Billy Elliot — The Musical Offers Actors Fund Jan. 25

By Andrew Gans
25 Jan 2009

David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik and Kiril Kulish all rotate in the title role of Billy Elliot — The Musical.
David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik and Kiril Kulish all rotate in the title role of Billy Elliot — The Musical.
Photo by David Scheinmann, Alistair Muir (Kowalik)

The Olivier Award-winning Billy Elliot — The Musical, which recently opened at Broadway's Imperial Theatre, offers a special performance to benefit the Actors Fund of America Jan. 25.

The 8 PM performance of the Elton John-Lee Hall musical based on the film of the same name benefits the non-profit organization.

At different performances, young actors David Alvarez, Kiril Kulish and Trent Kowalik alternate in the musical's title role, a motherless boy who finds a way out of his bleak existence through the joy of dance.

Haydn Gwynne, who created the role of dance teacher Mrs. Wilkinson in the show's original London cast, repeats her work for Broadway audiences. Also in the company are Gregory Jbara as Dad, Tony winner Carole Shelley as Grandma and Santino Fontana as Billy's brother Tony. David Bologna and Frank Dolce alternate in the role of Billy's friend Michael with Stephen Hanna as Billy's Older Self, Joel Hatch as George, Leah Hocking as Mum, Thommie Retter as Mr. Braithwaite and Erin Whyland as Debbie.

Billy Elliot plays The Imperial Theatre, located in Manhattan at 249 West 45th Street. Tickets, priced $41.50-$126.50 (with premium seats at $301.50), are available by calling (212) 221-7300, ext. 133.

The Actors Fund, which was founded in 1882, is a non-profit organization that provides for the social welfare of all entertainment professionals. Some of the many programs The Actors Fund provides include a nursing home and assisted living care facility; senior and disabled programs; mental health services; chemical dependency services; entertainment industry assistance programs; the Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative; the AIDS Initiative; and supportive housing on both coasts.

For more information visit www.actorsfund.org.