FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Daniel J. Boyle, General Manager & Artistic Advisor |[email protected] | 925.210.0268
CCMT TO PRESENT 10 TIME TONY AWARD WINNING BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL AT WALNUT CREEK’S LESHER CENTER FOR THE ARTS
PRODUCTION TO STAR AWARD-WINNING “JUNIOR WORLD DANCE CHAMPION” BRADEN KING IN TITLE ROLE
LIMITED ENGAGEMENT BEGINS OCTOBER 13, 2017
WALNUT CREEK, September 5, 2017 — Contra Costa Musical Theatre (CCMT) will present Elton John’s award- winning BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL (October 13 through November 11, 2017) at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts. Set in a northern England mining town during the strike of mid-1980s Britain, Billy Elliot is the award- winning story of a young boy’s struggle to overcome the burdens of responsibility in the face of a new-found passion. When 11-year old Billy discovers a local ballet class, he gives up his boxing gloves for dance shoes, and awakens a unique gift that unites his family, inspires his community, and changes his life forever. Starring in the title role is 2015 Junior World Dance Champion Braden King, who as performed the role twice previously in acclaimed productions. Billy Elliot The Musical begins performances Friday, October 13 in the Hofmann Theater at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek. The original 2009 Broadway production, featuring an original score by Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award-winner Elton John, and book and lyrics by Tony Award-winner Lee Hall, won 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Orchestrations. Press night will be held on Saturday, October 14 at 8pm. Tickets (ranging from $44-$59 with discounts for seniors, students, and groups) are available at the Lesher Center for the Arts Ticket Office, 1601 Civic Drive in Walnut Creek, by phone at 925.943.7469, or online at www.LesherArtsCenter.org. Ticket prices are subject to change without notice.
Leading a cast of more than three dozen actors / singers in the title role is 14-year old Braden King, winner of multiple dance awards, including the 2015 Junior World Dance Champion. Having played “Billy” in two previous productions to great acclaim, Braden is making his Northern California theatrical debut with CCMT. “The unique demands of the role of Billy Elliot required us to search far outside our casting circle,” says Executive Producer Wendy Wilcox. “Billy is an intense role for a young actor who not only has to have the skills of an accomplished actor and the voice of a great singer, but one who also has the years of dance training needed to perform this incredibly rigorous role. We were thrilled to find Braden, and cannot wait to introduce him to Bay Area audiences.” Braden, who lives in Virginia, is appearing with CCMT thanks to a generous grant from the Diablo Regional Arts Association.
Helming the production is frequent CCMT director, Jenny Perry (CCMT: Gypsy, A Chorus Line) who is also owner of Walnut Creek’s famed Laureen Fender’s The Ballet School, the 41-year old Main Street studio that has been the launching ground for generations of young dancers—many of whom have gone on to dance with some of the most prestigious companies in the world. “For as long as I can remember, if I wasn’t in a ballet studio, I was backstage at a theater. I was ecstatic when asked to direct Billy Elliot—it’s an opportunity to not only tell a beautiful story that combines my two greatest artistic loves, but one that celebrates the many teachers I’ve not only had in my life, and the teachers who continue to inspire young artists to pursue their talent against all odds.”
The cast of Billy Elliot include, Hannah Bachman, Deborah Black, Gianna Capozzi, Isabella Capozzi, Leah Carter, Todd Carver, Chris Contrares, Jim Cowing, Lynda DeVito*, Michael Doppe*, Ella Dunderdale, Katie Glazier, Jordan Hamessley, Aimee Hennessy, Braden King, Kevin Lechner, Amanda Leigh, Steven McCloud, Joshua McCooey, Ryan Meulpolder, Alex Moore, Abby Moran, Marty Newton, Josselyn O’Neill, Grace Perry, Vince Perry, Paul Plain, Lucy Powers, Xander Raymond, Nicholas Rodriguez, Dan Rubio, Joe Saam, Justin Sabino, Derek Sakaura, Kailee Sanderson, Yelena Shaterian, and Mike Versoza. Musical direction will be overseen by Eryn Allen, and the production is executive produced by Wendy Wilcox and Michael Demers.
About Contra Costa Musical Theatre: Based in Walnut Creek, Contra Costa Musical Theatre has a fifty-seven-year history of producing dynamic musical productions and providing a home to both local and national talent. Winner of more Shellie Awards for musicals than any other regional company, CCMT moved to the Lesher Center for the Arts in 1990, and has produced more than 50 full-scale musical productions, including the East Bay Premieres of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Urinetown, the Musical, The Full Monty, RENT, Titanic, the Musical, Hairspray, Sunset Boulevard, Tarzan and Les Miserables.
* appear as Guest Artists courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association
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FACT SHEET FOR BILLY ELLIOT, THE MUSICAL
WHAT: Set in a northern England mining town during the strike of mid-1980s Britain, Billy Elliot is the award-winning story of a young boy’s struggle to overcome the burdens of responsibility in the face of a new-found passion. When 11- year old Billy discovers a local ballet class, he gives up his boxing gloves for dance shoes, and awakens a unique gift that unites his family, inspires his community, and changes his life forever.
WHO: Music by Elton John Book and Lyrics by Lee Hall Directed by Jenny Perry
CAST (in alphabetical order): Hannah Bachman, Deborah Black, Gianna Capozzi, Isabella Capozzi, Leah Carter, Todd Carver, Chris Contrares, Jim Cowing, Lynda DeVito*, Michael Doppe*, Ella Dunderdale, Katie Glazier, Jordan Hamessley, Aimee Hennessy, Braden King, Kevin Lechner, Amanda Leigh, Steven McCloud, Joshua McCooey, Ryan Meulpolder, Alex Moore, Abby Moran, Marty Newton, Josselyn O’Neill, Grace Perry, Vince Perry, Paul Plain, Lucy Powers, Xander Raymond, Nicholas Rodriguez, Dan Rubio, Joe Saam, Justin Sabino, Derek Sakaura, Kailee Sanderson, Yelena Shaterian, and Mike Versoza.
* appear as Guest Artists courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association CREATIVE TEAM: Jennifer Perry (Director / Choreography), Eryn Allen (Musical Direction), Kelly James Tighe (Set Designer), XXX (Costume Designer), XXX (Wig Designer), XXX (Lighting Designer), and XXX (Sound Designer).
WHERE: Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek, CA
WHEN: October 13-November 11, 2017 Press Night: Saturday October 14, 2017
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE: Thursdays–Saturdays at 8 p.m. Select Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m.
TICKETS: $44–$59, including special pricing for seniors and students. Please note, ticket prices are subject to change without notice
TIX & INFO: 925.943.7469 |www.ccmt.org
PRESS: Daniel J. Boyle, General Manager & Artistic Advisor |[email protected] | 925.210.0268