Note: Campy Rodriguez’s final show as Billy in Billy Elliot the Musical (BETM) in Brownsville, Texas, presented by the Camille Playhouse, was on December 18, 2016.
Debut: December 8, 2016 (Camille Lightner Playhouse, Brownsville, TX)
Total Performances as Billy: 7 (No partial shows)
Eduardo Campanella Rodriguez, better known to friends and family as “Campy”, was 13-years-old upon his debut as Billy in Brownsville. He is a student at the Rising Scholars Academy of South Texas.
Campy’s dance training has been at the Brownsville Dance Center and at Camille Playhouse, where he has also studied acting, vocal and choreography. Campy has received additional vocal training at the Little Mozarts Academy and he also studies piano at the Visual and Performing Arts Center in Brownsville.
Campy is no stranger at the Camille Playhouse, having had the majority of his prior stage experiences there. This includes roles in the following productions with the organization (including his role in each show):
- Xanadu (Terpsichore)
- Step On A Crack (Frisbee)
- Mary Poppins (Michael Banks)
- Once On This Island (Tonton)
- Still Life With Iris (Mozart)
- Willy Wonka (James)
- Magic Tree House (Jack)
- 101 Dalmatians (Roger)
Campy learned of the Camille Playhouse production of BETM via the theatre’s audition announcement and did indeed try out for the show. According to theatre officials, he was cast in the lead role based on the strength of that audition, as well as other auditions for shows there and the quality of his performances in those prior shows.
Once he was selected to play Billy, Campy engaged in independent ballet, tap and vocal training specific to his role as Billy. He also worked with a dialect specialist to learn the Geordie accent he’d need in the show.
The initial all cast rehearsals began on October 26, 2016. They involved script, choreography, singing and blocking rehearsals five and six days a week until Opening Night. Campy both participated in individual choreography and vocal training at the theatre, as well as continuing with independent dance instruction.
Upon his debut as Billy, Campy becomes the 177th boy in the world to play the role in a professional, regional or community theatre production of the show.
For more information about Campy visit:
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