BILLY ELLIOT Comes To The Orpheum Theatre, Begins June 27

Billy Elliot the Musical begins performances on June 27 at the Orpheum Theatre (1192 Market Street at 8th). This multi-award winning smash hit musical concludes the 2010-2011 SHN Broadway series under the direction of Carole Shorenstein Hays. Based on the international smash-hit film and featuring music by Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall, choreography by Peter Darling and direction by Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot the Musical has earned critical acclaim on Broadway including 10 Tony Awards.

Billy Elliot the Musical is the joyous celebration of one boy's journey to make his dreams come true. Set in a small town, the story follows Billy as he stumbles out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class, discovering a surprising talent that inspires his family and his whole community and changes his life forever.

Casting for the San Francisco engagement of Billy Elliot the Musical features Tony Award-winner Faith Prince starring as Mrs. Wilkinson along with five boys Ethan Fuller, Kylend Hetherington, Lex Ishimoto, Daniel Russell and J.P. Viernes alternating the role of ‘Billy.'
Also featured are Rich Hebert (Dad); Patti Perkins (Grandma); Jeff Kready (Tony); Joel Blum (George); Griffin Birney and Jacob Zelonky (Michael); and Rachel Mracna (Debbie).
Ben Brantley of the New York Times says that Billy Elliot "Sends audiences into a mass swoon!" Time Out says it's "The most electric and passionate show in years." The Daily News calls Billy "So exhilarating that you feel like leaping!" Liz Smith calls the show "Absolutely awesome," The New York Observer raves that Billy is "The best thing to happen to Broadway in a long while," and WOR's Dave Richardson cheers, "All I can say is WOW!
The show is produced by Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Jon Finn and Sally Greene. Angela Morrison and David Furnish are Executive Producers. The production features scenic design by Ian MacNeil, the associate director is Julian Webber, costume design by Nicky Gillibrand, lighting design by Rick Fisher and sound design by Paul Arditti. Musical supervision and orchestrations are by Martin Koch.
The production has been awarded 73 national and international awards including ten Tony Awards, Best Musical by the New York Drama Critics Circle, Drama Desk, Drama League and Outer Critics Circle.

TICKET INFORMATION:
Tickets for Billy Elliot the Musical start at $35 and are on sale now at http://shnsf.com/shows/billyelliot or by calling 888 SHN 1799 (888 746 1799).
For current box hours please visit http://shnsf.com/tickets/boxoffice.
Groups of 15 or more call Group Sales at 888 SHN 1799 or visit http://shnsf.com/groupsales.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE (June 27 - September 17):
Tuesday - Saturday at 8 PM
Saturday & Sunday at 2 PM
Select Wednesdays at 2 PM
Select Sundays at 7:30 PM
ADDED PERF: Monday, June 27 at 8 PM
NO PERF: Sunday, July 3

Cast Biographies

Faith Prince (Mrs. Wilkinson) has won the Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for her performance as Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls. In 2008, she was nominated for Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for A Catered Affair. Other Broadway credits include The Little Mermaid, Bells Are Ringing (Tony, DD, OCC noms), Nick & Nora (OCC Award), Jerome Robbins' Broadway (Tony, DD noms), Little Me, The Dead, Noises Off. She also starred in the world premiere of Terrence McNally's Unusual Acts of Devotion. TV: Guest starred on Lifetime's Drop Dead Diva, Ugly Betty, Medium and CSI. She was a series regular on Showtime's Huff starring as "Kelly Knippers." Prince had a recurring role for five seasons on Spin City. Other credits include the self-titled series "Faith," "Sweet Potato Queens," "Grey's Anatomy," "House," "Monk," "Now and Again" "Welcome To New York" and "Law and Order." Film: Our Very Own with Allison Janney and Cheryl Hines, Picture Perfect, Dave, and My Father the Hero. She recently starred in the concert version of Sweeney Todd with the Orlando Philharmonic. Faith's new CD, Total Faith, has an upcoming release and her CD A Leap Of Faith is available on DRG records.

ETHAN FULLER (Billy), 13, is from Indialantic, FL. A longtime student of New Dimensions Dance, he is trained in ballet, jazz, and contemporary. Awards: Showbiz Talent, Youth America Grand Prix; youngest dancer in Complexions Contemporary Ballet's summer intensive under directors Desmond Richardson and Dwight Rhoden. Studies with Patel Conservatory Youth Ballet. Special thanks to God, family, Mr. Dawhone Perry, and Ms. Christina Johnson.

KYLEND HETHERINGTON (Billy), 13, hails from Auburn, Michigan, and most recently played ‘Michael' and ‘Tall Boy' in the Broadway production. Later he studied ballet with Giuseppe Canale and Scott Heinrich and tap with Bruce Bradley. In 2009, he participated in the ABT Young Dancer Summer Workshop under full scholarship.

LEX ISHIMOTO (Billy), 13, is from Irvine, California, and has performed in many nationally ranked dance competitions both solo as part of his street dance hip-hop group Kreative Movement. His specialties are hip-hop, tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical and contemporary dance and has studied at the West Coast School of the Arts in Costa Mesa. Ishimoto was named Mr. Showbiz (California West Coast), national rank of top 10 Showstoppers, with his group winning first overall. He is the recipient of many dance scholarships.

DANIEL RUSSELL (Billy), 15, is from New South Wales in Australia and performed the role of ‘Billy' in Melbourne, Australia. Russell has also performed as Oliver (Oliver), Annie Get Your
Gun (Little Jake), Joseph... and Alice in Wonderland. He was awarded 2nd place for the Isobel Anderson Awards for Intermediate Foundation Classical Ballet (RAD) and has won numerous prizes and scholarships with tap, ballet and modern dance in Eisteddfods. Russell also starred in the music video "World Keeps Turning" by Jetty Road.

J.P. VIERNES (Billy), 15, a native of the Bay Area is from Half Moon Bay, CA. National Tour: Billy Elliot (Chicago/Toronto). Regional: South Pacific (Coastal Rep). JP began dancing at age seven with Shely Pack Dancers and danced two years with City Ballet SF. Recipient: CHRP JUBA award for Billy Elliot.

RICH HEBERT (Dad) returns to the stage after 4 years of living the "civilian life" of a theater instructor at Bridgewater State University. Hebert was last seen as Commander Khashoggi in the Las Vegas production of We Will Rock You. Broadway and National tours include, the original Broadway companies of The Life, Sunset Boulevard, Les Misérables (Bay Area Critics Award), Cats, Saturday Night Fever, and Rock and Roll the First 5000 Years. He starred as Manuel in MTC's Captains Courageous, Zoser in Elton John's Elaborate Lives in Atlanta, and Warbucks in Papermill Playhouse's Annie. TV credits include: "Brotherhood," "Law and Order SVU," "NYPD Blue," "The Sopranos," "Deadline," "Line of Fire," "The Oldest Rookie," "21 Jump Street" and numerous soap operas. Rich is a graduate of Boston University.

Patti Perkins (Grandma) Broadway: Billy Elliot,The Full Monty, Shakespeare's Cabaret(Tony nominated for Best Score), All Over Town( directed by Dustin Hoffman). Lincoln Center: A Man of No Importance. Off-Broadway venues include The Vineyard Theater, Manhattan Theater Club, The Mint Theater. Regional theaters include The Old Globe, The Guthrie, The Kennedy Center, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Goodspeed Opera House.

JEFF KREADY (Tony) Comes directly from playing Tony in the Broadway production of Billy Elliot, where he was also an original cast member. Other original Broadway companies: Sunday in the Park with George revival, Les Misérables revival (Jean Valjean u/s). He is a Washburn University grad and onetime Kansas music teacher.

Joel Blum (George) is a two-time Tony nominee in the best supporting actor category for the Prince/Stroman Show Boat and for Steel Pier. Other Broadway includes 42nd Street (Original cast), Music Man, A Christmas Carol, Elaine May's After the Night and the Music, and Stardust. He recently played multiple roles in 101 Dalmatians the Musical, at Madison Square Garden. Joel has toured extensively in: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Doctor Doolittle starring Tommy Tune, (which he co-choreographed with Patti Colombo), ...and the World Goes 'Round, The Debbie Reynolds show, to mention a few. He received a Barrymore award for best supporting actor in Tin Pan Alley Rag, was nominated in the same category for a Helen Hayes award for his work in Meet John Doe at the Fords theater in Washington, D C. Joel has appeared on "Law and Order" twice, "Ed", the "Sopranos", Danced on the "Sonny and Cher Show", two Bob Hope Specials, and the "Tonight Show" Starring Johnny Carson. He has co-written and stars in his one man show about Bob Hope entitled: Hope Eternal.

Griffin Birney (Michael), 11, hails from Branford, Connecticut, and last performed at the Goodspeed Opera House in Annie Get Your Gun (Little Jake). Birney studies at the Encore Academy of Dance in Connecticut.

Jacob Zelonky (Michael), 12, is from Memphis, Tenn., and has performed in Seussical (JoJo), Narnia (Edmund), and A Christmas Carol the Musical (Tiny Tim).

Rachel Mracna (Debbie), 13, is from Pittsburgh, Penn., and recently performed in Oliver, Joseph..., Les Misérables (Young Cosette).

Additional information about Billy Elliot the Musical is available at www.BillyElliotTour.com.

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