Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions in association with Weinstein Live Entertainment - have announced today that there are some new additions to the Toronto cast of BILLY ELLIOT, now in its fifth month at the Canon Theatre. Over the coming weeks, five Canadian actors will join the cast, three in major roles.
New in the role of Billy will be Julian Elia, a 12-year-old dancer from Markham, Ontario. Julian joins fellow Canadians Myles Erlick, of Burlington, and TY FORHAN, of Newmarket, as the third Canadian among the four boys who alternate the title role.
In the role of Billy's dad will be David Keeley, one of Canada's finest musical theatre actors who starred as the "rocked-out hippie" Dennis Dupree in last season's Rock of Ages at the Royal Alexandra Theatre and also starred as Sam Carmichael in Mamma Mia! at the same venue (a role he repeated in the show's Broadway premiere). David's is a well-known face on Canadian stages, with credits ranging from the North American premiere of Brad Fraser's True Love Lies to numerous seasons at the Stratford Festival - where he was seen in Hamlet, Richard III, Oklahoma, Fuente Ovejuna and Trojan Women - to Tuesdays With Morrie, with Jamie Farr, and his Dora Award-winning performance as Officer Lockstock in Urinetown. David's television roles include guest-starring appearances in XIII, Rookie Blue, Mud Pit, Lost Girl, Turn The Beat Around, At Risk, Hotel, Due South and Code Name Eternity.
New in the role of TONY, Billy's older brother, will be Jake Epstein. A graduate of The National Theatre School of Canada, Jake is probably best known for starring on television in Degrassi: The Next Generation (Gemini Award) and on stage in Spring Awakening (U.S. National Tour). Other theatre credits include Dani Girl (World Premiere, Talk Is Free Theatre), Beauty And The Beast and Cinderella (Ross Petty Productions), Dog Sees God (Rubinoff Productions), Dangerous Liaisons (Segal Centre) and Oliver! (Mirvish Productions). His Film/TV credits also include Jesus Henry Christ (with Toni Collette), Living In Your Car (HBO), My Babysitter's A Vampire (Teletoon), Being Erica (CBC), Charlie Bartlett (with Robert Downey Jr.) and The Zack Files (YTV).
BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL began performances in Toronto on February 1, 2011 and officially opened on March 1. From the very first performance, Toronto audiences have embraced this show, lavishing the performers with standing ovations at every single curtain call (and standing ovations at certain points in the middle of the show, as well).
The critics have been equally enthusiastic about the production.
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