BWW Interviews: BILLY ELLIOT'S Janet Dickinson Shares her Experiences and Knowledge

BILLY ELLOIT has been playing around the U.S. to exuberant audiences. Janet Dickinson, who joined the tour in June of 2012, shares with Broadway World her experiences and knowledge as BILLY ELLIOT prepares to come to Austin, Texas from December 11- 16, 2012 at the Bass Concert Hall.

How did you get started performing?

From a very early age, my family was very musical. My mom and dad were in barbershop. Both my aunts were music teachers so we were singing around the piano for as far back as I can remember. We still do it. I was just home in Minnesota and we were singing around the piano with my aunt. I came from a very musical family. I had a real natural ability. In college, I got hooked up with a dance company where a couple from New York had come up there and I was in their dance company. I started following what I liked to do and I started making money singing jingles and doing choreography. And when I moved to New York I started auditioning as a singer/dancer. Then, I started doing straight shows. What I really like to do is comedy, drama and of course I can sing and dance. So I have the best of all worlds. I can do all three. A lot of work on my resumes doing straight shows has really helped. You keep doing it and hopefully you keep making money at it. I’ve been very fortunate to piece together a nice career where I have made my living off of being an actress.

You’ve been in so many different shows. Which shows stand out to you as being the most rewarding?

BILLY ELLIOT is a fabulous show for me. She’s (Mrs. Wilkinson) a wonderfully flawed and she’s got a heart of gold. She’s a brawny cheeky woman who has a cynical edge. The great thing about Billy Elliot is that a lot of these people are flawed but they’re real people. It’s so rewarding. It’s challenging. It’s like getting shot out of a cannon every night. It’s a real emotional theme. This has got to be one of my favorites. The great thing about theater is you do a different role and it always shows great aspects that you enjoy. I loved doing Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes because she just comes out singing fabulous songs and wears fabulous clothes. There are a lot of great characters from comedies and dramas. The great thing is that whenever you get to do a new show, whenever you get to create something new, and it may be on a very small scale, but you get to put your own stamp on it. You get to come up with what it is you want this character to be. And even if you go into a show that has been done a million times, the director and the creative team let you bring your own stamp to the character so you can feel like you are making it your own. The great thing about this character (Mrs. Wilkinson), I know this woman. I’ve had her as a ballet teacher before. I know how this character, this person evolves. They want to do something, they maybe go to a big city but then they do pursue performing but then they end up in their small hometown and some of their hopes and dreams are dashed but they decide to become ballet teachers and maybe they are a little bitter about it. The great thing for me is that I used to be a dancer and of course I can still dance. I have had this woman; I’ve taken class from this woman before. She’s got a real tough exterior so it’s fun to be this person.

So tell me more about the BILLY ELLIOT cast that you’re touring with.

It is a fantastic cast. We’ve got Rich Herbert is the father and he is marvelous. Cullen Titmas is the brother, he is fantastic. Patti Perkins is the grandmother. This is a top notch cast. The Billys are so fantastic. We actually have two new Billys. These two new Billys are so terrific. The great thing about cast changes is it brings new life into the company. They get these people from New York and everybody is so fantastic. So it’s sort of changes the color of the show a little bit, but always in a good way and we have a very creative staff. It’s a good group of people and we enjoy each other. The great thing about this show is that it’s a real story. It is musical theater but this show has a real heart. There are many funny moments that are very happy but the underpinning is very real. It’s about this community that’s been hit upon hard times.

When did you join the tour?

I joined in June. My first city was Louisville.

What are some of the cities that stand out to you since you have been on the tour?

Kathy Strain spent most of her life outside of Philadelphia and has enjoyed Broadway shows for most of her life. Kathy moved to San Antonio, Texas in 2001 with her husband Ken and 3 children. She holds a degree in Public Relations from the University of Texas at San Antonio and runs her own Public Relations company. She loves to contribute pieces on the arts to several outlets and enjoys writing about talent and sharing it with the world.

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