1984 Photos - London

Billy Elliot o Musical is a musical based on the 2000 film Billy Elliot. The music is by Elton John, and the book and lyrics are by Lee Hall, who wrote the film's screenplay. The plot revolves around Billy, a motherless British boy who trades boxing gloves for ballet shoes. The story of his personal struggle and fulfillment are balanced against a counter-story of family and community strife caused by the 1984-85 UK miners' strike in County Durham, in North Eastern England. Hall's screenplay was inspired in part by A. J. Cronin's 1935 novel about a miners' strike, The Stars Look Down, to which the musical's opening song pays homage.

The year is 1984. Margaret Thatcher, the first woman British Prime Minister, declared war on the coal labor unions, closed 20 mines and laid off 20,000 workers in what she called 'the process of bringing the British coal industry up to competitive levels.'

Set to soar through December 20 at the award-winning not-for-profit theatre, Maltz Jupiter, the electrifying blockbuster follows the story of Billy, the youngest child of a blue-collar family who discovers his unlikely and extraordinary gift for ballet. Juxtaposed against the backdrop of the UK miners' strike of 1984, Billy's only escape may be the prestigious Royal Ballet School, a place no working-class boy has ever gone.

This December, get excited for the biggest event of the season: the Maltz Jupiter Theatre's much-anticipated Florida regional premiere of BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL! Soaring now through December 20 at the award-winning not-for-profit theatre, the electrifying blockbuster follows the story of Billy, the youngest child of a blue-collar family who discovers his unlikely and extraordinary gift for ballet. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

On 12 May 2015 Billy Elliot the Musical will be celebrating ten years in the West End. The musical received its world premiere at the Victoria Palace Theatre in March 2005 with opening night on 12 May 2005 and has now been seen by over 10 million people worldwide, including 5 million at its London home.

Just last night, The New Group featured original cast members from the company's critically-acclaimed 2005 hit revival of Hurlyburly: Bobby Cannavale, Josh Hamilton, Ethan Hawke, Parker Posey and Wallace Shawn, with Marin Ireland and Amanda Seyfried. Directed by Scott Elliott, this benefit reading took place at The Pershing Square Signature Center (The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre, 480 West 42nd Street).

Broadway fans had plenty of reasons to celebrate this year, with dozens of shows having opened since January, hundreds of actors having made their debuts, and many more having returned to the stage for critically acclaimed performances. Not all news was good though, as we also suffered a loss of an incredible amount of talent. Below, BroadwayWorld sends a fond farewell to those who passed away in 2014.

The Broadway community mourns the loss of acclaimed director, producer, writer, and performer Mike Nichols, who passed away on Wednesday evening at age 83. The marquees of Broadway theatres in New York were dimmed in his memory on November 21st, at exactly 7:45pm for one minute. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you a look back at the last 30 or so years of his career.

Film and stage legend and two-time Tony Award winner Lauren Bacall, passed away last week (first reported by TMZ) at the age of 89. The legendary actress suffered a massive stroke and died at home (New York City's famous Dakota Building) according to a family member. BroadwayWorld remembers the legend below.

Assembling a stellar cast and creative team, the Ogunquit Playhouse has mounted a powerful production of the Elton John-Lee Hall 2005 musical, Billy Elliot. Based on the 2000 film, both directed by Stephen Daldry with original choreography by Peter Darling, Billy Elliot movingly tells the story of a Yorkshire working class boy who discovers his unlikely passion and talent for ballet and who must win his coal miner father's acceptance for his chosen vocation. Set against the background of the bitter 1984 mining strike which pitted the workers' life and death struggle against Margaret Thatcher's push to close the mines, Billy's discovery of his artistic gift becomes his ticket not only to self-fulfillment, but also to escape from his family's bleak existence.

Variations Theatre Group is presenting a rare New York City revival of David Rabe's HURLYBURLY at The Chain Theatre. Opening Night is tomorrow (Wednesday) at 7 PM. The original production of HURLYBURLY took New York by storm in 1984, directed by Mike Nichols. Although the long-running Broadway hit was presented in three acts, David Rabe pared his script into a leaner two-act version for the 2005 Off-Broadway revival starring Ethan Hawke and Bobby Cannavale. It is this revised version which is being presented by Variations Theatre Group by special arrangement with the playwright. Check out a first look below!

Variations Theatre Group will present a rare New York City revival of David Rabe's HURLYBURLY beginning February 14th, with the Opening Night set for Wednesday, February 19th at The Chain Theatre. The original production of HURLYBURLYtook New York by storm in 1984, directed by Mike Nichols. Although the long-running Broadway hit was presented in three acts, David Rabe pared his script into a leaner two-act version for the 2005 Off-Broadway revival starring Ethan Hawke and Bobby Cannavale. It is this revised version which will be presented by Variations Theatre Group by special arrangement with the playwright. Check out a first look at the cast below!

The most wonderful time of the year is underway as Goodman Theatre's A Christmas Carol begins its 36th annual production. Directing the holiday favorite for the first time, Henry Wishcamper's production features all-new on stage magic-set elements, special effects and more. The cast of 27 (below, includes 14 new and 13 returning cast members) stars Larry Yando, who most recently appeared in Mary Zimmerman's production of The Jungle Book as Shere Khan, in his sixth turn as Ebenezer Scrooge and 8-year-old Matthew Abraham as Tiny Tim for the second year. A Christmas Carol runs now through December 28 in the Goodman's Albert Theatre. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

The 21st annual production of Pittsburgh CLO's A Musical Christmas Carol features returning favorites and a host of exciting new cast members, led by Pittsburgh's own Tom Atkins as Ebenezer Scrooge. The show opens tonight, and BroadwayWorld has a first look at Atkins and the cast onstage in the photos below!

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).

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.

Here's a look back and a final farewell to some of the stars that we lost in 2010.

Golden Girl and former Broadway star Rue McClanahan, has sadly passed away at 1am today, June 3rd at the age of 76 according to her manager. McClanahan, who suffered a stroke in January, is said to have had another massive stroke early this morning.

Farrah Fawcett died yesterday, Thursday June 25th at the age of 62 following a cancer battle.

David Mamet's 'Oleanna' opens at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum on Friday, June 5, at 8 p.m. Featuring Bill Pullman and Julia Stiles under the direction of Tony Award-winner Doug Hughes, 'Oleanna' continues through July 12.

Rehearsals have begun for David Mamet's 'Oleanna,' which begins previews May 28 and continues through July 12 at the Center Theatre Group / Mark Taper Forum (opening night is Friday, June 5). 'Oleanna' features Bill Pullman and Julia Stiles under the direction of Tony Award-winner Doug Hughes.

DesiLit presents the third Kriti Festival, a celebration of South Asian and diaspora literature and arts, to be held June 11-14, 2009, at University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) and Roosevelt University. The four-day Kriti Festival is slated to include participant panels, author readings, writing workshops, publishing and marketing seminars, live performances, and question and answer sessions with literary agents and editors. Desi is a person of South Asian ancestry (living in South Asia or the South Asian diaspora), and kriti is pronounced 'kree-thee.'

59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer) welcomes the return of Godlight Theatre Company with Alan Lyddiard's adaptation of George Orwell's 1984, directed by Joe Tantalo. 1984 begins previews on Friday, March 13 for a limited engagement through Sunday, April 19. Opening Night is Wednesday, March 25 at 8:30 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday at 7:30 PM, Wednesday - Friday at 8:30 PM; Saturday at 2:30 PM and 8:30 PM and Sunday at 3:30 PM.