Billy Elliot the Musical, the 2009 Tony Award-winning Best Musical adapted from the 2000 film about a striking coal-miner’s son with a dream to dance, is still going strong on Broadway. But it is also about to open in Chicago…and will soon come to a country near you.

Elton John wrote the music, Lee Hall the book and lyrics, and Stephen Daldry, the director of the film, also directed the musical, which opened in Broadway’s Imperial Theater on November 13, 2008 and won a total of 10 Tonys. It recouped its $18 million investment in 14 months (492 performances). It now has a new cast- Dayton Tavares, Liam Redhead (pictured), Alex Ko, Michael Dameski (all alternating in the role of Billy Elliot), Kate Hennig as Mrs. Wilkinson, and Philip Whitchurch as Mr. Elliot, Billy’s father.

Trent Kowalik, one of three original Billy’s who all won Tony Awards for their performances, will play his final performance on Sunday, March 7th at 7:30pm.

Billy Elliot tickets are available here for the Broadway production.

The musical will begin preview performances in Chicago at the Ford Center/Oriental Theatre on March 18, 2010, with opening night set for Sunday, April 11, 2010.

Buy Chicago Billy Elliot Tickets here

Rotating in the title role of ‘Billy’ in the Chicago production are Tommy Batchelor, Giuseppe Bausilio, Cesar Corrales and John Peter (J.P.) Viernes. Also starring in the Chicago Billy Elliot are Armand Schultz (Dad), Cynthia Darlow (Grandma), Chicagoan Patrick Mulvey (Tony), Keean Johnson (who comes from the Broadway production) and Gabriel Rush (Michael), Chicagoan Samuel Pergande (Billy’s Older Self), Jim Ortlieb (George), Chicagoan Susie McMonagle (Mum), Chicagoan Blake Hammond (Mr. Braithwaite) and Maria Connelly (Debbie).

Billy Elliot will also be performed at the Durham Performing Arts Center in North Carolina from November 2 to November 14th at the Durham Performing Arts Center in North Carolina, as part of the Billy Elliot second national tour.

It will be presented in Toronto as part of the 2010/2011 Mirvish Subscription Season. Performances will begin in February 2011.

Versions are at various stages for Japan, South Korea, Germany and the Netherland.

The South Korean version is planned for August, 2010. The Japanese version of the “Billy Elliot” musical is being prepared for the summer of 2011.

Of course, before it was on Broadway, it had already conquered London and Australia, and will celebrate its fifth anniversary on the London stage in May.
It 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 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.”

The reviews when it opened on Broadway were just as ecstatic. Ben Brantley of the New York Times: Billy Elliot “Sends audiences into a mass swoon!” Time Out: “The most electric and passionate show in years.” The Daily News: “So exhilarating that you feel like leaping!” The New York Post: “The best show you will ever see!” Liz Smith: “Absolutely awesome,” The New York Observer: “The best thing to happen to Broadway in a long while,” and WOR’s Dave Richardson: “All I can say is WOW!

Bios of the four new leads on Broadway:
MICHAEL DAMESKI (Billy) Hi, my name is Michael Dameski and I’m 14 years old. I am very excited to make my Broadway debut as Billy after having the chance to play the role in the Melbourne production of the show. I was born in Sydney, Australia and did my academics and dance training at one of the most prestigious performing art schools in Australia, Brent Street studios. There I studied many dance styles including jazz, tap, ballet, acrobatics, hip hop, contemporary drama and musical theatre. I have competed in many dance competitions and have been named Top 10 Dance Idol Finalist in 2005 (NIDA), Dance Champion of the World 2007 LA, (WCOPA) and Source Dance Sydney winner 2009 among others. It has always been my dream to be on Broadway and when I heard that I was going to get the opportunity to be Billy at the Imperial Theatre, I couldn’t believe it! I would like to thank everyone who got me involved in this incredible industry especially everyone at Billy Elliot, the cast and crew, the creatives and all my amazing teachers and friends. But mostly special thanks to my mom and dad and sisters for their constant support, encouragement and love.

ALEX KO (Billy). Alex is making his Broadway debut as ‘Billy.’ He was the youngest student admitted to the University of Iowa Dance Department at age 12 and has been guided by ballet masters Eloy Barragán & George de la Peña. He is the winner of national and regional dance titles under Michael Kohli, National Dance Academy, & gymnastics champion coached by Dmitri Trouch & Brad Virkler. www.alex-ko.com

LIAM REDHEAD (Billy). Hello! My name is Liam, I’m 14 years old and I can’t wait to
be Billy on Broadway! I began dancing at age 7 when I joined my sister in a hip hop class
at the Barber Treleaven School of Dance in my hometown of North Bay, Ontario, Canada.
I liked that so much that I started studying jazz and tap and then at age 9 I joined their
competitive group and was introduced to ballet. During the next three years, I competed
locally as well as in New York, Atlantic City and Las Vegas, where I won the national title
of Mr. Pre Teen with Dance Educators of America as well as the President’s Cup for the
highest mark at the competition. That summer, I joined the Young Dancer Summer
Workshop on scholarship at the JKO School and then in the fall of 2007, I moved to
Toronto to attend the National Ballet School. I got to perform the role of Misha in the
James Kudelka version of The Nutcracker with The National Ballet of Canada in
December 2007 and 2008. At NBS, I really developed my passion for classical dance

DAYTON TAVARES (Billy). Hi, my name is Dayton Tavares and I am 13 years old. I
had the honor of playing the role in the Sydney and Melbourne productions of Billy Elliot
and I am so excited to now be making my Broadway debut as Billy! I used to watch both
of my sisters dance and I thought it looked like fun, so in 2005 I decided to take a hip-
hop class and that’s how I discovered that my true passion was to dance and perform. I
also love to sing, play soccer and am a black belt in taekwondo. Since I started dancing,
I’ve won lots of awards, including Australian Dancer of the Year in 2007, which meant
that I got to represent Australia at the World Dance Championships in Las Vegas. I
won prizes in the competition including my favorite – Mr. Junior LasVegas! I have
performed at the Urban Music Awards, Industry Awards and the Sydney Opera House. I
also toured Malaysia with Studio 11 until I got the amazing opportunity to be Billy. This is
a dream come true for me and I want to thank everyone at Billy Elliot in Australia and
New York and also my Mum, Dad and sisters Aeysha and Tenille. See you on Broadway!

Twitterers: Follow Jonathan Mandell at New York Theater