Emily Skinner joins Chicago cast of 'Billy Elliot'
Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions in association with Weinstein Live Entertainment announced today that Tony Nominee Emily Skinner will play ‘Mrs. Wilkinson' in the Chicago production of the 2009 Tony Award-winning Best Musical Billy Elliot the Musical.
The downtown Theatre District will be filled with activity surrounding Billy Elliot in the coming weeks with rehearsals beginning January 11 in Chicago and the production moving into the Ford Center/Oriental Theatre. Billy Elliot will begin preview performances March 18, 2010. Opening night is Sunday, April 11, 2010.
Rotating in the title role of ‘Billy' are Tommy Batchelor, Giuseppe Bausilio, Cesar Corrales and John Peter (J.P.) Viernes. Starring in Billy Elliot are Tony Nominee Emily Skinner (Mrs. Wilkinson), Armand Schultz (Dad), Cynthia Darlow (Grandma), Chicagoan Patrick Mulvey (Tony), Keean Johnson and Gabriel Rush (Michael), Chicagoan Samuel Pergande (Billy's Older Self), Jim Ortlieb (George), Chicagoan Susie McMonagle (Mum), Chicagoan Blake Hammond (Mr. Braithwaite) and Maria Connelly (Debbie).
Also featured are Matt Allen, Jason Babinsky, Chicagoan Elijah Barker, Madison Barnes, Cindy Benson, Sara Brians, Chicagoan Tony Clarno, Abby Church, Christine DeFillipo, Alexandra Dell'Edera, Faith Fetscher, Susan Haefner, Ryan Kasprzak, Chicagoan Kayla King, Kent Lewis, Will Mann, Kate Marilley, Spencer Milford, Brittany Nicholas, Chicagoan Mark Page, Mitch Poulos, Emily Richardson, Annelise Ritacca, Mason Roberts, Michaeljon Slinger, Jaclyn Taylor Ruggiero, Jamie Torcellini, Nicholas Torres, Brionna Trilling and Kayla Vanderbilt.
Billy Elliot 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.
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