BILLY ELLIOT To Play San Francisco As Part Of The SHN 2010-11 Season

Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions in association with Weinstein Live Entertainment announced today that the 2009 Tony Award-winning Best Musical Billy Elliot the Musical, featuring music by Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall, choreography by Peter Darling and direction by Stephen Daldry, will be presented in San Francisco as part of the 2010-2011 SHN Best of Broadway season. Tickets are currently available to SHN subscribers for performances beginning September 13, 2011 at the Orpheum Theatre (1192 Market Street). Exact performance dates and casting will be announced at a later date.
"Billy Elliot is, simply put, one of the best shows I have ever seen," said Carole Shorenstein Hays, President of SHN. "There was never any question in my mind that it had to play one of our theatres in San Francisco and I am thrilled we will bring it to Bay Area audiences next season."
"On behalf of my fellow producers and the entire production team, I am delighted to confirm that Billy Elliot the Musical will come to the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco in September, 2011. We are continually heartened by the audience response to our show and are thrilled that we will soon be sharing it with the seasoned theatergoers of San Francisco," said Eric Fellner, a producer of the show.

Tickets are currently available only to renewing SHN subscribers or to new subscribers. Single tickets will be available at a later date. For information on subscriptions as well as to learn when single tickets will go on sale, please visit www.shnsf.com

Billy Elliot the Musical, the show that Time Magazine calls "The Best Musical of the Decade," is the joyous celebration of one boy's journey to make his dreams come true. Set in a small town, the story follows Billy as he stumbles out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class, discovering a passion that takes him by surprise, and takes his whole family on an incredibly uplifting adventure.

Billy Elliot the Musical, based on the beloved 2000 film, which garnered three Academy Award nominations and three BAFTA awards, opened at London's Victoria Palace in May 2005 to unanimous critical acclaim. The Mail on Sunday wrote, "Truly electrifying...this heart-stopping show is a must-see." The Sunday Express raved, "Pure magic." And The Daily Telegraph proclaimed it simply, "The greatest British musical I have ever seen." The production went on to sweep London's nine awards for Best Musical, including the Olivier, Evening Standard and Critics' Circle Theatre Awards. It celebrates its anniversary in May 2010.

Billy Elliot the Musical next opened to equal acclaim at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney, Australia in December 2007. The Australian wrote, "Billy Elliot should come with a warning: abandon cynicism all ye who enter. Open your heart, get out the tissues and surrender." The Sydney Morning Herald raved, "Joyously entertaining, Billy Elliot bursts into starry-eyed showbiz magic ... A rapturous pinnacle of self-expression and fulfillment." The Sunday Telegraph called it, "Bloody brilliant! Funny, exuberantly rude and heartbreakingly moving." The production transferred to Melbourne's Her Majesty's Theatre On December 31, 2008 where it was met with equally acclaim. The Australian production was honored with 12 theatre awards, including Best Musical (Helpmann Awards, Sydney, and Green Room Awards, Melbourne).

Billy Elliot the Musical opened on Broadway at the Imperial Theatre 240 West 45th Street) on November 13, 2008 to extraordinary critical acclaim. Ben Brantley of the New York Times said that Billy Elliot "Sends audiences into a mass swoon!" Time Out calls it "The most electric and passionate show in years." The Daily News says that Billy Elliot is "So exhilarating that you feel like leaping!" The New York Post says Billy Elliot is "The best show you will ever see!" Liz Smith calls the show "Absolutely awesome," The New York Observer raves that Billy is "The best thing to happen to Broadway in a long while," and WOR's Dave Richardson cheers, "All I can say is WOW!" Billy Elliot was the winner of ten 2009 Tony Awards including Best Musical. The Broadway production is the recipient of a total of 35 awards including being named Best Musical by the New York Drama Critics Circle, Drama Desk, Drama League and Outer Critics Circle.

Globally, Billy Elliot has now played to over 5 million people.

Billy Elliot the Musical is produced by Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Jon Finn and Sally Greene. Angela Morrison and David Furnish are Executive Producers. The production features scenic design by Ian MacNeil, the associate director is Julian Webber, costume design by Nicky Gillibrand, lighting design by Rick Fisher and sound design by Paul Arditti. Musical supervision and orchestrations are by Martin Koch.

SHN is the pre-eminent theatrical entertainment company in San Francisco and owns and operates the Curran, Orpheum and Golden Gate Theatres-San Francisco's premier theatrical venues. SHN's Best of Broadway theater series provides Bay Area audiences with pre-Broadway world premieres, original Broadway cast productions, award-winners and current hits fresh from Broadway.
For more information about Billy Elliot, please visit
www.shnsf.com or www.BillyElliotTour.com

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