Billy Elliot plays 1000th performance on Broadway

10-time Tony Award-winning musical Billy Elliot celebrates its 1,000'th performance on Broadway on 8 Apr 2011.

Billy Elliot - The Musical opened at the Imperial Theatre on 13 Nov 2008, following previews from 1 Oct, where it is currently selling tickets through to Imperial Theatre 6 Nov 2011.

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)

The musical received 10 Tony Awards: Best Musical; Best Book of a musical (Lee Hall); Best Actor (awarded to David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik and Kiril Kulish); Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Gregory Jbara); Best Choreography (Peter Darling); Best Direction (Stephen Daldry); Best Orchstrations (Martin Koch), Best Scenic Design (Ian MacNeil); Best Lighting Design for a Musical (Rick Fisher) and Best Sound Design for a Musical (Paul Arditti).

Set in England's North East against the background of the miners' strike - Billy Elliot 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.

Billy Elliot - The Musical currently features Jacob Clemente, Joseph Harrington, Alex Ko and Peter Mazurowsk alternate the role of 'Billy,' Emily Skinner (Mrs. Wilkinson), Gregory Jbara (Dad), Carole Shelley (Grandma), Will Chase (Tony) and, Cameron Clifford and Neil McCaffrey (alternate the role of Billy's friend Michael).

Billy Elliot 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.'

Billy Elliot - The Musical was a London hit when it opened at the Victoria Palace Theatre on 11 May 2005 and has been a box office hit ever since.

The London production won Three Olivier Awards: Best New Musical, Best Actor and Choreographer. It also won the Evening Standard Award for Best Musical.

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.