THE BROADWAY LOCAL - Will Chase 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.

Will Chase stars in BILLY ELLIOT in the role of ‘Tony,' Billy's older brother. Chase began performances on Tuesday, July 7th, 2009.

The New York stage 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.

Les Miserables in 1987. Blown away. Also blown away by my mullet and shiny grey suit.

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

RENT...1998...replaced Jim Poulos (as squeegee man)...right place, right time.

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

8th Avenue between 53 and 41st because I get to see friends in passing I wouldn't see otherwise.

What's your favorite New York City restaurant?

The lady and I love Dos Caminos. Great tequila menu and the food is devastatingly good.

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

Depends on the show, but a protein shake with two shots of espresso usually does the trick. Post show....Wings!

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

Now that I live in "upstate" Manhattan, its all about the A-train. Other than that its shoe leather, I love to walk.

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

My buddy Charlie Pollock says "Piece of Chicken"....I guess I have to try it.

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

Firefighters. It seems they are all somehow born for that life and born to do it here.

What is your favorite "New York" Song?

Rogers and Hart's "Manhattan". It's a great love song to old New York that I imagine was just about the most charming and wonderful place in the world.

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

My phone/ipod.

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

Always finding a new favorite part of town. But, Metallica's "Fuel" is pretty exciting wherever I go.

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

First day living in New York I was standing outside the Equity Building and a pigeon pooped on my shoulder. "Welcome to New York."

Will Chase's theatrical credits include, Broadway: The Story of My Life, Rent, High Fidelity, Lennon, Aida, The Full Monty, and Miss Saigon. Off-Broadway: The Burnt Part Boys (Vineyard Theater). Regional: Kiss of the Spider Woman (Signature Theatre--Helen Hayes Nomination), Oklahoma! (Oklahoma Lyric), The Pajama Game (St. Louis MUNY), Andrew Lippa's A Little Princess (TheaterWorks). Film and Television: Four Single Fathers, Rent: Filmed Live On Broadway, Everyday People, Shaft, "Cupid", "Rescue Me", "Law and Order: Criminal Intent", "Canterbury's Law", "Conviction", "Law and Order", "Third Watch", "Queens Supreme", "As The World Turns", "Guiding Light", "All My Children". 

The 2009 Tony Award-winning Best Musical Billy Elliot the Musical stars David Alvarez, Tommy Batchelor, Trent Kowalik and Kiril Kulish as Billy, Haydn Gwynne as Mrs. Wilkinson, Gregory Jbara as Dad, Carole Shelley as Grandma. 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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