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The Billy Club

Anthony Edwards, Ron Howard, Autumn Hurlbert, Mark Indelicato, Rosie O'Donnell, Lynn Redgrave, Natasha Richardson, Kevin Spacey, John Stamos, Ben Stiller, and Rachel Weisz join Elton John and company for the Broadway opening of Billy Elliot.

By: Joseph Marzullo; Text by Brian Scott Lipton · Nov 14, 2008  · New York

(© Joseph Marzullo/WENN)
(© Joseph Marzullo/WENN)

The long-awaited Broadway production of Billy Elliot: The Musical officially opened on Thursday night at the Imperial Theatre. After the show, composer Sir Elton John caught up with Kiril Kulish, Trent Kowalik, and David Alvarez, the three young men who alternate in the show's super-demanding title role.

(© Joseph Marzullo/WENN)
(© Joseph Marzullo/WENN)

British actress Haydn Gwynne makes a brilliant Broadway debut as Billy's hard-nosed yet supportive dance teacher Mrs. Wilkinson

(© Joseph Marzullo/WENN)
(© Joseph Marzullo/WENN)

Gregory Jbara, a longtime Broadway favorite, turns in an impressive performance as Billy's embattled father.

(© Joseph Marzullo/WENN)
(© Joseph Marzullo/WENN)

Tony Award winner Carole Shelley is a scene-stealer as Billy's loving grandmother.

(© Joseph Marzullo/WENN)
(© Joseph Marzullo/WENN)

The opening's celebrity turnout was unusually high. Among the attendees was Oscar winner Kevin Spacey, soon to direct the play Complicit at his home turf, London's Old Vic Theatre.

(© Joseph Marzullo/WENN)
(© Joseph Marzullo/WENN)

Oscar winner and stage veteran Rachel Weisz will return to big screen shortly in The Brothers Bloom.

(© Joseph Marzullo/WENN)
(© Joseph Marzullo/WENN)

Academy Award-winning director (and former TV favorite) Ron Howard will likely be back in the Oscar race with the soon-to-be-released film version of Frost/Nixon.

(© Joseph Marzullo/WENN)
(© Joseph Marzullo/WENN)

Here's Ugly Betty star Mark Indelicato, whose character Justin "tried out" for the musical in a recent episode of the hit ABC sitcom.

(© Joseph Marzullo/WENN)
(© Joseph Marzullo/WENN)

Rosie O'Donnell -- who will tape a live television variety show later this month -- brought son Parker to the opening.

(© Joseph Marzullo/WENN)
(© Joseph Marzullo/WENN)

The wonderful Lynn Redgrave is a welcome addition to any opening night.

(© Joseph Marzullo/WENN)
(© Joseph Marzullo/WENN)

Redgrave's celebrated niece, Natasha Richardson -- who will play Desiree in the Roundabout's upcoming benefit concert of A Little Night Music -- brought her sons, Michael and Daniel Neeson.

(© Joseph Marzullo/WENN)
(© Joseph Marzullo/WENN)

Actor Anthony Edwards just made a much-talked-about return visit to his former television series ER.

(© Joseph Marzullo/WENN)
(© Joseph Marzullo/WENN)

John Stamos, another member of the ER family, has starred on Broadway in such shows as Cabaret and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

(© Joseph Marzullo/WENN)
(© Joseph Marzullo/WENN)

Autumn Hurlbert, who shot to fame via MTV, currently appears in the musical Glimpses of the Moon at the Algonquin Hotel's Oak Room.

(© Joseph Marzullo/WENN)
(© Joseph Marzullo/WENN)

Finally, here's Christine Taylor and husband Ben Stiller, who was honored earlier this week at the American Museum of the Moving Image.




For TheaterMania's review of Billy Elliot, click here.







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