Stephen Daldry News

The talented cast and crew of Disney's THE LION KING and BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL join together to present CITY OF HOPE: CHICAGO CARES - a concert featuring song, dance, and spoken word.

Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions in association with Weinstein Live Entertainment announced today, along with Broadway In Chicago, that the first national tour of Billy Elliot the Musical, the 2009 Tony Award-winning Best Musical featuring music by Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall, choreography by Peter Darling and direction by Stephen Daldry, will now play its final performance in Chicago on Sunday, November 28th at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre (24 W. Randolph Street). Now entering its final six weeks, Billy Elliot to date has performed to over 365,000 people and grossed $27 million dollars (through October 17).

Billy Elliot The Musical has officially taken over Durham, NC. The lobbies on all three floors of the Durham Performing Arts Center are littered with electric cables, costumes, props and even a specially installed dance floor for rehearsals. The President's Club has been transformed into a school room for the 21 children appearing in the musical who, when they aren't rehearsing, are being instructed by three tutors. The magnificent theatre itself is strewn with papers, lighting gels, and electric and sound equipment. There is a palpable sense of creation in the air as Billy Elliot prepares to open in Durham at the end of the month.

Does your child dream of being in Billy Elliot or on Broadway someday?

Children from The Penguin Project, a group that helps children of various disabilities by engaging them in theatre, will be attending tonight's performance of BILLY ELLIOT the Musical and attending a post-show Q&A at the Ford Center/Oriental Theatre.

The talented cast and crew of Disney's THE LION KING and BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL join together to present CITY OF HOPE: CHICAGO CARES - a concert featuring song, dance, and spoken word. Celebrating the inspiration, awareness, change and new horizons that live performance can achieve, this very special one-time event will be held on Monday, October 25 at 7:00PM at The Royal George Theatre 1641 N. Halsted Street Chicago, IL. Tickets are currently on sale for $40 General Admission and $75 for VIP Seating and a post show reception sponsored by Grey Goose Vodka and Sweet Miss Giving's Bakery with members of the casts of CITY OF HOPE, BILLY ELLIOT and THE LION KING.

Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions in association with Weinstein Live Entertainment announced today that Joseph Harrington will join the cast of the 10-time Tony Award-winning Billy Elliot the Musical, in the role of 'Billy.'

Tony® Award nominee Emily Skinner, currently starring as ‘Mrs. Wilkinson' in the first national touring production of Billy Elliot the Musical in Chicago, will join the Broadway company on October 2, 2010. Kate Hennig will play her final Broadway performance on October 1, 2010 and will return to her home town to launch the Toronto engagement of Billy Elliot, which begins performances at the Canon Theatre on January 28, 2011.

From 29 November 2010, 13 year old Scott McKenzie from Dumbarton, Scotland, the twenty fourth boy to play the iconic role of Billy Elliot in the West End, 12 year old Aaron Watson from Kings Lynn, Norfolk, 13 year old Dean Charles-Chapman from Romford, Essex and 12 year old Rhys Yeomans from Oldham, Lancashire, will be joined by principal cast members Genevieve Lemon (Mrs. Wilkinson), Martin Marquez (Dad), Tom Lorcan (Tony), Diane Langton (Grandma), Chris McGlade (George), Kay Milbourne (Dead Mum), Kevin Patricks (Mr. Braithwaite) and Barnaby Meredith (Older Billy) in Billy Elliot The Musical.

Written by Caryl Churchill, this two-hander starring father and son Samuel and Timothy West is directed by Jonathan Munby. A Number is designed by Paul Wills with lighting by Oliver Fenwick and music by Olly Fox.

Hennepin Theatre Trust will host a special 5 p.m. Billy Elliot 'Happy Hour' On Sale Event set for Thursday, Sept. 23 at the State Theatre Box Office in downtown Minneapolis to launch single ticket sales and give those in attendance the best chance for great seats. On that day starting at 5 p.m., tickets will only be sold in person at the State Theatre. Added Happy Hour attractions include refreshments, exclusive offers by Trust restaurant partners and an appearance by BT, the Cities 97 Radio personality. The first 97 people in line will also receive a free Billy Elliot CD cast recording with purchase.

Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions in association with Weinstein Live Entertainment announced today that Chicagoan Susie McMonagle, currently playing the role of 'Mum,' will take over the role of 'Mrs. Wilkinson' in the Chicago production of Billy Elliot the Musical beginning September 21, 2010. Emily Skinner will play her final performance as Mrs. Wilkinson on September 19, 2010. Billy Elliot is now playing through January 15, 2011 only at the Ford Center/Oriental Theatre (24 W. Randolph Street, Chicago).

On Saturday, September 18th Billy Elliot the Musical will hold an open call for Ballet Girls at the Broadhurst Theatre (235 W 44th St).

Following the enormous success of Billy Youth Theatre 2010, the producers of Billy Elliot The Musical are delighted to announce the second year of this countrywide scheme where participating schools and youth groups are given the opportunity to stage their own production of this internationally award-winning show.

Billy Elliot the Musical and Broadway In Chicago have joined with other special partners to create an exciting series of events to ring in the Back to School season.

Hennepin Theatre Trust will host a special 5 p.m. Billy Elliot 'Happy Hour' On Sale Event set for Thursday, Sept. 23 at the State Theatre Box Office in downtown Minneapolis to launch single ticket sales and give those in attendance the best chance for great seats. On that day starting at 5 p.m., tickets will only be sold in person at the State Theatre. Added Happy Hour attractions include refreshments, exclusive offers by Trust restaurant partners and an appearance by BT, the Cities 97 Radio personality. The first 97 people in line will also receive a free Billy Elliot CD cast recording with purchase.

Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions bring the 2009 Tony Award-winning Best Musical Billy Elliot the Musical to PlayhouseSquare from November 19 through December 12. Based on the international smash-hit film and featuring music by Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall, choreography by Peter Darling and direction by Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot the Musical has earned critical acclaim on Broadway including 10 Tony Awards.

On Saturday, September 18th Billy Elliot the Musical will hold an open call for Ballet Girls at the Broadhurst Theatre (235 W 44th St).

On September 7, Billy Elliot's Dayton Tavares performed 'Electricity' from the Tony Award-winning musical at the White House as part 'The White House Dance Series: A Tribute to Judith Jamison.'

As BroadwayWorld has previously reported, Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions will launch the second national tour of Billy Elliot the Musical beginning October 30 at the Durham Performing Arts Center. Tony Award-winner Faith Prince stars as Mrs. Wilkinson along with Giuseppe Bausilio, Michael Dameski, Kylend Hetherington, Lex Ishimoto and Daniel Russell in the role of 'Billy.' Rehearsals began today in New York City! BroadwayWorld brings you photo coverage of the meet and greet below.