Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title and Old Vic Productions announced that David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik and Kiril Kulish will create the title role in the multi-award winning Billy Elliot the Musical opening at Broadway’s Imperial Theatre (240 W 45th St) Thursday, November 13th. Featuring music by Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall and directed by Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot the Musical begins previews Wednesday, October 1st. Tickets will go on-sale to American Express card-holders Wednesday, April 23rd; the general public on-sale is Sunday, June 15th. For tickets and information visit.

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.

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 and all three of the Broadway Billys were first spotted at open calls (David and Trent in New York, Kiril in LA). They, along with twelve other finalists, underwent a grueling eight day callback last summer in New York City during which director Daldry and choreographer Darling worked with them extensively.

The part of Billy Elliot is unlike any other in the history of musical theatre, requiring a remarkable range of talents: ballet, tap, street dance, singing, acting, dialect and gymnastics. Further, the role is the largest child's role in musical theatre and one of the largest roles of any age. The young actor playing it is on-stage for 2 ½ hours performing six musical numbers; it is the role’s sheer size and the stamina required that necessitates this unique triple-casting.

Billy Elliot the Musical is the funny, heartwarming tale of a young boy with a dream, and a celebration of his triumph against the odds. Set against the historic British miners’ strike of the 1980s, the story follows Billy’s journey as a boy in a small mining town who, after stumbling across a ballet class while on his way to a boxing lesson, realizes that his future lay not in the boxing ring but on stage as a dancer.

Billy Elliot the Musical, based on the beloved 2000 film which garnered three Academy Award and 13 BAFTA nominations, opened at London’s Victoria Palace in May 2005 to unanimous critical acclaim. The Mail on Sunday wrote, “Truly electrifying…this heart-stopping show is a must-see.” The Sunday Express raved, “ Pure magic.” And The Daily Telegraph proclaimed it simply, “The greatest British musical I have ever seen.” The production went on to sweep London’s nine awards for Best Musical, including the Olivier, Evening Standard and Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards. It has played nearly 1,300 performances and celebrates its 3rd anniversary May 12th.

Billy Elliot the Musical next opened to equal acclaim at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney, Australia in December 2007. The Australian wrote, “Billy Elliot should come with a warning: abandon cynicism all ye who enter. Open your heart, get out the tissues and surrender.” The Sydney Morning Herald raved, “Joyously entertaining, Billy Elliot bursts into starry-eyed showbiz magic … A rapturous pinnacle of self-expression and fulfilment.” The Sunday Telegraph called it, “Bloody brilliant! Funny, exuberantly rude and heartbreakingly moving.”

Billy Elliot has now played to over 2 million people worldwide.

Billy Elliot the Musical features choreography by Peter Darling, scenic design by Ian MacNeil, costume design by Nicky Gillibrand, lighting design by Rick Fisher and sound design by Paul Arditti. Musical supervision and orchestrations are by Martin Koch.

Billy Elliot the Musical is produced by Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Jon Finn and Sally Greene. Angela Morrison and David Furnish are Executive Producers.