TONYS 2009 Q and A: Best Performance by A Featured Actor In A Musical Nominee - David Bologna

David Bologna is enchanting Broadway audiences as "Michael" in the smash hit musical Billy Elliot. His delightful performance has earned him a 2009 Tony Award Best Performance by A Featured Actor In A Musical

Bologna is a native New Orleanian. David moved to Austin, TX in the fall of 2005 after being affected by Hurricane Katrina.

David began his acting career at the age of 6 and has performed in 28 productions in New Orleans and Austin. David is a two-time Big Easy Award winner for Best Performance by a Child for his roles in The Music Man (Winthrop Paroo) and Oliver (Oliver).

David is a world class Irish Dancer, where he has captured back to back North American Irish Dance Championships. He has also placed as high as 5th in the World Irish Dance Championships.

We spoke to the young star about being nominated, his heart swelling take on the role and the magic of Billy Elliot's timeless message of being yourself!

BWW: Tell us how you found out about being nominated again, we know it was a crazy morning for you!

David Bologna: I was so excited, I was in Times Square to watch it on the big screen and they had technical difficulties and my dad called us and said we got a nomination! It was a weird way to find out. I did not expect it at all! My mom was yelling in the middle of Times Square and I was like, ‘C'mon Shhh!' My dad was crying, my mom was screaming, and then I went to school! Hah!

BWW: What was it like back at the theatre after that stunning number of nominations that Billy Elliot received?

DB: The theatre was crazy, it was hard for everyone to focus on the show with 15 nominations, but we still have to do what we do. It was good to kind of have everyone together, we had a toast after the show, it's a lot of fun. We have been so lucky, from the very start we have been so embraced.

BWW: How did you come about being part of the production?

DB: I auditioned. Lots of kids were at the final auditions, but for the callback, there was only twelve of us. It was neat because they tried to make it feel as relaxed as possible, and it felt so great. Being in the show is an incredible feeling. I'm just so happy to be a part of it all.

BWW: And a Tony nomination for your hard work, not too shabby! 

DB: Success at a young age is crazy, I never thought I would be here at this age. My Broadway debut at 14, nevermind a Tony nomination, wow, never thought that this would happen, so it's a really cool experience and i'm really excited!

BWW: Your performance is touching a cord, the entire production has such a wonderful energy, Billy's story is inspirational.

DB: It's a really, really fun role to play. I see Michael as a crazy guy, who isn't afraid to be himself, that is so fun to express, to play, I'm so glad people like it! I love that they appreciate my work.

Billy Elliot, about a coal-miner's son with a passion for ballet, earned 15 nominations for the Tony Awards, tying a record set in 2001 by the comedy The Producers, which went on to win in 12 categories.

A hit in London and one of the most highly anticipated shows of the season, Billy Elliot officially opened at Broadway's Imperial Theatre on Thursday, November 13th, 2008.

This joyful musical lights up Broadway eight times a week! The multi-award winning Billy Elliot the Musical features David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, Kiril Kulish, Haydn Gwynne, Gregory Jbara, Carole Shelley, and Santino Fontana.

Featuring music by Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall, choreographed by Peter Darling and directed by Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot the Musical is presented by Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions in association with Weinstein Live Entertainment, based on the Universal Pictures/Studio Canal film.

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.

Billy Elliot is currently playing at the Imperial Theatre -249 West 45th Street.

Nominations in 27 competitive categories for the American Theatre Wing's 63rd Annual Antoinette Perry "Tony"® Awards were announced on Tuesday, May 5th by Tony Award Winners Cynthia Nixon and Lin-Manuel Miranda from the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center.

The Antoinette Perry "Tony" Awards are bestowed annually on theatre professionals for distinguished achievement. The Tony is one of the most coveted awards in the entertainment industry and the annual telecast is considered one of the most prestigious programs on television.

The American Theatre Wing's 63rd Annual Antoinette Perry "Tony"® Awards will be broadcast live from Radio City Music Hall on Sunday, June 7, 2009 (8-11pm, live EST, PT time delay) on the CBS Television Network. For more information visit tonyawards.com.

Click Here to View the Full List of 2009 Tony Nominees!

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.