Evergreen, CO 80439
Book and Lyrics by LEE HALL
Music by ELTON JOHN
Originally Directed by STEPHEN DALDRY
Directed by Patrick Payne
Musical Direction by Christine Gaudreau
Choreography by Sky Cash and Kevin Gael Thomas
“Billy Elliot The Musical,” with music by Elton John, won 10 Tony awards and tells the inspirational story of a young boy who defies the social constraints of a small mining town to become a ballet dancer instead of a boxer. Audiences join Billy on this emotional journey as he pursues his passion and convinces the townspeople to embrace his dreams with him. Rate PG-13 for mature language and themes. “Billy Elliot the Musical” is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI) www.MTIShows.com.
The Evergreen Chorale is thrilled to be producing one of the first two productions of this show in Colorado. Artistic Director Christine Gaudreau has put together a team of three choreographers – Kevin Gael Thomas of the Colorado Ballet Theater (for ballet) and Sky Cash, who directs and choreographs in the Fort Collins area (for tap), with special assistance for the young ballerinas from Christina Noel of the Arvada Center Dance Company. Pat Payne is directing his third musical for the Chorale; set design is by Biz Schaugaard; costumes by Linda Bolinger; and lighting design is by Chelsea Asmus.
The large cast includes many actors who have appeared in previous Chorale productions as well as newcomers to the company. Elaine Sohrweid (Quilters, 2012) will portray Billy’s grandmother, Becky Sides (who played Roxy in Chicago, 2015) his dead mother, and Buz Gibson (Doolittle in My Fair Lady, 2016 and Mr. Mushnik in Little Shop of Horrors, 2015) his father. The role of dance teacher Mrs. Wilkinson will be played by Christine Kahane (Mrs. Pierce in My Fair Lady, 2016), Michael Berquist plays Tony, and Rush Bogin (who portrayed Amahl in the Chorale’s holiday production of Amahl and the Night Visitors, 2016) plays Michael, Billy’s best friend.
The Chorale is pleased to present Maurice Kimball IV of Vancouver, Canada, as Billy. Maurice, aged 14, currently studies classical ballet under the UK based Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) ballet syllabus at Cameron Dance Academy. He started his serious training in classical ballet at the tender age of five and by the time he was nine he began competing as a soloist and expanded his studies to include tap, jazz, and musical theatre. He currently studies all of these genres as well as modern, contemporary, and acrobats, but his favorite is ballet. As a competitive dancer, he garnered multiple divisional titles, scholarships, and judges’ choice awards, including being a three time Dance World Cup Canada Gold Medal Soloist in Variety Theatre, and invitational participation in master dance workshops with Cirque du Soleil. Maurice has played the roles of both Billy and Michael in previous productions. When asked how he relates to the character of Billy, Maurice said “We have both gone through some of the same stuff in life. Like losing people we love and getting bullied or put down for what we like to do and being told you are supposed to be like everybody else. I’m one of the few boys who has played both Billy and Michael. They are really different characters. Michael is amazing because he is fun and confident and tells the point of the story. Billy is more emotional. He feels mixed up and hurt inside. You get to take a journey with him and learn to never give up.”
The Evergreen Chorale recently received recognition from Broadway World Denver for their fall 2016 production of My Fair Lady – the show was nominated in 20 categories, and received 8 awards including Best Dramatic Musical, Best Small Ensemble in a Musical, Best Music Director (Christine Gaudreau), Best Director in a Musical (Timothy Kennedy) Best Costume Design in a Musical (Davis Sibley); and Best Set Design in a Musical (Biz Schaugaard) and Best Colorado Debut by an Actress (Christine Kahane). The Chorale will end their 2016-17 season with a choral concert “Sun, Moon, Earth and Sea” featuring works of contemporary composers, to be performed in Denver and Golden on April 29 and 30. In addition their third annual “Swing Into Spring” swing dance party with William and the Romantics will take place at the Evergreen Lake House on May 5, 2017.
Rated PG-13 for mature situations and language.
