Billy Elliot to Dance Into the Imperial in Summer '08

The New York Post's Michael Riedel reports that the previously announced Broadway transfer of the London smash Billy Elliot is currently being finalized.

Riedel writes that the balletic musical will settle into the Imperial Theatre in 2008.  "The deal has been kept under wraps because the Imperial has been promised to High Fidelity this fall, and nobody wants to give the impression that show might not be a long-runner."  He goes on to state that "even if it proves to have staying power, it will have to move to another house in the summer of 2008 to make way for Billy Elliot."

Composer/lyricist Elton John, director Stephen Daldry and bookwriter Lee Hall are currently working on fine-tuning the production and making it more palatable to an American audience who might not get all the British accents, references or issues, such as "the struggle between the miners' union and Thatcherism."  Producer Eric Fellner explains: "It is quite daunting, taking this quintessentially British show to Broadway. We are not altering the location or the character of the piece. We just want to make sure the Britishness travels."

"Stephen decided that if we're going to take the show to Broadway and other places, we really want it to be as strong as possible.  He felt he could do better. Lee and Elton felt they could do better," stated Fellner.

Joining the current Billy Elliot's - Liam Mower, Colin Bates, Leon Cooke, Matthew Koon and Travis Yates - the current West End cast includes Sally Dexter (Mrs Wilkinson) Philip Whitchurch (Dad), Chris Lennon (Tony), Ann Emery (Grandma), Sara Poyzer (Billy's Mum), Paul Broughton (George), Alex Delamere (Mr Braithwaite), Isaac James (Older Billy).  Mower, who was with Billy Elliot when it opened in March of last year at the Victoria Palace, will depart the show on September 30th.

Due to public demand, Billy Elliot will open a new booking period on Sunday, November 12th with tickets on sale for performances until Saturday, October 20th.

Billy Elliot "is set in the North East and is a funny, heart-warming and feel-good celebration of one young boy's dreams. This new staging of is an adaptation of one of the most adored British films of the last decade which broke box office records across the world and was nominated for 3 Oscars and 13 BAFTA Awards," according to production notes.

Written by Hall and directed by Daldry, Billy Elliot was developed for the stage by the same multi-award winning creative team. The show features music and lyrics by pop legend John (Aida, The Lion King, Lestat), with choreography by Peter Darlingm, designs by Ian MacNeil, sound by Paul Arditti and lighting by Rick Fisher.

Billy Elliot is produced by Working Title and Old Vic Productions plc.

Visit www.billyelliotthemusical.com for more information.