Ann Emery News

Billy Elliot the Musical features music by Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall, is directed by Stephen Daldry with choreography by Peter Darling. The production features scenic design by Ian MacNeil, the associate director is Julian Webber, costume design is by Nicky Gillibrand, lighting design by Rick Fisher and sound design by Paul Arditti. Musical supervision and orchestrations are by Martin Koch.

Elton John, Stephen Daldry and Lee Hall last night (30 May 2012) joined a special Gala audience at the Victoria Palace Theatre to celebrate 3000 performances and seven years since the world premiere of the award-wining British hit, Billy Elliot the Musical. Scroll down for photos of the event and to find out what happens to that cake.

Twelve year old Harrison Dowzell from Nottinghamshire has become the thirtieth boy to play the title role of Billy Elliot in the West End. Check out the production photographs of Dowzell in action below.

Billy Elliot the Musical, now in its eighth year, will release a further 640,000 tickets this week, taking booking at the Victoria Palace Theatre to 21 December 2013. Check out the production photographs below.

Twelve year old Harrison Dowzell from Nottinghamshire is to become the thirtieth boy to play the title role of Billy Elliot in the West End. Harrison, who joins the cast of Billy Elliot the Musical today, 14 May 2012, will alternate the role of Billy with Harris Beattie (13 year old from Aberdeen, Scotland), Kaine Ward (13 years old from Hertfordshire), Ryan Collinson (13 years old from Southport) and Adam Vesperman (13 years old from Seattle, Washington, USA) He will be the 65th boy to play the role worldwide, including Jamie Bell who played Billy Elliot in the award-winning film.

It's the Olivier Awards next Sunday - look back at the 2010 ceremony with us!

Today, 22 February 2012, 13 year old Harris Beattie from Aberdeen, Scotland and 9 year old Dayna Dixon from Benton, Newcastle upon Tyne will join the West End cast of Billy Elliot the Musical which celebrates 7 years in at the Victoria Palace Theatre in May. Harris will become the twenty-ninth boy to play the title role in the West End and the 64th boy to play the role worldwide, including Jamie Bell who played Billy Elliot in the award-winning film. He is joined by Dayna who plays Debbie, dance teacher Mrs Wilkinson's daughter.

Today, 22 February 2012, 13 year old Harris Beattie from Aberdeen, Scotland and 9 year old Dayna Dixon from Benton, Newcastle upon Tyne will join the West End cast of Billy Elliot the Musical which celebrates 7 years in at the Victoria Palace Theatre in May. Harris will become the twenty-ninth boy to play the title role in the West End and the 64th boy to play the role worldwide, including Jamie Bell who played Billy Elliot in the award-winning film. He is joined by Dayna who plays Debbie, dance teacher Mrs Wilkinson's daughter.

Based on the Oscar nominated film, Billy Elliot the Musical is an inspirational story of one boy's dream to realise his ambitions against the odds. Set in the North East of England against the background of the historic 1984/85 miners' strike, Billy pursues his passion for dance in secret to avoid disapproval of his struggling family.

Today, 12 year old Kaine Ward from Hertfordshire and 9 year old Macy Staisick from Darlington will join the new West End cast of Billy Elliot the Musical which is now in its seventh year at the Victoria Palace Theatre. Kaine will become the twenty-eighth boy to play the title role in the West End and the 62nd boy to play the role worldwide, including Jamie Bell who played Billy Elliot in the award-winning film. He is joined by Macy who plays Dance Teacher Mrs Wilkinson's daughter, Debbie.

On 14 November 2011 Gillian Bevan (Mrs Wilkinson) and Deka Walmsley (Dad) will join the West End production of Billy Elliot the Musical along with Ann Emery who returns to the cast to play Grandma, the role she originated on stage at the Victoria Palace in 2005 and played until 2010.

On 14 November 2011 Gillian Bevan (Mrs Wilkinson) and Deka Walmsley (Dad) will join the West End production of Billy Elliot the Musical along with Ann Emery who returns to the cast to play Grandma, the role she originated on stage at the Victoria Palace in 2005 and played until 2010. They will be joined by new principal cast members Michael Peavoy (Tony), Sean Kearns (George) and Simon Ray Harvey (Mr. Braithwaite).

Everybody's been talking about the animatronic pig which cost a reported £100,000 for Cameron Mackintosh's new musical comedy BETTY BLUE EYES, based on the Handmade Film 'A PRIVATE FUNCTION' by Alan Bennett and Malcolm Mowbray. BETTY BLUE EYES is the first original musical Cameron Mackintosh has produced in ten years. It started previews at the Novello Theatre in the West End on 19 March and opened on 13 April. Reelkandi TV got the first look at the production highlights and now BroadwayWorld brings you a glimpse of the exciting production below!

Everybody's been talking about the animatronic pig which cost a reported £100,000 and we've now got the first photos from Cameron Mackintosh's new musical comedy BETTY BLUE EYES, based on the Handmade Film 'A PRIVATE FUNCTION' by Alan Bennett and Malcolm Mowbray. BETTY BLUE EYES is the first original musical Cameron Mackintosh has produced in ten years. It started previews at the Novello Theatre in the West End on 19 March with a press night on 13 April.

Sara Chase joins Michel Weiner, and Darren Le Gallo returns this week, on Then we got HELP! Creator Julie Ann Emery (Hitch, 'Damages', 'Dexter') pulls a ‘Roseanne' by putting Chase in the role of Ashley, last season played by Broadway's Brandi Burkhardt, who was unavailable this season.

Eric Anderson (Stewpot in Lincoln Center?s SOUTH PACIFIC, THE FREAKER?S BALL) couples up with Daryn Strauss ('Downsized', named 'a fresh and strong voice' by NewTeeVee). And Creator Julie Ann Emery (Emily) brings on Darren Le Gallo to play her husband (Michael) in this week?s episode of 'Then we got HELP!'

Then we got Help! (www.thenwegothelp.com) returns Friday March 18, mixing some of Broadway?s brightest talents with TV and Film vets.

The cast includes Aaron Watson (12 years old from Kings Lynn, Norfolk), Dean-Charles Chapman (12 years old from Essex), Oliver Gardner (13 years old from Bath), Rhys Yeomans (12 years old from Oldham, Lancashire), who alternate the title role of Billy alongside principal cast members, Joe Caffrey (Dad), Craig Gallivan (Tony), Ann Emery (Grandma), David Nellist (George), Sean Kingsley (Mr Braithwaite), Genevieve Lemon (Mrs Wilkinson) Samantha Seager (Dead Mum) and Barnaby Meredith (Older Billy).

From 31 May 2010 Genevieve Lemon will join the London cast of the multi-award winning Billy Elliot the Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre to play Billy's dance teacher Mrs Wilkinson. Lemon, a seasoned musicals performer in her native Australia, will make her West End debut as Mrs Wilkinson as the show enters into its sixth year in London.