Today 25 July 2011, in the production's seventh year in the West End, 13 year old Adam Vesperman from Seattle, USA, will make his West End stage debut as Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace Theatre, becoming the twenty-seventh boy to play the title role in the hit west end show Billy Elliot The Musical.
Based on the Oscar nominated film, Billy Elliot the Musical is an inspirational story of one boy's dream to realise his ambitions against the odds. Set in the North East of England against the background of the historic 1984/85 miners' strike, Billy pursues his passion for dance in secret to avoid disapproval of his struggling family.
The internationally award-winning show, which opened at the Victoria Palace Theatre in 2005, has been seen by over 7 million people worldwide, including 3.3 million in the West End. Now in its seventh year in the West End, Billy Elliot the Musical, has performed in Sydney, Melbourne, Chicago and Seoul, South Korea, and is currently performing at the Imperial Theatre on Broadway, on tour across North America and at the Canon Theatre, Toronto.
Billy Elliot the Musical features music by
Elton John, book and lyrics by
Lee Hall, is directed by
Stephen Daldry with choreography by
Peter Darling. The production features scenic design by
Ian MacNeil, the associate director is
Julian Webber, costume design is by
Nicky Gillibrand, lighting design by
Rick Fisher and sound design by
Paul Arditti. Musical supervision and orchestrations are by
Martin Koch.
Adam Vesperman is thirteen years old from Seattle, Washington, in the United States. Adam lives with his Mum, Dad, his sister Delaney and two dogs, Joey and Pepsi. He started dancing when he was 7, training in jazz and hip-hop and is now trained in a variety of dance styles, including contemporary and ballet. On joining the Billy Elliot Company Adam said: "After a few auditions around America, I was the happiest boy on earth when I found out that I would be coming to London and to train to be Billy Elliot. It's so hard being 5,000 miles away from my family and friends for so long, but it's worth it. Being Billy has changed my life so much - the training, experience, and best of all the wonderful people I get to work with. I miss my family a lot, but being in the show keeps us so busy that I don't really think about it too much. I am the sixth American Billy to star in the London production and I hope that I can maintain the high quality shown by my predecessors."
Adam Vesperman joins twelve year old Ryan Collinson from Southport, Josh Baker (13 years old from Rochester), Dean Charles-Chapman (13 years old from Romford, Essex) and Scott McKenzie (13 years old from Dumbarton, Scotland) who alternate the role of Billy. Reece Barrett (12 years old from Exeter), Connor Kelly (12 years old from Scunthorpe), Connor Lawson (12 years old from Shotton, County Durham) and Joe Massey (11 years old from South Wirrell) alternate the role of Billy's best friend Michael; Francesca Mango (11 years old from Northumberland), Emily Smith (11 years old from County Durham) and Emily Williams (9 years old East Wingate, County Durham) alternate the role of Debbie. They perform alongside Genevieve Lemon (Mrs. Wilkinson), Martin Marquez (Dad), Tom Lorcan (Tony), Diane Langton (Grandma), Chris McGlade (George),
Kay Milbourne (Dead Mum), Kevin Patricks (Mr. Braithwaite),
Barnaby Meredith (Older Billy) and ensemble members Ashley Andrews,
David Bardsley,
Romy Baskerville,
Paul Basleigh,
Alan Bradshaw,
Spencer Cartwright, Caroline Deverill, Gillian Elisa,
Helen French,
Tim Funnell, Sergio Giacomelli,
Shaun Henson, Stevie Hutchinson, Stuart Ramsay,
Derek Richards and
Russell Wilcox and swings
Craig Armstrong,
Dawn Buckland, Lucinda Collins,
Kieran Jae and
Mike Scott.
Billy Elliot the Musical is presented in London by
Universal Pictures Stage Productions,
Working Title Films and
Old Vic Productions in association with
Tiger Aspect and is based on the
Universal Pictures/ Studio Canal film.
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