Billy Elliot: now booking to 8 Jul 2012

The 10-time Tony Award-winning Billy Elliot - The Musical has extended its booking period. The show, playing at the Imperial Theatre, is now selling tickets through to 8 Jul 2012.

The musical, now in its 3rd year, opened on Broadway at the Imperial Theatre on the 13 Nov 2008, following previews from the 1 Oct.

Set in England's North East against the background of the miners' strike - Billy Elliot The Musical is the tale of a motherless boy whose father wants him to take up boxing. Instead, the boy discovers a love for ballet that leads him from secret lessons to a place at the Royal Ballet School.

The show opened to excellent reviews: "everything about this production is remarkable."
(newyorktheatreguide.com); "enduring appeal" (NY Times); "irresistible new show " (NY Daily News); "head and toe-shoes above every other show this season" (NY Post); "as seriously thrilling as it is deeply lovable" (NewsDay); "Tough, intelligent, exuberant, electric, politically savvy, and fun" (Back Stage)

Billy Elliot - The Musical currently features Emily Skinner (Mrs. Wilkinson), Daniel Jenkins (Dad), Katherine McGrath (Grandma), Patrick Mulvey (Tony), *Neil McCaffrey and Cameron Clifford (Michael), and **Giuseppe Bausilio, Tade Biesinger, Joseph Harrington and Peter Mazurowski (alternate as Billy).
*Neil McCaffrey, one of the show's alternate Michaels', leaves the cast on 25 Sep 2011 and will be replaced by Jack Broderick.
Giuseppe Bausi, one of the show's alternate Billys', leaves the cast on 9 Oct 2011 and will be replaced by Myles Erlick.

Billy Elliot The Musical is created by the same team that made the multi-Oscar-nominated film: writer Lee Hall, director Stephen Daldry, and choreographer Peter Darling. The musical's score is by Elton John, who also composed the music for 'The Lion King,' 'Aida' and 'Lestat.'

The world premiere production of Billy Elliot - The Musical is still playing at London's Victoria Palace Theatre where it opened on 11 May 2005.

The London production won Three Olivier Awards: Best New Musical, Best Actor and Choreographer. It also won the Evening Standard Award for Best Musical. A production of the show opened in Sydney in Dec 2007.

The Broadway production features the same creative team as the London production: Ian MacNeil (sets), Nicky Gillibrand (costumes), Rick Fisher (lighting) and Paul Arditti (sound).

The musical is produced on Broadway by Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions in association with Weinstein Live Entertainment.