Balancing Work and School is Grueling but the Payoff is Thrill of the Applause

On a recent evening, the backstage of a rehearsal for the new Broadway musical "Billy Elliot" looked like summer camp. The show features 21 child actors and dancers, some of whom were sprawled out with handheld video games as a gaggle of tween girls in dance clothes trooped past.
Despite the excitement, the life of a young Broadway star can be grueling. Although young actors often share their roles with at least one other child, most must attend every performance in case of illness or injury. And unlike their adult counterparts, child actors balance the demands of work with school. Those who come from other parts of the country are often separated from parents and siblings.