sees real talent in the boy. She also acts as a mother figure for Billy, and the two share a touching moment in the show in a song called "The Letter."
"Billy's mother had died and it's kind of hard for him because he doesn't get to experience the things he could have with his mom," Biesinger said.
When the dance teacher, Mrs. Wilksonson, asks Billy for a token to inspire his dancing, Billy brings a letter written by his "mum."
"Billy imagines his mom coming out, and it's actually a really special number because he would normally only read that letter when he is angry and mad and he needs someone to comfort him, but then he reads it in front of Mrs. Wilkinson," Biesinger said.
Biesinger said the number is one of the tearjerkers in the show, but he points out that the musical includes plenty of upbeat numbers as well as some laugh-out-loud funny moments.
His favorite dance number comes in the "Dream Ballet" sequence where -- thanks to a harness and some theater magic -- Billy is literally flying around the stage.
"At first, I was actually a little nervous," Biesinger said of being strapped into a harness and hoisted around the stage. "But once you're up there and you make sure you're really concentrating and focusing, it's just really fun, actually."
A father's pride
Billy's gruff father eventually comes around to support his son, and the community rallies around the dancing prodigy, which ultimately leads the musical to its heart-warming conclusion.
Biesinger's own dad couldn't be more thrilled where his own son's dancing talents are taking him.
"Now that it is getting close, it is kind of neat to say, 'Hey I'm going to go back to New York to see my son in his Broadway debut,' " said Clint Biesinger. "Tade works really hard, and his brothers and sister have also worked very hard to help him be there. As a family, we are really excited about it."
The musical does contain mature subject matter and language, which Clint Biesinger said he, his family and Tade had to grapple with and work through.
But ultimately, the part of the story that resonated with the Biesinger family was how a community rallies around a talented child and helps him pursue his dreams.
"To the community of Bountiful and the Wasatch Front and all the people who have helped him and our whole family, that has been really neat," Clint Biesinger said. "I think he (Tade) will be able to reflect that part of the story really well."
As for this talented 11-year-old who is about to go on the ride of his life, the ultimate meaning and message of "Billy Elliot" is not lost upon him.
"No matter if anybody tells you you can't do something, or you aren't good enough to do it ... you should just keep going and follow your dreams and never give up," Biesinger said. "Don't worry about what other people think, just do what you want to do -- and that's good."
Listen to “The Letter” from the original cast recording of “Billy Elliott”