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Photo Flash: Billy Elliot The Musical At Victoria Palace Theatre

Last night in New York, 7June 2009, Stephen Daldry's production of Billy Elliot the Musical celebrated an astonishing number of wins at the Tony Awards confirming the British musical as an internationally award-winning hit.

As well as Best Musical - an award the show has previously won in both the UK and Australia - Billy Elliot the Musical also won the Tony for Best Direction of a Musical - Stephen Daldry, Best Choreography - Peter Darling, Best Book of a Musical - Lee Hall, Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical - David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, Kiril Kulish, Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical - Gregory Jbara, Best Orchestrations - Martin Koch, Best Scenic Design of a Musical - Ian MacNeil, Best Sound Design of a Musical - Paul Arditti and Best Lighting Design of a Musical - Rick Fisher. The ten Tony's - a record for a British Musical - brings the total number of awards the show has won international to 73.

At a star-studded ceremony at Radio City MusicAl Hall, with an audience of 6000, the Billys - David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, Kiril Kulish - received a standing ovation as they were awarded the Tony for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical. Shortly after Liza Minnelli presented Elton John, Stephen Daldry, Eric Fellner, Jon Finn and Sally Greene with the Tony for Best Musical. They were joined on stage by a delighted cast, production team and co-producers.

Since its world premiere in May 2005 at the Victoria Palace Theatre in the West End, Billy Elliot the Musical has played to over 3.5 million people worldwide including HM The Queen, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Hilary Clinton, Bill Gates, Hugh Jackman, Michael Jackson, Nicole Kidman, Ben Stiller and Anna Wintour. The thirty three boys who have now played the iconic role, including Jamie Bell who created the role in the original film, have been joined globally actors aged 6 - 75 years old.

The London production of Billy Elliot the Musical last month celebrated its fourth birthday and its 1700th performance as 12 year old Oliver Gardner from Bath joined Tom Holland (12 years old from Kingston-upon-Thames), Tanner Pflueger (12 years old from Norfolk, Nebraska), Fox Jackson-Keen (13 years old from Hornsey, London) and Bradley Wilson (12 years old from Doncaster) to play the title role. First performed at the Capitol Theatre, Sydney in November 2007, the Australian production has now transferred to Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne. The Broadway production, which opened in October 2008, continues its hugely successful run at the Imperial Theatre.

Set in the North East, Billy Elliot the Musical is a funny, heart-warming and feel-good celebration of oNe Young boy's dreams. This staging of Billy Elliot the Musical is an adaptation of one of the most adored British films of the last decade which broke box office records across the world.

The score for Billy Elliot the Musical has been composed by music legend Elton John, choreography is by Peter Darling, designs are by Ian MacNeil with sound by Paul Arditti and lighting by Rick Fisher. Billy Elliot the Musical is presented in London by Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions in association with Tiger Aspect. Billy Elliot the Musical is based on the Universal Pictures/Studio Canal film.