Event

Billy Elliot the Musical

Based on the 2000 film Billy Elliot, this musical with music by Elton John, and book and lyrics by Lee Hall, is the story of Billy, a despondent, motherless young boy who trades boxing gloves for ballet shoes. His personal struggles play out against a heart-breaking, working-class family story and community strife and violence caused by the UK miners' strike (1984-1985) in County Durham, England. Hall's screenplay was also inspired in part by A. J. Cronin's 1935 novel, The Stars Look Down, about another miners' strike in pre-World War England, to which the musical's opening song pays homage.

For those interested in a true behind the scenes experience, the cast and crew will hold a special Billy Elliot Dance Camp on Saturday, March 18, where campers will learn songs & choreography from the show and later perform after the April 29th matinee show. The camp is open to students grades 3-8 and the cost is $50 per student, with a multi-sibling discount. Advance registration is required. Registration and additional information on the camp can be found online at www.westpotomactheatre.org. This will likely be a very popular camp! Spaces are limited, so register today online!

As another way of involving audiences, there will be Talk Back opportunities with the cast following the Thursday performances on April 27 and May 6.

Additionally, as a community philanthropic effort, the theatre company will be collecting gently used dance shoes throughout the run of the production to donate to the Baltimore School for the Arts TWIGS program, an organization that provides free arts classes and performance opportunities to inner-city Baltimore students.