TheSkykid.com’s on-going coverage of the making of the new feature film Max’s Fantastic Adventures has featured a series of interviews with the writer/director/producer Jonathan Bucari and then three of the actors who will be playing Max’s friends (Gabriel Rush, Jacob Clemente and Kayla Vanderbilt).  Today we interview the 4th and final friend, Jason, who will be played by Joseph Harrington in the film.

Many know Joseph from his performances in Billy Elliot the Musical on Broadway.  He is currently sharing the title role of that show with three other young dancers/actors at the Imperial Theatre in New York City, until it closes on January 8, 2012 after three years of thrilling audiences on Broadway.

Note: For this interview, the questions posed by theskykid.com will be represented by an “SK” and “JH” will indicate Joseph’s responses. To view captions on any of the pictures in this article, just run your cursor over the picture.

SK:  Hi Joseph and welcome to theskykid.com.  Thanks so much for taking the time to talk to us about your background and especially about your involvement in Max’s Fantastic Adventures.

SK: For those who don’t know you, tell us a little about yourself – how old you are, where you call home and what training you’ve gotten to prepare you to be an entertainer.

JH: Hi!  My name is Joseph Ryan Harrington and I am 12 years old.  My hometown is Cincinnati, Ohio. I started taking dance classes when I was three years old at a studio in Mt. Carmel, Ohio called “Just Off Broadway”.  I am also a student with Cincinnati Ballet, and SCPA (School for the Performing Arts) in Cincinnati.  While I’ve been in New York I have been a student with Manhattan Youth Ballet, and have studied with Finis Jhung first at “Billy Camp” and now at Alvin Ailey.  I love to perform and take dance, vocal and acting courses both in Cincinnati and New York.  

SK:  From having written a profile of you for another article on this site, Meet the Billys – Broadway: Billy Elliot the Musical, I know you’ve danced with the Cincinnati Ballet on a couple of occasions.  What shows were you in and what roles did you dance in them?    

JH: I have performed in The Nutcracker with Cincinnati Ballet when I was younger as a “Mouse” and also a “Ginger” child.  I also performed with Cincinnati Ballet as “Michael Darling” in Peter Pan before I came to New York two years ago. That role was a lot of fun and it’s where I received my first flying experience!!  

SK:  We’re in the holiday season now.  A few years ago, I’m told you were involved with the Radio City Musical Hall’s Christmas show. Could you share that experience with our readers?

JH: When I was nine years old, I performed in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular Show as the “young boy” and had a fantastic time singing and dancing in several numbers throughout the show.  I met lots of great friends and have kept in touch with several people I met at the show!!

SK:  You also have experience on Broadway prior to your current run in Billy Elliot.  What show were you in, how did your involvement in it come about and what was that experience like?

JH: My first Broadway show was How the Grinch Stole Christmas when I was eight years old.  I played the littlest Who child, “Bugsy Who”.  It came about after my family visited New York for spring break the year I turned eight. My mom let me go on several auditions while we were in the city and I ended up landing my first commercial for “Burlington Coat Factory” and I also landed my first Broadway show which was “Grinch”.  After the opening night show for “Grinch”, we actually had to close down due to the stagehand strike and were closed for over two weeks.  We were finally allowed to re-open only after spending several days in the NYC courts to gain permission!!  So, I’d have to say that first New York experience was pretty crazy!!  The show itself, however, was a blast – very festive, colorful and fun!!  Patrick Paige (now starring in Spiderman) played the Grinch and was fantastic!!  I will always be one of his hugest fans!!!

SK:   And of course, now you are starring as Billy in Billy Elliot the Musical on Broadway.  Tell us how that came to be – the timeframe from your first audition to your debut on Broadway – the main steps along the way.

JH: I actually had my first audition for Billy Elliot the Musical a couple of weeks after my eighth birthday.  I had won a National Dance competition and someone from the show saw the website video, contacted my dance studio, and invited me to an audition for Billy.  I think, for me, it was probably the most intense audition out of all of them, because it was the first one.  I was the last kid remaining that day, but also the youngest (too young!!)  They took lots of video of me singing and dancing and ended up inviting me back periodically to audition over the next two years.  After I turned 10, I was invited to start Billy Camp here in New York and then finally I was officially offered the Broadway role after I turned 11.  I spent almost 10 months in “Billy Camp” before starting on Broadway, which I think might be the record!!

Credit: Video by TheNewYorkTimes

SK:   What’s a typical day like for a Billy on Broadway?

JH:  A typical day for a Billy is very busy.  We have to spend several hours doing schoolwork with a tutor.  We have rehearsals for the show, ballet class, cardio training, dialect, and vocal lessons on any given day.  We also do quite a few promo events for the show as well.  We are busy from 9:00 am to 11:00 pm almost every day!!  We have Monday as a day off, but we have to go to school on Saturdays instead!!

SK:  Max’s Fantastic Adventures will be your first full-length movie.  How did your involvement with it come about?  

JH:  Jonathan Bucari had seen me in Billy and approached my mom and I after a show and talked to us about “Max” and possibly auditioning.  I did several readings with Jonathan and several other boys and was excited to be offered the part of “Jason”.

SK:  As you’ve said, in “Max” you will play one of Max’s band of friends, Jason.  You’ve done a table reading with some of the other actors from the movie.  What is the character of Jason like?

JH:   I think the character of Jason will be very fun to play!!!  He is super inventive and creative! He loves to hang out with his friends and share his inventions!

SK:  As primarily a stage actor to date, do you see any issues transferring your stage skills to being in front of a movie camera?

JH:  I do have primarily stage experience but I have also done commercials, several TV appearances, and a Nickelodeon TV special prior to starting Billy.  So I do have some film experience.  I’m pretty sure I won’t have any “issues” and look forward to the challenge!!

SK:   Do you see your future being in the entertainment field?  If yes, as primarily a dancer or actor or something entirely different?

JH:  I hope to be involved in many aspects of entertainment in the future.  I can never pick a favorite, so I think I’ll plan to do a little bit of everything!!  I will definitely continue training in dance/acting/and vocals as I grow up and I also enjoy choreography and writing as well.

SK:  Away from the stage/movie set, what interests do you have? Hobbies?  

JH:  When I’m away from the stage/movie set, I enjoy spending time with my family, going to movies, reading, taking class and choreography.  I listen to music a lot and try to keep in touch with my friends.  My biggest and favorite hobby is performing.  I really enjoy it and don’t considerate it “work”!!!

SK:  Is there anything you’d like to tell the readers of theskykid.com about Joseph Harrington that we haven’t asked about?

JH: I love New York!!  I am very grateful for the opportunities and experiences I have been given. I hope everyone will love Max’s Fantastic Adventures! 

Our Best Wishes to Joseph as he winds down in his role of Billy Elliot (Broadway closing on January 8, 2012) and as he prepares for his first full length feature film Max’s Fantastic Adventures.  Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to speak with us, Joseph, and a very Merry Christmas to you and your family.  For more information about Joseph, visit his fan page on Facebook.

Next Up in our coverage of the pre-production of Max’s Fantastic Adventures:  Watch for an article early next year about the first rehearsal for the film.