Stephen Daldry News

Have you ever had a dream? To be an astronaut? A painter? A singer? For Billy Elliot, the title character of the hit Elton John musical that plays the Fabulous Fox Theatre March 13 - 18, his dream is to dance, which creates plenty of tension for his blue-collar, northern England family. Based on the movie of the same name, Billy Elliot shows us that sometimes your passions are something you never imagined yourself doing and once you discover them nothing should stop you from pursuing those goals. Helping Billy achieve his dream is his dance teacher, Mrs. Wilkinson, who pushes him to be his best. Playing the role in this production is veteran Broadway actress Leah Hocking who sat down with me to talk about her experience with following her own dreams of being an actor.

The Society of London Theatre has today announced the shortlist for the BBC Radio 2 Olivier Audience Award. The public will vote for the overall winner. The shortlisted shows are BILLY ELLIOT, JERSEY BOYS, LES MISÉRABLES and WICKED.

Discover your Broadway with The Artist Series' 2012 - 2013 Broadway in Jacksonville Season, which features three Jacksonville premieres - MARY POPPINS, BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL, and ROCK OF AGES - and the return engagement of acclaimed musical, WEST SIDE STORY.

Last week, Segerstrom Center for the Arts (formerly the Orange County Performing Arts Center) announced its brand new Broadway Series for the 2012 - 2013 Season. For it's BROADWAY SERIES, the Center will host touring companies of MEMPHIS, THE ADDAMS FAMILY, WAR HORSE, BILLY ELLIOT, FLASHDANCE and SISTER ACT, plus 'Curtain Call Series' shows WICKED, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, and ANYTHING GOES.

La MaMa has announced that they will present the American premiere of London's Gate Theatre's production of THE KREUTZER SONATA March 8-25.

BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL, the Tony Winning show has soared into the Broward Center for too brief a stay. Based on the film BILLY ELLIOT, this musical is about dreams, acceptance, and winning against the struggles life may throw our way. BILLY ELLIOT is often reminiscent of A CHORUS LINE, and that is an awesome show to be reminiscent of.

Today we are completing our triptych look at the leading ladies of the new BAM production of RICHARD III, directed by Sam Mendes and starring Kevin Spacey, with a solo spotlight on a stage and screen star known for her wide range of roles in dramas, comedies, musicals, television and film - the one and only Haydn Gwynne. In addition to all about her intense preparation for her role in the searing and prescient Shakespearean historical tragedy, Gwynne also recounts her experiences working with Mendes, Spacey and the previous ladies who have participated in this RICHARD III spotlight with whom she shares the stage every night now through March 4, Gemma Jones and Maureen Anderman. Besides all about RICHARD III and its international tour begun at the Old Vic in London's West End and ending up in New York at BAM, Gwynne and I also discuss her recent stage work in Elton John and Lee Hall's Tony-winning international hit BILLY ELLIOT and working with theatre and film director Stephen Daldry on it, as well as some remembrances of her other notable stage and screen roles, old and new - prior musicals (such as CITY OF ANGELS), as well as her recent guest-starring stint on the hit BBC series SHERLOCK included, as well as a look ahead to her new feature film, HUNKY DORY, starring Minnie Driver. All of that and much, much more!

BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL, the Tony Winning show has soared into the Broward Center for too brief a stay. Based on the film BILLY ELLIOT, this musical is about dreams, acceptance, and winning against the struggles life may throw our way. BILLY ELLIOT is often reminiscent of A CHORUS LINE, and that is an awesome show to be reminiscent of.

In addition to the Tony Award for Best Musical, Billy Elliot the Musical received the award for Best Direction of a Musical (Stephen Daldry); Best Book of a Musical (Lee Hall); Best Choreography (Peter Darling); Best Orchestrations (Martin Koch); Best Scenic Design of a Musical (Ian MacNeil); Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Rick Fisher); Best Sound Design of a Musical (Paul Arditti); Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, Kiril Kulish); Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (Gregory Jbara).

The 2012 Academy award for Actress in a Leading Role has been awarded to Meryl Streep for her performance in 'The Iron Lady.' This marks Streep's third Oscar win.

NETworks Presentations, LLC brings the multi-award-winning Billy Elliot the Musical to the Boston Opera House for a four week engagement July 24 - August 19. 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.

NETworks Presentations, LLC brings the multi-award-winning Billy Elliot the Musical to the Boston Opera House for a four week engagement July 24 - August 19. 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.

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.

The national tour of BILLY ELLIOT will play San Antonio's Majestic Theatre from March 28th through April 8th.

In addition to the Tony Award for Best Musical, Billy Elliot the Musical received the award for Best Direction of a Musical (Stephen Daldry); Best Book of a Musical (Lee Hall); Best Choreography (Peter Darling); Best Orchestrations (Martin Koch); Best Scenic Design of a Musical (Ian MacNeil); Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Rick Fisher); Best Sound Design of a Musical (Paul Arditti); Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, Kiril Kulish); Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (Gregory Jbara).

NETworks Presentations, LLC brings the multi-award-winning Billy Elliot the Musical to the Palace Theatre march 20-25.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.

The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, has launched its programme for the Spring-Summer season. Tony Award winning musical theatre will be represented in puppet-form by Avenue Q, while Oscar-nominated director Stephen Daldry will present an imaginative staging of J B Priestly's An Inspector Calls. After a six year absence from the stand-up circuit, Jack Dee will make his way to the Wyvern to road-test new material for his 2012 tour, and Ken Dodd will bring his Happiness show to Swindon in August.