Fidelity Investments Becomes Presenting Sponsor of BILLY ELLIOT

Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions in association with Weinstein Live Entertainment, announced today that Fidelity Investments will be presenting sponsor of the highly-anticipated Broadway production of Billy Elliot the Musical, opening tonight Thursday, November 13, at the Imperial Theatre.

Billy Elliot the Musical, based on the beloved 2000 Universal Pictures/Studio Canal film, features music by Elton John, book and lyrics by original screenwriter and Oscar® nominee Lee Hall, direction by Tony Award winner and Academy Award nominee Stephen Daldry, and choreography by Olivier Award winner Peter Darling.

Billy Elliot the Musical is the funny, heartwarming tale of a young boy with a dream, and a celebration of his triumph against the odds.  Set against the historic British miners' strike of the 1980s, the story follows Billy's journey as a boy in a small mining town who, after stumbling across a ballet class while on his way to a boxing lesson, realizes that his future lay not in the boxing ring but on stage as a dancer. 

The production stars David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik and Kiril Kulish sharing the title role of Billy; Haydn Gwynne, who created the role of dance teacher Mrs. Wilkinson in the show's original London cast; Gregory Jbara (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Victor/Victoria) as Dad; Tony winner Carole Shelley (The Elephant Man, Wicked) as Grandma; Santino Fontana (Sunday in the Park with George revival) as Tony and David Bologna and Frank Dolce alternating in the role of Billy's friend Michael; Stephen Hanna as Older Billy, Joel Hatch as George, Leah Hocking as Mum, Thommie Retter as Mr. Braithwaite and Erin Whyland as Debbie. 

Fidelity's sponsorship of Billy Elliot marks the company's fourth year supporting Broadway productions. Previously, Fidelity has sponsored Young Frankenstein, Sweeney Todd, Company and The Fantasticks (Off Broadway).

"Fidelity is proud to be a part of Billy Elliot's debut in New York," said Jennifer K. Brown, executive vice president, Fidelity Investments.  "Fidelity has a long history as part of the New York community, both as a business partner, helping our customers with financial decisions throughout their lives, and as a community partner, supporting the arts and theater education throughout the city."

Jon Finn, one of Billy Elliot's producers added, "We are thrilled to be working with Fidelity Investments as we bring this inspired production of Billy Elliot the Musical to Broadway. We appreciate Fidelity's continued support of the arts community, and are proud to be part of this important and growing alliance."
Opening night also marks the formal kick off to year three of Fidelity FutureStage, a comprehensive theatre arts education program that provides a unique playwriting and production curriculum for more than 600 New York City middle and high school students. The year-long program affords these students the opportunity to learn from some of the theater community's leading playwrights, directors, designers and actors, write their own original plays and ultimately experience the thrill of bringing their own creativity to life on a professional stage. 

As part of Fidelity's sponsorship of Billy Elliot the Musical, Fidelity FutureStage will incorporate elements of the production into this year's program. FutureStage students have already benefited from the unique partnership, attending a recent Billy Elliot dress rehearsal and meeting with cast and crew, including Director Stephen Daldry, Kiril Kulish (Billy), and Gregory Jbara (Dad) following the show.

Already a globally acclaimed success, Billy Elliot the Musical premiered in London at the Victoria Palace Theatre in March 2005 and then traveled to Sydney, Australia's Capitol Theatre, opening in November 2007 where its season ended on November 9 in advance of a transfer to Melbourne's Her Majesty's Theatre in December. The musical's many honors include four Laurence Olivier Awards, including Best Musical and Best Actor, record-breaking UK box office success and continued sold out performances. 

For more information about Billy Elliot the Musical, please visit www.billyelliotbroadway.com

About Fidelity Investments Fidelity Investments is one of the world's largest providers of financial services, with custodied assets of $3.0 trillion, including managed assets of $1.4 trillion as of September 30, 2008. Fidelity offers investment management, retirement planning, brokerage, and human resources and benefits outsourcing services to 24 million individuals and institutions as well as through 5,500 financial intermediary firms. The firm is the largest mutual fund company in the United States, the No. 1 provider of workplace retirement savings plans, the largest mutual fund supermarket and a leading online brokerage firm. For more information about Fidelity Investments, visit www.fidelity.com.

About Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions Universal Pictures STAGE PRODUCTIONS is the theatrical production unit of the world famous motion picture studio. Universal's stage credits include the acclaimed worldwide productions of Wicked and Billy Elliot the Musical, and licensed productions including the Tony Award Best Musical nominees, Cry-Baby and Xanadu.

Working Title Films is a producer of Billy Elliot the Musical worldwide, including productions in London and Sydney. Co-chaired by Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, the company has produced over 90 feature films, won 6 Academy Awards and grossed over $4 billion worldwide. Films include Billy Elliot; Burn After Reading; Atonement; Pride & Prejudice; United 93; The Interpreter; About a Boy; Notting Hill; Elizabeth; Fargo; Dead Man Walking; Bean; High Fidelity; Four Weddings and a Funeral; Bridget Jones's Diary and Love Actually. Upcoming features include Frost/Nixon; Hippie Hippie Shake, State of Play; The Soloist; Green Zone and The Boat That Rocked.

Old Vic Productions is a producer of Billy Elliot the Musical worldwide, including productions in London and Sydney. Created by Sally Greene, OBE, and run by Sally and Executive Producer, Joseph Smith: OVP has co-produced or partnered in over 70 productions in the West End and on Broadway, winning numerous awards. Productions include: Taking Sides, Cyrano de Bergerac, The Reduced Shakespeare Company, The Vagina Monologues (New York & London), The Weir, Car Man, Medea, Life x 3, Benefactors, Elaine Stritch at Liberty, Macbeth, Sexual Perversity in Chicago, Hamlet, A Moon for the Misbegotten, and Speed the Plow.

Fidelity FutureStage is a community arts education program of Fidelity Investments.

Photo Credit: David Scheinmann