THE BROADWAY LOCAL - Stephen Hanna Sponsored by WORLD MasterCard

From the soaring melodies of classic revivals to the hottest dramas playing today - there is no experience like "Broadway."

And part of what makes Broadway so exciting is that it's located right smack dab in the middle of New York City!

With "THE BROADWAY LOCAL", World MasterCard celebrates the creative theatre professionals who bring their talents to the city's Broadway stages and call the Big Apple home.

Stephen Hanna stars in BILLY ELLIOT in the role of "Billy's Older Self."

The New York City dance favorite took time out of his busy schedule to give us the inside scoop on his favorite New York City picks and places.

Please share with us the memory of your first time seeing a Broadway show.

The first Broadway show I saw was Les Miserables at the Imperial Theatre. We sat in the last row. The first day at the Imperial I couldn't believe that this is where Les Mis was. It was my first visit to New York when I was 12.

"Curtain Up" - Your Broadway debut, tell us the "when, where and how."

Billy Elliot Nov 13, 2008. Imperial Theatre.

Please tell us about your favorite New York City street, and why you think it is special.

Central Park South because I dream of having an apartment there with the view of the park. It will happen.

What's your favorite New York City restaurant?

Rue 57 on 57th and 6th Ave. The best steak and you can't leave there without trying their molten chocolate cake. It's not something you want to share.

What's your preferred "pre-show" and "post-show" meal?

Post show would have to be Joe Allen in Manhattan and Sanford's In Queens. In between shows lately I can't get enough of Lucky's Famous Burgers on West 52nd between 8th and 9th. The Patzeria across the street from the Imperial gets a lot of my business as well.

"The Subway" - What is your "line" and in what other ways do you get around the city?

The N and W and I also like to walk.

Clue us in about your best "Broadway bargain" and where we can find it!

Wendy's always has a junior bacon cheeseburger for a dollar!

"If You Can Make It Here..." Tell us who you think truly "defines" New York.

The people. All of the millions of different people who live and visit here. You never know what's gonna happen around you.

What is your favorite "New York" Song?

New York, New York

The Broadway Local 'MUST' - what's the one item you never leave the house (or theatre) without?

Wherever I go lately I usually, almost always, have a Dr. Pepper with me. Everyone in the show has taken notIce To this.

What would be the perfect song on your iPod to listen to as you visit a favorite part of town?

"Mr Blue Sky" by Electric Light Orchestra, hanging out in Sheep Meadow in Central Park.

"New York, New York": Give us a classic "New York" moment you've experienced in the city.

Every night, before the show, there are always people from the show hanging out by the stage door before half hour. There is always something or someone that walks by that makes us all laugh before we go into work. We like to watch people try to pick up the spare change that is cemented in the sidewalk!

Stephen Hanna was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he trained under Roberto Munoz. He entered the School of American Ballet (SAB) where he then trained with his teachers Stanley Williams, Andre Kramervsky, and Richard Rapp. At SAB Mr. Hanna was awarded the Mae L. Wein Award for outstanding promise. Mr. Hanna became an apprentice with New York City Ballet in 1997, and later that year he joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet. Mr. Hanna was promoted to the rank of soloist in February 2004, and in January 2005, he was promoted to principal dancer. He has performed Principal roles in Ballets by Peter Martins, George Ballanchine, Jerome Robbins, Richard Tanner, and Albert Evans.

The 2009 Tony Award-winning Best Musical Billy Elliot the Musical currently stars David Alvarez, Tommy Batchelor, Alex Ko and Trent Kowalik as Billy, Kate Hennig as Mrs. Wilkinson, Gregory Jbara as Dad, Carole Shelley as Grandma, Will Chase as Tony and Trevor Braun and Keean Johnson as Michael.

Featuring music by Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall, choreographed by Peter Darling and directed by Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot the Musical opened at Broadway's Imperial Theatre (240 W 45th St) Thursday, November 13th and was the winner of ten 2009 Tony Awards.

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.

For tickets and information visit www.billyelliotbroadway.com.

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