Billy Elliot, the smash-hit London musical based on the uplifting 2000 film of the same name, is currently preparing to electrify Broadway audiences this fall at the Imperial Theatre. 

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Check out Broadway.com's video of a meet and greet with the cast of Billy Elliot at The Little Shubert Theater. 

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The full cast of the Broadway production of Billy Elliot the Musical has been announced by Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions in association with Weinstein Live Entertainment. 

The roles of Billy’s teacher, father, grandmother and brother will be played respectively by: Haydn Gwynne, who created the role of dance teacher Mrs. Wilkinson in the show’s original London cast, will make her Broadway debut recreating her Olivier-nominated performance; Gregory Jbara (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Victor/Victoria) will play Dad; Tony winner Carole Shelley (The Elephant Man, Wicked) will play Grandma; and Santino Fontana (Sunday in the Park with George revival) will play Tony.   They join the previously-announced Broadway Billys David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik and Kiril Kulish.  

Featured roles in the show will include David Bologna and Frank Dolce alternating in the role of Billy’s friend Michael, Stephen Hanna as Billy’s Older Self, Joel Hatch as George, Leah Hocking as Mum, Thommie Retter as Mr. Braithwaite and Erin Whyland as Debbie.

The original Broadway company will also feature Juliette Allen Angelo, Tommy Batchelor, Kevin Bernard, Grady McLeod Bowman, Heather Burns, Maria Connelly, Samantha Czulada, Kyle DesChamps, Eboni Edwards, Brianna Fragomeni, Greg Graham, Darrell Grand Moultrie, Eric Gunhus, Meg Guzulescu, Izzy Hanson-Johnston, Keean Johnson, Aaron Kaburick, Donnie Kehr, Cara Kjellman, Kara Klein, David Koch, Jeff Kready, Stephanie Kurtzuba, David Larsen, Caroline London, Merle Louise, Marina Micalizzi, Mitch Michaliszyn, Matthew Mindler, Tessa Netting, Daniel Oreskes, Jayne Paterson, Liz Pearce, Corrieanne Stein, Jamie Torcellini, Grant Turner  and Casey Whyland.

With music by Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall and directed by Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot the Musical opens at Broadway’s Imperial Theatre (240 W 45th St) Thursday, November 13th.  Previews begin Wednesday, October 1st. Billy Elliot the Musical is based on the Universal Pictures/Studio Canal film.

Billy Elliot the Musical opened to equal acclaim at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney, Australia in December 2007.  The two current productions have played to over 2.3 million people.

The production features choreography by Peter Darling, scenic design by Ian MacNeil, costume design by Nicky Gillibrand, lighting design by Rick Fisher and sound design by Paul Arditti. Musical supervision and orchestrations are by Martin Koch.

Billy Elliot the Musical is produced by Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Jon Finn and Sally Greene. Angela Morrison and David Furnish are Executive Producers.

Michael Riedel of the New York Post writes that "The Great White Way hasn't had a headline-grabbing, box office-busting, sell-the-children-to-get-a-ticket smash since Jersey Boys, which opened more than two years ago. Billy Elliot looks set to lift Broadway out of its slump."

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Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title and Old Vic Productions in association with Weinstein Live Entertainment announced today that David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik and Kiril Kulish will create the title role in the multi-award winning Billy Elliot the Musical opening at Broadway’s Imperial Theatre (240 W 45th St) Thursday, November 13th.  Featuring music by Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall and directed by Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot the Musical begins previews Wednesday, October 1st.  Tickets will go on-sale to American Express card-holders Wednesday, April 23rd; the general public on-sale is Sunday, June 15th.  For tickets and information visit billyelliotbroadway.com.

DAVID ALVAREZ, 13, was born in Montreal and lives in New York City.   He began dancing when he was 8 and is in his second year on scholarship with ABT,appearing with them in productions at the Metropolitan Opera House and The Kennedy Center.  Also training in classical piano, David was chosen one of this year’s “Top 10 Ballet Teens to Watch” by Dance Sprit magazine.  TRENT KOWALIK, 13, is from Wantagh, New York.  He started dance lessons at age 3½ at Dorothy's School of Dance in Bellmore, NY and in April 2006, he became the youngest American male ever to win The World Irish Dancing Championship in Belfast, Northern Ireland.  In December 2007 Trent began playing the title role in the London production of Billy Elliot. KIRIL KULISH, 14, is from San Diego and began dancing at age 5.  The youngest member ever admitted to the San Diego Academy of Ballet’s junior company, Kiril has performed with them for eight years. Equally accomplished in classical piano and Latin and ballroom dancing, he has won numerous awards in all the disciplines.

The three boys were chosen after a year-long national talent search that drew over 1500 hopefuls from all over the country.  Auditions were held in 8 cities and all three of the Broadway Billys were first spotted at open calls (David and Trent in New York, Kiril in LA).   They, along with twelve other finalists, underwent a grueling eight day callback last summer in New York City during which director Daldry and choreographer Darling worked with them extensively.

The part of Billy Elliot is unlike any other in the history of musical theatre, requiring a remarkable range of talents: ballet, tap, street dance, singing, acting, dialect and gymnastics.  Further, the role is the largest child's role in musical theatre and one of the largest roles of any age.  The young actor playing it is on-stage for 2 ½ hours performing six musical numbers; it is the role’s sheer size and the stamina required that necessitates this unique triple-casting. 
 

BIOS

DAVID ALVAREZ
Hi, my name is David Alvarez. I was born in Montreal, Canada on May 11, 1994. My parents are from Cuba. I now live in New York City with my parents and my younger sister. I also have a big sister, who is studying in Canada. I began dancing when I was eight years old in a small school in Montreal. I started taking dancing more seriously when I was nine, and my family and I moved to San Diego, California, where my father was relocated. Two years later I was offered a full merit scholarship to continue my classical ballet training at the American Ballet Theater’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School. I have been training at ABT for two years now. In classical ballet, I’m proudest of dancing with ABT the role of the Garland Boy in The Sleeping Beauty (Metropolitan Opera House, NYC, June 2007), the role of The Nutcracker’s Fritz (Kennedy Center Opera House, Washington DC, December 2007), as well as a male variation of The Flower Festival of Genzano at the ABT’s JKO School Spring Performance (The Ailey Citigroup Theater, NYC, March 2008).

I also play the piano and have been training at the 92nd Street Y School of Music in classical piano for two years. Last year, I was awarded the Racanati-Kaplan merit full scholarship to continue my training in piano at this school. It was also at this school where I had my debut as a singer, when I sang “Where is Love” from Oliver! for Victoria Clark.

As part of my preparation for the role of Billy Elliot, I started learning tap, acrobatics, singing, acting as well as talking as a northeastern English boy. The funny thing about this is that I never in my life took tap, acrobatics, singing or acting classes. I have had to take all for Billy Elliot!

My special thanks to my parents and my two sisters who’ve supported me throughout this wonderful and unique experience. 

TRENT KOWALIK
Hi. My name is Trent Kowalik. I am 13 years old and live in New York with my mom, dad, and my three sisters. I've been performing my entire life. In fact, my parents believe I was dancing before I was even born. I was delivered with a knot in my umbilical cord, probably because of all my leaping around!

At age three, I started my formal dance training with tap and ballet and at age four, I began Irish step dancing lessons. I focused on competition, and, in 2006, I became the youngest American male to win the World Irish Dancing Championship at age 11.

Acting and singing always fascinated me. But, when the opportunity to audition for Billy Elliot came my way, I knew for sure I wanted to do musical theatre. Little did I know it would take me halfway around the world! I moved to England and began rehearsing while living in the 'Billy house' with other kids from the cast.

I had my debut performance as “Billy” in London's West End in December 2007, with lots of family coming "across the pond" just for the occasion!

It has really been incredible performing in the West End. It's an interesting situation being an American boy playing the lead role in a British musical, and being so far away from home. (Learning a new dialect for the role has been my secret to understanding British sayings). My offstage experience has been just as fantastic. I have made so many lifelong friends in the cast and experienced a different culture I would never have explored.

There's so much fan support for Billy. It was overwhelming at first, but now it feels so good to hear how much they enjoyed it. I really want to make people happy through my performances, and it's  cool to interact with all the fans all over the world.

It will be amazing to play Billy in my hometown on Broadway. (My friends will finally be able to see me in the show!) I have always been inspired by the plays, the actors, and the big lights on Broadway.

I would like to thank my family, friends and dance teachers who helped me find my “electricity.” Getting this part is a dream come true!

KIRIL KULISH
Hi my name is Kiril Kulish. I am 14 years old and live in San Diego, CA where I was born and grew up. My sister taught me to dance when I was only 3 years old and saw the potential in me when I was able to follow all the steps to a choreography routine she was working on in college.

From the moment I started dancing I loved it – especially ballet.  Also the fact that I come from a very musical family and take piano lessons from my mother has helped me a lot with my musicality.

From the age of 5 I started to train seriously and I started winning in ballet and ballroom dance. By age 12 I received the Grand Prix at the Ballet competition YAGP (Youth America Grand Prix Competition) and became a US Champion in ballroom dance. Most of my friends in my ballet company were unaware that I was a ballroom dancer and a pianist. Later on I had the honor of being invited to dance and perform with ABT American Ballet Theater in 8 Gala Concerts in Mexico City in The Palazio de Bellas Artes.

I also like to play with my friends, especially football, soccer, skateboarding, tennis and basketball. 

I always knew that I would be dancing ballet as well as ballroom dance and playing the piano, and acting.  If I was made to choose, I would choose everything because I certainly love everything that I do.

Having the opportunity to play Billy on Broadway is really meaningful to me. I really appreciate this incredible opportunity to play such an important role and hopefully will leave a mark on this show!

I would like to thank my wonderful family and my amazing dance teachers who helped me develop my skills. Getting this part is a wonderful step to hopefully performing for the rest of my life.

The New York Times interviews all three boys set to lead the production of Billy Elliot on Broadway this Fall. David, Kiril, and Trent discuss  their long history with dance, their intense training to become Billy, and even where they went to celebrate once they found out they had won the role.

Click here to read the full interview.

The Australian production of BILLY ELLIOT has opened at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney to unanimous raves. Here’s just a sampling: 

“AWE-INSPIRING & EXHILARATING. IT TAKES ITS AUDIENCE FLYING!” – The Australian

“SPECTACULAR. A MARVEL OF INGENUITY & A SHEER DELIGHT!” – Sun Herald

“Lives up to the hype, making the leap from screen to stage with spectacular success. BLOODY BRILLIANT!” – Sunday Telegraph

“Billy Elliot WILL KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF SIDEWAYS.” – Daily Telegraph

“SOMETIMES FIVE STARS AREN’T ENOUGH.” – Sunday Mail Adelaide

“BRILLIANT!” – Sunday Morning Herald