Billy Elliot Cast Recording Now Available in US Stores

The London cast recording of the West End smash Billy Elliot is now available in American stores; it was released on February 7th.

On two discs, with complete lyrics and exclusive photo postcards, and released by Decca Broadway, Billy Elliot's cast recording features the show's Elton John score performed by the original cast as well as the composer/lyricist's performances of The Letter," "Merry Christmas Mrs. Thatcher" and "Electricity."  Decca has also stated that the show will head to a Broadway stage in 2007 (though no specific information has been announced).

The CD's tracks listings follow:

"The Stars Look Down"
"Shine"
"Grandma's Song"
"Solidarity"
"Expressing Yourself"
"The Letter"
"Born to Boogie"
"Angry Dance"
"Merry Christmas Maggie Thatcher"
"Deep Into the Ground"
"He Could Be a Star"
"Electricity"
"Once We Were Kings"
"The Letter"
"Finale"

Billy Elliot recently announced an extension at London's Victoria Palace through October 21st, 2006.  One of the biggest hits on the West End (it earned unanimous raves from the British press after opening in May), Billy Elliot is the musical version of the hit 2000 film about a boy who wishes to go against the grain to become a ballet dancer. Living in a small industrustial English town, his father and brother (who are embroiled in a miner's strike) disapprove of his plans but ballet teacher Mrs. Wilkinson secretly encourages the boy. As with the movie, Stephen Daldry (An Inspector Calls, the film The Hours) is the director, and the show, which is produced by Working Title and Old Vic Productions, features a book by Lee Hall and music and lyrics by Elton John (The Lion King, Aida).  Peter Darling is the show's choreographer.