Beck Center for the Arts to Present BILLY ELLIOT, 7/8-8/14

Beck Center for the Arts is pleased to present the locally produced premiere of Billy Elliot the Musical, July 8 through August 14, 2016 in the Mackey Theater. Show times are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are now on sale. Buy early and save with promo code: BILLY to receive $5 off each adult/senior ticket purchased by July 7. Please note this production contains strong language.

Based on the Academy Award nominated film and winner of 10 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Billy Elliot is the story of a young boy in a depressed mining town in England. Featuring music by Elton John with book and lyrics by Lee Hall, the show follows Billy as he discovers his unlikely and extraordinary gift for ballet. While his family takes to the picket lines of the 1984 miners' strike, Billy secretly begins to study dance. He soon realizes his only escape is the Royal Ballet School, a place no working-class boy has ever gone before. Praised by TIME Magazine, Billy Elliot "does almost everything a musical should do, and more!"

Directed by Scott Spence, Billy Elliot the Musical features a talented cast of thirty-five actors. After holding a competive national casting call, Beck Center is thrilled to welcome Seth Judice of Houston, Texas as Billy, and Maurice Kimball of Vancouver, British Columbia as his best friend Michael. The cast also includes Katherine DeBoer and Allen O'Reilly who appear courtesy of the Actors' Equity Association. This production features musical direction by Larry Goodpaster and choreography by Martín Céspedes.

"It is nothing short of an honor and a privilege to work on this piece. The synthesis of story, music, character, and dance has perhaps never been richer in the musical theatre canon," remarked Spence. "Everyone has their very favorite musical. This is mine. I am so excited to bring the locally produced premiere of Billy Elliot the Musical to Northeast Ohio audiences."

Tickets are $31 for adults, $27 for seniors (65 and older), and $12 for students with a valid I.D. A $3 service fee per ticket will be applied at time of purchase. Preview Night on Thursday, July 7 is $10 with general admission seating. Group discounts are available for parties of four or more. Purchase tickets online at beckcenter.org or call Customer Service at 216.521.2540 x10. Beck Center for the Arts is located at 17801 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood, just ten minutes west of downtown Cleveland. Free onsite parking is available.

This production of Billy Elliot the Musical is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). It is sponsored by COX Communications, John P. Murphy Foundation, the residents of Cuyahoga County through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture, and the Ohio Arts Council.

Beck Center for the Arts is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that offers professional Theater Productions on two stages, arts education programming for all ages and abilities, including dance, music, theater, visual arts, and creative arts therapies for individuals with special needs, outreach education, and free gallery exhibitions.