Billy Elliot The Musical
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BROADWAY BILLYS ANNOUNCED!
April 2008
Director Stephen Daldry, composer Elton John and executive producer David Furnish flew to New York on Tuesday 22nd April for the press launch of the Broadway production of Billy Elliot the Musical. Montreal-born 13 year old David Alvarez, 13 year old Trent Kowalik from New York and 14 year old Kiril Kulish from San Diego, were announced as the three boys who are to play Billy when it opens at the Imperial Theatre on 13 November, previewing from 1 October.
The three boys were chosen after a year-long national talent search that drew over 1500 hopefuls from all over the country. Auditions were held in 8 cities, all of the final three boys cast were first spotted at open calls (David and Trent in New York, Kiril in LA). They, along with twelve other finalists, underwent a gruelling eight day callback last summer in New York City working extensively with director Stephen Daldry and choreographer Peter Darling.
DAVID ALVAREZ, 13, was born in Montreal and lives in New York City. He began dancing when he was 8 and is in his second year on scholarship with ABT, appearing with them in productions at the Metropolitan Opera House and The Kennedy Center. Also training in classical piano, David was chosen one of this year’s “Top 10 Ballet Teens to Watch” by Dance Sprit magazine.
TRENT KOWALIK, 13, is from Wantagh, New York. He started dance lessons at age 3½ at Dorothy's School of Dance in Bellmore, NY and in April 2006, he became the youngest American male ever to win The World Irish Dancing Championship in Belfast, Northern Ireland. In December 2007 Trent began playing the title role in the London production of Billy Elliot.
KIRIL KULISH, 14, is from San Diego and began dancing at age 5. The youngest member ever admitted to the San Diego Academy of Ballet’s junior company, Kiril has performed with them for eight years. Equally accomplished in classical piano and Latin and ballroom dancing, he has won numerous awards in all the disciplines.
Broadway will host the third production of Billy Elliot the Musical to open world-wide, following highly successful shows at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London, which opened in May 2005 and at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney, Australia in December 2007, both still continuing to delight audiences night after night.