Note: Neo Del Corral’s final show as Billy in Billy Elliot the Musical (BETM) at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora, IL, was on March 24, 2024
Debuts: October 29, 2022 (Bakersfield, CA); February 7, 2024 (Aurora, IL)
Total Performances as Billy: 34 (Bakersfield, CA = 6) (Aurora, IL = 28) No partial shows
Neo Andre Del Corral was eleven years old when he debuted as Billy in the Bakersfield production of BETM. He resides in Florida. Neo is represented by the Stellar Talent Agency of Hallandale Beach, FL, just north of Miami.
Much of Neo’s dance training has come at the Stars Dance Company in Miami. Along the way, he’s competed in many dance competitions. Here’s an example of his modern dance moves taken during the Radix competition in June of 2022.
https://youtu.be/qp889qAzqB0
Credit: Video by lovethealcdancers
As well as his dance training, Neo has also been performing in theatre productions from a young age. His theatre credits include:
- Theo in Pippin (University of Miami Theatre, October 2017)
- Winthrop in The Music Man (The Wick Theatre Company, Boca Raton, Nov-Dec 2019)
Neo had a busy third quarter of 2022. After a summer intensive at the Miami (FL) City Ballet, he joined the Ballet School there year round. Soon after, he learned that he would be one of the stars in Miami City Ballet’s cherished holiday spectacular, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®.
Neo was cast in the role of Prince, an important character who serves as the heroine Marie’s convincing guide as they journey into a magical Land of Sweets. He would also be alternating that and a second role of Marie’s brother, Fritz, with another young dancer.
Neo could hardly contain his excitement at being offered two significant roles, Fritz and the Prince. Neo, who struck the interviewer of a recent story about the upcoming ballet as “having a hint of real-life mischief like Marie’s ornery little brother, Fritz”, couldn’t wait to share his love of dancing with a live audience.
When asked why he likes to dance, Neo mused, “I don’t know. I just like to dance. When I was a baby, I knew I wanted to dance because I saw my sister dancing, and then I just opened the door [to the studio], and I snuck into the dance class when I wasn’t supposed to. My mom said, ‘Oh, I guess you really do want to dance!’” And Neo’s been happily dancing ever since.
Bakersfield Music Theatre, Bakersfield CA
In between rehearsing for the Christmas season ballet in Miami, which was planned to run from Dec 16 – 30, 2022, Neo found time to audition for and claim the title role for what is every dancing boy’s dream role — Billy Elliot The Musical. Not only did he land the prestigious roles in two different major productions, but he did so in shows that are clear across the country from each other — one is in Florida and the other in California.
In Billy Elliot, Neo was cast to alternate the roles of Billy and Michael along with John Gibbons.
In early October, cast members from the BETM production showed a little of what they had learned in rehearsal up to that point. Here’s Neo doing “Electricity” from the show:
https://youtu.be/XdUS67JU7Cw
Credit: Video by 0707susy
With his debut, Neo became the 329th performer to play the role of Billy Elliot on stage in a professional, regional or community theater production of the musical.
Paramount Theatre, Aurora IL
In December 2023, it was announced that Neo would take to the stage as Billy in his second production of BETM. Neo, now 12 years old, will star as Billy in Paramount Theatre’s BETM in Aurora, IL, from February 7 to March 24, 2024. He will share the role of Billy with newcomer Sam Duncan.
Neo has been busy since his last run as Billy. He was a member of Fagin’s gang in Encore’s production of Oliver! at the New York City Center from May 3-14, 2023. Coincidentally, Sam Duncan was also in this production. Neo has also continued to compete in dance competitions across the country.
Photo Credit: Amy Nelson
For more information about Neo Del Corral, visit:
Billy Elliot the Forum, Neo’s Instagram
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