Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions announced the full casting today for the second national tour of Billy Elliot the Musical beginning October 30 at the Durham Performing Arts Center. Tony Award-winner Faith Prince stars as Mrs. Wilkinson along with Giuseppe Bausilio, Michael Dameski, Kylend Hetherington, Lex Ishimoto and Daniel Russell in the role of "Billy."
Also featured in the second national tour of Billy Elliot the Musical are Rich Hebert (Dad); Patti Perkins (Grandma); Jeff Kready (Tony); Joel Blum (George); Griffin Birney and Jacob Zelonky (Michael); Rachel Mracna (Debbie); Beverly Ward (Mum); and Patrick Wetzel (Mr. Braithwaite).
Rounding out the ensemble are Maximilien A. Baud, Craig Bennett, Kirrilee Berger, Michael Biren, Damien Brett, Samantha Cutler, Jason DePinto, Jennifer Evans, J. Austin Eyer, Andrew Fitch, Kurt Froman, Mary Giattino, Cassidy Hagel, Regan Haley, David Hibbard, Karen Hyland, Aaron Kaburick, Nicholas Lampiasi, Rebecca Marlowe, Katie Micha, Alec Osher, Vanessa Russo, Nathan Scherich, Nicholas Sipes, Dorothy Stanley, Kristopher Thompson-Bolden, Beatrice Tulchin, Genai Veal, Olivia Wang, Branch Woodman, Katrina Yaukey and Danielle Znutas.
Billy Elliot the Musical, winner of 10 Tony Awards including Best Musical, is the joyous and exciting celebration of one boy?s triumph against the odds. The story follows Billy?s journey as he stumbles out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class and discovers his dream to dance. Full of life, laughter, award- winning choreography and unforgettable music, this uplifting show will stay with you forever. Based on the international smash-hit film, Billy Elliot the Musical is brought to life by the Tony-winning creative team - director Stephen Daldry, choreographer Peter Darling and writer Lee Hall - along with music legend Elton John, who has written what the New York Post calls "His Best Score Yet!"
The show 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.
The tour opens in Durham, N.C., followed by stops in Cleveland, Minneapolis, Charlotte, Tampa, Houston, Seattle, Portland, Tempe, Denver, Dallas, and St. Louis.
For complete tour route, tickets and further information visit www.BillyElliotTour.com
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FAITH PRINCE (Mrs. Wilkinson) has won the Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for her performance as Ms. Adelaide in Guys and Dolls. In 2008, she was nominated for Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for A Catered Affair. Other Broadway credits include The Little Mermaid, Bells Are Ringing (Tony, DD, OCC noms), Nick & Nora (OCC Award), Jerome Robbins' Broadway (Tony, DD noms), Little Me, The Dead, Noises Off. She also starred in the world premiere of Terrence McNally?s Unusual Acts of Devotion. TV: Guest starred on Lifetime?s Drop Dead Diva, Ugly Betty, Medium and CSI. She was a series regular on Showtime's Huff starring as "Kelly Knippers." Prince recurred for five seasons on Spin City. Other credits include the self-titled series Faith, Sweet Potato Queens, Grey's Anatomy, House, Monk, Now and Again, Welcome To New York and Law and Order. Film: Our Very Own with Allison Janney and Cheryl Hines, Picture Perfect, Dave, and My Father the Hero. She recently starred in the concert version of Sweeney Todd with the Orlando Philharmonic. Faith?s new CD, Total Faith, has an upcoming release and her CD A Leap Of Faith is available on DRG records.
GIUSEPPE BAUSILIO (Billy),13, hails from Bern, Switzerland and most recently starred as "Billy? in the Chicago production of Billy Elliot. Coming from a family of dance, Bausilio?s parents run two ballet schools and his brother is a professional ballet dancer. Trained in ballet, modern, jazz, flamenco, hip-hop and tap, he has won dance competitions in Switzerland, France, Italy and the US. Bausilio has performed in The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty and Coppelia at the State Theatre of Bern, Operas Mazzepa and Falstaff. He enjoys cooking, skiing, swimming, reading and speaks five languages. He studies kung fu, cello and piano.
MICHAEL DAMESKI (Billy), 14, was born in Sydney, Australia, and comes directly from playing "Billy? on Broadway as well as in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia. Studying at Brent Street studios, Dameski has focused on jazz, tap, ballet, acrobatics, hip hop, contemporary drama and musical theater. He has earned awards such as Top 10 dance idol finalist 2005 (NIDA), Dance Champion of the World 2007 (WCOPA) LA and Source Dance Sydney Winner 2009.
KYLEND HETHERINGTON (Billy), 12, hails from Auburn, Michigan, and most recently played „Michael? and „Tall Boy? in the Broadway production. Later he studied ballet with Giuseppe Canale and Scott Heinrich and tap with Bruce Bradley. In 2009, he participated in the ABT Young Dancer Summer Workshop under full scholarship.
LEX ISHIMOTO (Billy), 12, is from Irving, California, and has performed in many nationally ranked dance competitions both solo as part of his street dance hip-hop gropu Kreative Movement. His specialties are hip-hop, tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical and contemporary dance and has studied at the West Coast School of the Arts in Costa Mesa. Ishimoto was named Mr. Showbiz (California West Coast), national rank of top 10 Showstoppers, with his group winning first overall. He is the recipient of many dance scholarships.
DANIEL RUSSELL (Billy), 14, is from New South Wales in Australia and performed the role of „Billy? in Melbourne, Australia. Russell has also performed as Oliver (Oliver), Annie Get Your Gun (Little Jake), Joseph... and Alice in Wonderland. He was awarded 2nd place for the Isobel Anderson Awards for Intermediate Foundation Classical Ballet (RAD) and has won numerous prizes and scholarships with tap, ballet and modern dance in Eisteddfods.
PATTI PERKINS (Grandma) Broadway: Billy Elliot,The Full Monty,Shakespeare's Cabaret(Tony nominated for Best Score),All Over Town(directed by Dustin Hoffman). Lincoln Center: A Man of No Importance.Off-Broadway venues include The Vineyard Theater, Manhattan Theater Club, The Mint Theater. Regional theaters include The Old Globe, The Guthrie, The Kennedy Center, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Goodspeed Opera House.
JEFF KREADY (Tony) Comes directly from playing Tony in the Broadway production of Billy Elliot, where he was also an original cast member. Other original Broadway companies: Sunday in the Park with George revival, Les Miserables revival (Jean Valjean u/s). He is a Washburn University grad and onetime Kansas music teacher.
JOEL BLUM (George) is a two-time Tony nominee in the best supporting actor category for the Prince/Stroman Show Boat and for Steel Pier. Other Broadway includes 42nd Street (Original cast), Music Man, A Christmas Carol, Elaine May's After the Night and the Music, and Stardust. He recently played multiple roles in 101 Dalmatians the Musical, at Madison Square Garden. Joel has toured extensively in: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Doctor Doolittle starring Tommy Tune, (which he co-choreographed with Patti Colombo), ...and the World Goes 'Round, The Debbie Reynolds show, to mention a few. He received a Barrymore award for best supporting actor in Tin Pan Alley Rag, was nominated in the same category for a Helen Hayes award for his work in Meet John Doe at the Fords theater in Washington, D C. Joel has appeared on "Law and Order" twice, "Ed", the "Sopranos", Danced on the "Sonny and Cher Show", two Bob Hope Specials, and the "Tonight Show" Starring Johnny Carson. He has co-written and stars in his one man show about Bob Hope entitled: Hope Eternal.
GRIFFIN BIRNEY (Michael), 10, hails from Branford, Connecticut, and last performed at the Goodspeed Opera House in Annie Get Your Gun (Little Jake). Birney studies at the Encore Academy of Dance in Connecticut.
JACOB ZELONKY (Michael), 11, is from Memphis, Tenn., and has performed in Seussical (JoJo), Narnia (Edmund), and A Christmas Carol the Musical (Tiny Tim).
RACHEL MRACNA (Debbie), 11, is from Pittsburgh, Penn., and recently performed in Oliver, Joseph..., Les Miserables (Young Cosette).
BEVERLY WARD (Mum) Broadway; Epic Proportions. London; Crazy For You. National Tours; Polly Baker in Crazy For You (Helen Hayes nomination), Ellie May Chipley in Hal Prince?s Showboat.
PATRICK WETZEL (Mr. Braithwaite) Original Broadway companies of All About Me, The Drowsy Chaperone (recording), Thou Shalt Not (recording), Annie Get Your Gun (recording) and Ain't Broadway Grand. Other Broadway/NY: Spamalot, The Producers, Anyone Can Whistle (Encores!), Golden Boy (Encores!) Sondheim's Opening Doors (Carnegie Hall). Films: A Christmas Carol (dir. Robert Zemeckis), The Producers (dir. Susan Stroman).
