Billy Elliot: Emily Skinner to play Mrs. Wilkinson
Tony Award-nominee Emily Skinner (Side Show) will join the cast of the 10-time Tony Award-winning Billy Elliot - The Musical in the role of 'Mrs. Wilkinson' from 2 Oct 2010. Skinner assumes the role from Kate Hennig who plays her final performance on 1 Oct 2010.
Skinner was nominated for a Best Actress TONY Award for her role as 'Daisy Hilton' in the musical 'Side Show. ' Other Broadway credits include the original casts of 'Jekyll & Hyde,' 'James Joyce's The Dead' (with Christopher Walken), 'The Full Monty' and 'Dinner at Eight.'
Billy Elliot - The Musical opened at the Imperial Theatre on 13 Nov 2008, following previews from 1 Oct, where it is currently selling tickets through to 4 Sep 2011.
The show opened to excellent reviews: "everything about this production is remarkable." (newyorktheatreguide.com); "enduring appeal" (NY Times); "irresistible new show " (NY Daily News); "head and toe-shoes above every other show this season" (NY Post); "as seriously thrilling as it is deeply lovable" (NewsDay); "Tough, intelligent, exuberant, electric, politically savvy, and fun" (Back Stage)
Set in England's North East against the background of the miners' strike - Billy Elliot is the tale of a motherless boy whose father wants him to take up boxing. Instead, the boy discovers a love for ballet that leads him from secret lessons to a place at the Royal Ballet School.
Billy Elliot - The Musical currently features Jacob Clemente, Mike Dameski, Alex Ko, Liam Redhead and Dayton Tavares who alternate the role of 'Billy.' Kate Hennig (Mrs. Wilkinson), Gregory Jbara (Dad), Carole Shelley (Grandma), Will Chase (Tony) and, Neil McCaffrey and Gabriel Rush who alternate the role of Billy's friend 'Michael.'
Billy Elliot is created by the same team that made the multi-Oscar-nominated film: writer Lee Hall, director Stephen Daldry, and choreographer Peter Darling. The musical's score is by Elton John, who also composed the music for 'The Lion King,' 'Aida' and 'Lestat.'
Billy Elliot - The Musical was a London hit when it opened at the Victoria Palace Theatre on 11 May 2005 and has been a box office hit ever since.
The London production won Three Olivier Awards: Best New Musical, Best Actor and Choreographer. It also won the Evening Standard Award for Best Musical. A production of the show opened in sydney in Dec 2007.
The Broadway production features the same creative team as the London production: Ian MacNeil (sets), Nicky Gillibrand (costumes), Rick Fisher (lighting) and Paul Arditti (sound).
The musical is produced on Broadway by Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions in association with Weinstein Live Entertainment.
Emily SkinnerOriginally published on