Lee Hall News

Broadway/L.A. announces the lineup for its 2011-2012 PANTAGES SEASON, a seven-show package that includes six Los Angeles premieres of recent Broadway productions - COME FLY AWAY, BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL, THE ADDAMS FAMILY, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES and MEMPHIS - and the return of the most successful show in Pantages Theatre's history, WICKED.

Broadway Across America - Boston is pleased to announce the upcoming 2011-2012 Broadway Season which will include eight theatrical productions at the Boston Opera House and Citi Performing Arts Center Shubert Theatre. 'International smash hits, screen sensations on stage, ground-breaking musicals and cherished Broadway favorites are what Boston audiences can look forward to,' said Rich Jaffe, Vice President of Broadway Across America - Boston. 'For over 20 years, we've been bringing the best of Broadway to Boston. We are thrilled to continue our tradition of lighting up Boston theatres with world class Broadway entertainment.'

Twelve year old Josh Baker from Rochester has just become the twenty-fifth boy to play the title role in the West End production of Billy Elliot the Musical as the hit show is shortlisted for the BBC Radio 2 Olivier Audience Award, the only category voted for by the public. Voting is now open and will close on 9 March with the awards ceremony on Sunday 13 March 2011. Now in its sixth year at the Victoria Palace Theatre, the critically acclaimed, internationally award-winning musical has been seen by over 6 million people worldwide, including 3 million in the West End. Since its world premiere in 2005 a total of 53 boys, including Jamie Bell who played Billy Elliot in the award-winning film, have now performed the title role worldwide, making Josh Baker the 54th boy to play Billy.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Elton John will will return to 'Saturday Night Live' for the first time since 1982. John will host when musical guest Leon Russell visits the show as well.

Twelve year old Josh Baker from Rochester has just become the twenty-fifth boy to play the title role in the West End production of Billy Elliot the Musical as the hit show is shortlisted for the BBC Radio 2 Olivier Audience Award, the only category voted for by the public.

In the second act the protagonist, Billy, describes dancing as "a burning deep inside, something bursting me wide open, impossible to hide…like electricity." What a wonderful way to also describe the masterpiece that is Billy Elliot: Electric.

Broadway Across America - Atlanta welcomes theatre sojourners to discover Broadway through magical lands, bustling towns and cultural epicenters. Featuring four Tony Award® winning musicals, the 2011-2012 season lineup of Broadway sensations brings a series of imaginative worlds to The Fabulous Fox Theatre. Audiences will travel across the globe - and beyond - with the debuts of DR. SEUSS' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! THE MUSICAL, MEMPHIS and BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL paired with award-winning fan favorites LES MISÉRABLES and JERSEY BOYS.

Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions bring the 2009 Tony Award-winning Best Musical Billy Elliot the Musical to Seattle from March 22 through April 3, 2011 at The Paramount Theatre.

New Subscription Season Features Broadway's Top Shows Including ROCK OF AGES, BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL, MEMPHIS, HAIR, FELA!, WEST SIDE STORY

TimeLine Theatre Company, named the nation's theater 'Company of the Year' for 2010 by Terry Teachout in The Wall Street Journal and 'one of the Chicago theater's most impressive growth stories' by Chris Jones in the Chicago Tribune, announces its four-play 2011-12 season

Theatre Tulsa's 2010-2011 season, entitled Transitions, will end with Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse's Life With Father, directed by Billie Sue Thompson, and Lee Hall's The Pitmen Painters, directed by Vern Stefanic.

The world-wide smash hit (and winner of the 2009 Tony Award for Best Musical) comes to Toronto this month and BWW is on hand to bring you extensive coverage. Over the next few weeks we will be speaking with various cast members and providing photos and interviews of all things Billy! Today we speak with Armand Schultz, who comes to Toronto from the Chicago Company and plays the role of Billy's Dad.

Kicking off its 20th Anniversary, Deaf West Theatre puts its own, unique spin on the classic story of a mischievous puppet who wishes to become a real, live boy. Using a mix of deaf and hearing actors, Stephen Rothman directs The Adventures of Pinocchio, a commedia dell arte adaptation of Carlo Collodi's 1883 novel by Lee Hall that brims with clever political subtext and sly social commentary. Deaf West's retelling of Pinocchio's treacherous journey through childhood opens February 25 at Deaf West Theatre in North Hollywood's NoHo Arts District, with two low-priced previews on February 17 and 18. (The Adventures of Pinocchio is rated 'PG' for mild language and dark themes - recommended for ages 10 and up.)

The Barnes & Noble at 86th and Lexington Ave has announced its February events. Among authors, storytime readings, and various musicians are Tony Award-winner Ben Vereen and the talented cast of Broadway's Billy Elliot.

Chanel recently released the first short film for one of its men's fragrances - Bleu de Chanel.

The Broadway production of the international hit musical Billy Elliot now offers ShowTrans, I-Caption for the deaf and D-Scriptive for the blind at the Imperial Theatre.

Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions bring the 2009 Tony Award-winning Best Musical Billy Elliot the Musical to Houston from February 23 to March 13, 2011 as a part of the Theatre Under The Stars and Gexa Energy Broadway at the Hobby Center 2010-2011 seasons.

Shaftesbury Sales Company, the distribution arm of leading production company Shaftesbury, today announced that Starz Entertainment in the United States has acquired both seasons of its popular 'Connor Undercover' live action adventure series for kids (39 x 30 minutes). This is the third title that Starz has acquired from Shaftesbury's award-winning kids and family slate, following the two previously announced acquisitions of the made-for-television movie Vacation with Derek and tween series 'Baxter.' 'Connor Undercover' and 'Baxter' will premiere on the Starz Kids & Family channel on March 1, and Vacation with Derek will make its debut on the same channel on March 6

The Majestic Theatre announces its 2011-2012 Cadillac Broadway in San Antonio Season of six stellar productions, including the San Antonio premiere of Billy Elliot the Musical, the new 25th anniversary production of legendary musical Les Miserables and the first U.S. theatrical tour of the Blue Man Group. In addition, Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's high-flying musical Mary Poppins, the musical theatre classic Fiddler on the Roof, and the Broadway smash-hit production La Cage Aux Folles take the stage for this magical season.

BWW is thrilled to bring you photo coverage of the Toronto Cast (and Canadian Premiere) of Billy Elliot.