Casting is complete for the Signature Theatre's upcoming production of the Tony-winning Billy Elliot the Musical, which will begin performances in Arlington, Virginia, October 30 in the MAX Theatre.
Directed and choreographed by Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner, the Elton John-Lee Hall musical will continue through January 6, 2019.
Liam Redford and Owen Tabaka will alternate in the title role with Nancy Anderson (Sunset Boulevard) as Mrs. Wilkinson, Jacob Thomas Anderson (Matilda The Musical national tour) as Michael Caffrey, Catherine Flye (Shakespeare Theatre’s Secret Garden) as Grandma, Chris Genebach (Olney’s The Crucible) as Jackie Elliot, Dan Manning (Signature’s Silver Belles) as George, Grant Richards (National Yiddish Theatre’s Fiddler on the Roof) as Adult Billy, Sean Watkinson (Signature’s Miss Saigon) as Tony Elliot, Eileen Ward (Olney’s Mary Poppins) as Mum, and Olivia McMahon (Olney’s Annie) and Vivian Poe (Imagination Stage’s Beauty and the Beast) alternating in the role of Debbie Wilkerson.
The adult ensemble is rounded out by Kurt Boehm, Jamie Eacker, Sean Fri, Daniel S. Hines, Vincent Kempski, Solomon Parker III, Harrison Smith, Kedren Spencer, and Stephawn P. Stephens with swings Calvin Malone, Emily Madden, Jane Petkofsky, and Daniel Powers.
The children's ensemble, which alternates performances, includes Franco Cabanas, Sofia A. Cruz, Annie Dodson, Declan Fennell, Malcolm Fuller, Anya Katherine Jones, Harrison MacInnis, Molly Rose Meredith, Dulcie Pham, Noelle Robinson, Sissy Sheridan, Simone Straub-Clark, Maya Stumpf, and Simone Warren.
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“You probably know Billy Elliot as the story of a working-class boy who wants to dance, but it is about far more than that,” said director-choreographer Gardiner in a statement. “It’s a show about people who feel like their voices aren’t being heard. It’s as much about the young boy who wants to break out through dance as it is about the community around him that feels forgotten. It’s the juxtaposition of the childhood dream against the reality of the world around him, that makes Lee Hall and Elton John’s musical so moving and joyous. I’m thrilled to direct and choreograph this company of actors and to work together to bring Billy’s story to life.”
The production will also have music direction by Tom Vendafreddo, angry dance tap choreography by Mark Orsborn, associate choreography by Kelly Crandall d’Amboise, scenic design by Jason Sherwood, lighting design by Amanda Zieve, costume design by Kathleen Geldard, sound design by Ryan Hickey, wig design by Anne Nesmith, assistant direction and dialect coaching by Rex Daugherty, fight choreography by Casey Kaleba, and assistant choreography by Dani Ebbin.
The creative team also includes production stage manager Kerry Epstein, assistant stage manager Madison Bahr, and production assistant Joey Blakely, with D.C. casting by Kelly Crandall d’Amboise and New York casting by Laura Stanczyk CSA.
