Photo Flash: BILLY ELLIOT Dance Into Des Moines Playhouse

The Des Moines Community Playhouse opens its 100th season with its production of the Tony Award winner Billy Elliot The Musical, Oct. 5-28, 2018. Tickets may be purchased online at dmplayhouse.com, by phone at 515-277-6261, or at the Playhouse ticket office, 831 42nd St. Billy Elliot The Musical is sponsored by MidAmerican Energy Company.

Set in a northern English mining town, against the background of the 1984 miners' strike, Billy Elliot The Musical is the inspirational story of a young boy's struggle against the odds to make his dream come true. Based on the 2000 film Billy Elliot, while his widowed father (Micheal Davenport) and older brother (Nic Lovan) strike with the miners, Billy (shared role played by Asher Ekhardt and Uzay Hasanusta) secretly finds a passion for dance with the brassy local dance teacher (Rachel Meyer) and ballerinas. As Billy's world becomes overwhelmingly violent, Billy hopes to escape, dreaming of becoming a professional dancer at the Royal Ballet School. While Billy's loving grandmother (Mary Bricker) encourages his dancing, Billy's overprotective father and the world's insensitivity to a situation where a poor boy can make it into a prestigious dance school may stop Billy from achieving his dream.

The Playhouse cast includes Grace Aerisolphal, Kelsie Anderson, Isabelle Baker, Heidi Bibler, Mary Bricker, Micheal Davenport, Madeline Davis, Will Donaghy, Katie Dorrell, Asher Ekhardt, Abigail Galloway, Michael Garrison, Darren J. Grote, Uzay Hasanusta, Hanna Hayes, Hallie Henely, Ryan Henzi, Will C. Johnson, Jenner Lathrop, Nic Lovan, Tatum Lowell, Rachel Meyer, Brady Meyers, Mark Morrison, Sean Nelsen, Mitchell Nieland, Greta Paulsen, Caroline Penick, Ethan Saltz, Addie Van Dyke, and Nicholas Wharff. Billy Elliot The Musical is directed by John W. Viars with music direction by Brenton Brown and choreography by Megan Helmers.

Thirty minutes prior to each performance in the west lobby, a member of the artistic team will share insights into the musical and the Playhouse production. This behind-the-scenes preshow talk, sponsored by Mercedes-Benz of Des Moines, is free and open to the public.

The Playhouse is one of the oldest and largest community theatres in the US. Located at the 42nd Street exit of I-235, the theatre has presented a full season of shows since 1919 and also offers a wide variety of educational experiences including classes for ages 4 to adult, theatre trips to New York, and volunteer opportunities onstage and backstage.

For more information about the Playhouse and Billy Elliot The Musical, contact the Playhouse ticket office at 515-277-6261.

Photo Credit: Brent Isenberger.