Billy Elliot – The Musical Live at Orcas Center

March 15-18 and 22-25, 7:30 p.m., Orcas Center

— from Susannah Weaver for Orcas Center —

The Orcas Center is proud to present Billy Elliot – The Musical beginning on March 15. The award winning show comes to life on Center Stage with an all-island cast directed by Robert Hall. Bring the whole family for this heartwarming musical – it is sure to be a smash. Billy Elliot will run for eight performances, March 15-18 and 22-25, 7:30 p.m., with two Sunday Matinees at 2 p.m. at Orcas Center.

Billy Elliot – The Musical, a musical based on the 2000 film Billy Elliot. The music is by Elton John and the book and lyrics are by Lee Hall. This musical premiered at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London’s West End in 2005 and was nominated for nine Laurence Olivier Awards, winning four, including Best New Musical. The production ran through April 2016. Its success led to productions in Australia, on Broadway and elsewhere. In New York, it won ten Tony Awards and ten Drama Desk Awards, including, in each case, Best Musical. It has also won numerous awards in Australia including a record-tying seven Helpmann Awards.

The story centers on Billy, a British motherless boy, who trades boxing gloves for ballet shoes. The story of his personal struggle and fulfillment are balanced against a counter-story of family and community. This beautiful coming of age story is set during the strife caused by the 1984–85 UK miners’ strike in County Durham, in North Eastern England. Billy Elliot is “based on these true events during the coal miners’ strike – British laborers find themselves out of work, running out of hope, bruised but definitely not beaten,” said Robert Hall. “This is an ‘actors’ musical full of tough and gritty real women, men and children from the working class upon who’s back Britain built its superpower. Out of one small community a boy, Billy Elliot, emerges who dreams to be a ballet dancer.”

Come and see Billy Elliot – The Musical opening the 15 of March and Closing March 25. Directed by Robert Hall, the show features Aristotle Luna as Billy Elliot among a cast of over 60 islanders, with choreography by Anthony The Dancer and Tiffany Loney and Martin Lund, as musical director. Hall says that “the production has taken on a life of its own,” driven by incredible choreography, live music and a strong ensemble.

The musical will run for eight performances with two Sunday Matinees. Friday March 16 there are a limited number of ‘Dinner and A Show’ tickets available featuring Matia Dinner Series, Doe Bay Wine CO and Orcas Events in the Madrona Room. We hope you will join us for the reception following the Opening Night production March 15. Get your tickets now—bring the whole family for an unforgettable night at the theatre.

Tickets for Billy Elliot – The Musical are $19, $15 for students, $2 off for Orcas Center members, $75 ‘Dinner and a Show’ ticket March 16 ONLY, and may be purchased now at www.orcascenter.org or by calling 376-2281 ext. 1 or visiting the Orcas Center Box Office open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 12-3 p.m. $5 subsidized tickets available at the Box Office. For more information about Orcas Center’s 2017 season visit www.orcascenter.org.