Last night we has the pleasure of seeing Billy Elliot at the Benedum Center. And I have to tell you one thing....
YOU MUST SEE THIS! Go now and purchase tickets!
I sat there and laughed hysterically and cried quietly and was on the edge of my seat the entire time.
It was such a commentary on the state of affairs of the day. The miner's strike and how that ripped apart families and friends just trying to earn a living and do what is right for their families.
During the deepest darkest parts of this life THAT might be your chance to step up and make something happen. Regardless of the pain an entire nation may be feeling, life still happens... dreams are still realized and hearts are still broken. It happens in the smallness and the bigness of it all.
I was absolutely in awe of the cast. They moved as one so effortlessly. Switching from scene to scene so seamlessly. You would blink and although you were watching the whole time the stage would be transformed right before your eyes and you didn't even notice!
And the young man who played Billy, Ty Forhan, was breathtaking! You can see his passion for dance. It exudes from his pores. He shines! And the amount of dances and the different types...tap, ballet, modern...just incredible how one kid made you feel what his character was feeling. Such depth so far beyond his years!
The grandma had me in stitches! And the dad had me enraged and then in love with his spirit. His teacher was so well played. You could see her heart open right on stage and yet never break from who she was at her core.
I will tell you if you do not know that this is a play for the older crowd. You do not want to take any kid who has not been told how there are grown-up words and kid words and how to use them appropriately. You will have a lot of explaining to do.
It was rich and beautiful and you owe it to yourself to catch this one!
You can download "Shine" FREE --- from the Billy Elliot score as well as 16 other Broadway Hits courtesy of Pittsburgh Cultural Trust HERE. Use Passcode
PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh presents Billy Elliot the Musical
January 31 through February 12, 2012, Benedum Center
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh announce that NETworks Presentations, LLC will bring the multi-award-winning Billy Elliot the Musical to Pittsburgh’s Benedum Center from January 31 through February 12, 2012. 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 features Ty Forhan, Kylend Hetherington, Zach Manske and J.P. Viernes in the role of ‘Billy.’
Also featured are Leah Hocking (Mrs. Wilkinson); Rich Hebert (Dad); Cynthia Darlow (Grandma); Cullen Titmas (Tony); Joel Blum (George); Ben Cook and Jacob Zelonky (Michael); and Samantha Blaire Cutler (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.” WOR’s Dave Richardson cheers, “All I can say is WOW!”
The production features original direction by Stephen Daldry, choreography by Peter Darling, scenic design by Ian MacNeil, associate direction by 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. Touring production direction is by Justin Martin and choreography by Kathryn Dunn. The show was originally produced by Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions.
The production has been awarded 81 national and international awards including ten Tony Awards, and Best Musical by the New York Drama Critics Circle, Drama Desk, Drama League and Outer Critics Circle.
Additional information about Billy Elliot the Musical is available at www.BillyElliotTour.com.
Billy Elliot the Musical performance dates and times are Tuesday, January 31, 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, February 1, 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, February 2, 7:30 p.m.; Friday, February 3, 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, February 4, 2:00 and 8:00 p.m.; Sunday, February 5, 1:00 and 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday, February 7, 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, February 8, 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, February 9, 7:30 p.m.; Friday, February 10, 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, February 11, 2:00 and 8:00 p.m.; Sunday, February 12, 1:00 and 6:30 p.m.
Tickets ($22-$79) are now on sale for all performances at the Box Office at Theater Square, 655 Penn Avenue, by phone at (412) 456-6666 or online at www.TrustArts.org. For group ticket sales (15 or more), please call 412-471-6930. PNC Broadway Across America - Pittsburgh series is a presentation of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh Symphony and Broadway Across America.
