Fulton Theatre Opens 2016/2017 Season with BILLY ELLIOT: THE MUSICAL

The nationally regarded Fulton Theatre opens a monumental new season with the triumphant Billy Elliot: The Musical through October 16. The Tony Award-winning musical features infectious music by the incomparable Sir Elton John including "Shine," "Solidarity," "Electricity," and many more!

Billy Elliot: The Musical, the musical the world fell in love with, has won critical acclaim, including the Tony Award for "Best Musical." This dance-filled sensation takes place during the mid-1980s coal miners' strike in North England. Motherless, 11 year-old Billy trades in his boxing gloves for ballet shoes and discovers a hidden and extraordinary gift, a talent that he keeps from his father and brother as the strike begins to escalate and becomes all-encompassing for his family. Against all odds and, initially to the disdain of his family, Billy becomes an inspiration not only to those closest to him, but to the entire town. A deeply touching story of heart, humor, and passion told through the musical mastery of Sir Elton John, Billy Elliot: The Musical is "Electric, passionate, and exhilarating." - David Cote, Time Out New York

Billy Elliot: The Musical is based on the BAFTA Award-winning film for "Best British Film," and was adapted for the stage by Elton John and Lee Hall, premiering in London's West End at the Victoria Palace Theatre in March, 2005. The hit musical received the Laurence Olivier Award for "Best Musical" in 2006 and went on to play for an extended run, just recently closing in April, 2016 after 11 years and 4,600 performances. The Broadway production was also a resounding success, when it opened in 2008 where it played for four years and 1,312 performances. The musical received the 2009 Tony Award for "Best Musical" and "Best Book of a Musical"

The Fulton Theatre production stars Jamie Martin Mann and Brooks Landegger as Billy Elliot. Mannmakes his Fulton debut, reprising his dream role of Billy Elliot. This will be his 4th time playing Billy in the past year. He also played the role at Maltz Jupiter Theatre, Company Theatre, and Palace Theatre. Other credits include Weiner in Camp Rolling Hills at NY Musical Festival this summer and previously appeared at NYMF in Every Happily After. Numerous dance credits include The Nutcracker, Swan Lake,and Harlequinade with New York City Ballet; Alvin Ailey at the Apollo Theater; and The Nutcracker(Fritz) at Westport Playhouse. He trains at the School of American Ballet in NYC and taps with Broadway's Mr. Braithwaite, Thommie Retter. Landegger also trains at the School of American Ballet and also at Shuffles Broadway Tap and Musical Theater School. He has danced multiple roles with New York City Ballet, some of which include George Balanchine's The Nutcracker (Nutcracker Prince and Fritz Stahlbaum), Harlequinade (Scaramouche), and Christopher Wheldon's Carnival of the Animals(Oliver Pendleton Percy III). Other credits include performances with the Children's Artistic Chorus with the Metropolitan Opera and the role of Billy Elliot with the Lyric Theater of Oklahoma and North Shore Music Theatre where he was awarded the Independent Reviewers of New England award for Promising Young Performer.

Joining Mann and Landegger is Johnny Marx as Michael Caffrey, Timothy Gulan as Dad, Alex Drostas Tony, Patti Mariano as Grandma, Danny Rutigliano as George, Janet Dickinson as Mrs. Wilkinson, and Portia Murphy as Debbie.

Marx's credits include the National Tour of A Christmas Story the Musical, the Off-Broadway productions of A Midsummer Night's Dream and Mother Jones. His regional credits include South Pacific and The Music Man. Gulan's Broadway and Tour credits include The Last Ship, The Lion King, Blood Brothers, The Frogs, LES MISERABLES 25th Anniversary, South Pacific, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Some Like It Hot, Picasso at the Lapine Agile, Carousel, Falsettos, and Passion. Drost has appeared regionally in Evita, Fiddler on the Roof, and Mamma Mia! at Maine State Music Theatre; Frank 'N' Furter in The Rocky Horror Show, Andy Lee in 42nd Street and Jean-Michel in La Cage aux Folles at The Forestburgh Playhouse and many others. Mariano has appeared in 10 Broadway productions, includingThe Music Man, Bye Bye Birdie, Sail Away, I Had A Ball, George M!, Godspell, American Dance Machine, Rags, The Full Monty, and Maggie Jones in 42nd Street. Rutigliano returns to Billy Elliot after appearing in the Broadway production. Other Broadway credits include The Lion King, Born Yesterday,and Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public. His National Tour credits include How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying. Dickinson recently appeared in the World Premiere of Anastasia at Hartford Stage, she will rejoin the cast for the Broadway production in April, 2017. Other Broadway credits include Bullets Over Broadway and How The Grinch Stole Christmas. She also played Mrs. Wilkinson in the National Tour of Billy Elliot. Murphy makes her Fulton Theatre debut. She is a dancer and singer of nine years, studying voice and dance at Princeton Ballet.

Rounding out the cast in alphabetical order are; Braeden Barnes as Older Billy; Allie Barrett as Tina Harmer; Connor DeVoe in the Ensemble; Casey Furlong as Clipboard Woman and Ensemble; Arielle Marie Gieg as Tracy Atkinson; Chase Jennings Gray as Small Boy; Donovan Hoffer as Scottish Dancer; Addison Kendall as Alison Summers; Andrew Kindig as Scab/Posh Dad/Ensemble; Liesl Landegger as Keeley Gibson; Patrick LaValle in the Ensemble; Brian Padgett as Mr. Braithwaite and Ensemble; Angelica Richie as Lesley and Ensemble; Erika Rodriguez as Julie Hope; Molly Ross as Angela Robson; Vanessa Russo as Sharon Percy; Adam Shaff as Pit Boss and Ensemble;Katie Sina as Dead Mum and Ensemble; Bryon Thomas Smith in the Ensemble; Vanessa Sonon in the Ensemble; Kyle Szen in the Ensemble; and Joseph Torello as Big Davey and Ensemble.

The creative team for the production includes Marc Robin (Fulton Theatre's Executive Artistic Producer), Adam Pelty (Director and Choreographer), Patrick Fanning (Music Director), William Mohney (Scenic Designer), Robin L. McGee (Costume Designer), Paul Black (Lighting Designer),Colin Riebel (Assistant Lighting and Video Designer), Jacob Mishler (Sound Designer), Katelin Walsko (Props Designer), Jane Ridley (Dialect Coach), Vanessa Russo (Assistant Choreographer),Patrick Lavallee (Assistant Choreographer), Timothy Markus (Production Stage Manager), andRebekah Church (Assistant Stage Manager).

With special thanks to our Season Co-Sponsor, Fulton Bank, Season Co-Sponsors Hagelgans & Veronis, Rodgers & Associates, and Wendell Funk, Cosmetic Surgery and Laser Center, Production Co-Sponsors Elizabethtown College and High Companies, and our Audience Services Sponsor Benecon.

New York Casting is done by Bob Cline Casting. Interviews are available with the cast and/or director based on availability. Production photos are available upon request. Performance Schedule follows at the end of the release.

Single ticket prices range from $28 - $71, with Student Rush available. Fulton Theatre performs in its home, the national historic landmark Fulton Opera House located at 12 North Prince Street in Lancaster, PA. For more information or to purchase tickets call 717.397.7425 or visit theFulton.org.

About Fulton Theatre:
The Fulton first opened its doors in 1852. 164 years later, this national historic landmark theatre continues to entertain, educate and delight audiences, bringing Live Theatre, music, and more than 120,000 patrons into downtown Lancaster annually. Since its inception, some of the brightest stars of theatre, music and film have appeared on its stage, including Sarah Bernhardt, Mark Twain, Lionel Barrymore, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, W.C. Fields, George M. Cohan, Treat Williams and Lancaster's own Jonathan Groff.

Today, under the leadership of Executive Artistic Producer Marc Robin, the Fulton Theatre produces a mix of comedies, dramas and musicals, employing the talents of professional directors, designers, playwrights from across the country. The Fulton also offers classes for children, teens and adults as well as numerous community engagement programs across the region.