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Cast from "Billy Elliot."

Almost one year ago, I reviewed the New York production of Billy Elliot. This Tony Award winning musical still draws huge crowds along the Great Way and with good reason. What I said then still applies as the national touring company settles in for a long run at Chicago’s Ford Oriental Theatre---”If you liked the movie Billy Elliot, you will love this musical.”

Director Stephen Daldry left the stage to make the film Billy Elliot. His screenwriter Lee Hall crafted a story about an English working class family in the bleak years of the coal mining country (mid-1980’s) that broke away from the standard formulas of feel-good films. The cliched ingredients of the struggling youngster in bleak times are left behind when Billy has a chance encounter with a dance class and that changes his life. This 2000 film was huge hit world-wide and led Daldry into an outstanding decade in films that would include such gems as The Hours and The Reader. But, he wanted to return to the stage and in 2005, Billy Elliot the Musical hit the London stage as the smash musical of the season winning four Olivier Awards, including Best Musical.

Billy Elliot has never looked back since then and has traveled the world as the great musical of this first decade. Much of its success has been monitored by director Daldry who directs every production and his creative team. The biggest part of that creative team is screenwriter Lee Hall who wrote the book and lyrics for the stage production. He teamed up with the music of Sir Elton John to produce the wonderful songs that make this show soar. This Chicago cast is the first U.S. production to hit the road while the original still packs them in at the Imperial Theatre in New York.

The great news is this Chicago production is every bit as wonderful as its Broadway counterpart. The beautiful Ford Oriental auditorium accommodates the outstanding set designs of Ian MacNeil and the wonderful lighting by Rick Fisher with such finesse that the magic on stage has never looked better. The big stage at 24 West Randolph makes Peter Darling’s Tony Award winning choreography look better than ever, and leads Emily Skinner, Cynthia Barlow, Armand Schultz and Patrick Mulvey are every bit as convincing as their New York counterparts. As tradition has dictated in working with young boys, the role of Billy Elliot is rotated among four very talented young men.

If you think they just don’t make good musicals any more, think again. This is show business at its best. But with just a modest word of warning; Lee Hall’s book preserves some rather salty, but realistic working class language. Parents considering taking young children should consider this factor. This is not an English Music Man. Billy Elliot is currently selling tickets until October 24 at the box office at 24 West Randolph and at www.broadwayinchicago.com. You may also call: 800-775-2000.