Signature Theatre

Where are you from originally? Colorado Springs, Colorado, but now I live in Alexandria, VA.
Tell us a little something about your character. I play Billy Elliot. Billy is a kid filled with mixed emotions. He ends up finding out how to deal with these emotions through his love of dance. Most importantly he finds happiness with himself.
Favorite lyric/line in the show? “And now, my lovely ladies, the lesson you’ve all been waiting for, pirouettes!”
What song/artist makes you feel like dancing? “Let’s Go Crazy” by Prince.

Where are you from originally? I am originally from New Jersey. Tell us a little something about your character. My character is Billy Elliot. He is a young “bairn” who falls in love with the sport of dance in a mining town in England during the Miner’s Strike of 1984. Favorite lyric/line in the show? My favorite line is in the boxing scene when Small Boy says, “Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! Oof!” Our two young performers playing the role carry this line hilariously! What song/artist makes you feel like dancing? Queen.

Where are you from originally? Fairfax Station, VA. Tell us a little something about your character. My character, Michael, is Billy’s best friend. He is known for “expressing himself” – he’s not ashamed to dress up in women’s clothing. Favorite lyric/line in the show? Mrs. Wilkinson’s: “Don’t forget the golden rule, girls – never hide your light under a bushel. No matter how big the bushel, Tracy Atkinson.” What song/artist makes you feel like dancing? Today, I’d have to say “Swinging Party” by Lorde.

Where are you from originally? I’m from Needham, MA originally. Tell us a little something about your character. I play Billy’s ballet teacher, Mrs. Wilkinson – she hates that her daughter, Debbie, is such a bad dancer. Favorite lyric/line in the show? “Oi, Debbie, get your bum in, for Chrissake!” (It’s my line.) What song/artist makes you feel like dancing? “Feelin’ Alright” – sung by Joe Cocker. (Written by Dave Mason of my fave band of all time, Traffic, but that said, Joe Cocker’s version is the best.)

Where are you from originally? Northampton in the midlands of England. Tell us a little something about your character. Playing Grandma is a joy. She is not just a funny, kinky old granny who has the onset of dementia – we learn through her relationship with her young grandson that she is also a woman who has suffered through much hardship in her life. Favorite lyric/line in the show? “We will always stand together, in the dark, right through the storm.” What song/artist makes you feel like dancing? Ivor Novello’s music.

Where are you from originally? Rockville, MD. Tell us a little something about your character. I play Tony Elliot, Billy’s brother. Tony is a passionate miner who fights for his community in whatever way he can. Favorite lyric/line in the show? “If you want to be a dancer dance. If you want to be a miner mine.” I love this line because it simply states a nice theme for the show, take control and do whatever makes you happy. What song/artist makes you feel like dancing? The band Vulfpeck has the grooviest music.

Where are you from originally? Maple Shade, New Jersey. Tell us a little something about your character. I am a Police Officer, Miner, and a Scab. The Scab choses to go to work while the others are on strike. He is defying the union and going to work for his family while turning his back on co-workers and friends. Favorite lyric/line in the show? “Always be yourself, Billy, and you always will be true.” What song/artist makes you feel like dancing? Bruno Mars.

Where are you from originally? Alexandria, Virginia Tell us a little something about your character. I’m playing Tall Boy in Billy Elliot and he is definitely not afraid of being heard. Favorite lyric/line in the show? “Cush.” What song/artist makes you feel like dancing? Marshmello.

Where are you from originally? Alexandria, Virginia. Tell us a little something about your character. My character, Tracy Atkinson, really loves to eat pie during ballet class. I feel like she is very fun and quirky. Favorite lyric/line in the show? Billy says, “William Elliot is queer?” And then his dad says, “ESQUIRE.” I think it’s super funny! What song/artist makes you feel like dancing? Well, my favorite song at the moment is “Africa” by Toto. It’s such a fun song and has a cool beat!

Where are you from originally? Both of my parents served in the Air Force so we moved a lot, but I was born in Clovis, New Mexico and we moved here to the DC area from Las Vegas, Nevada in 2010. Tell us a little something about your character. Allison Summers is a ballet girl in Billy Elliot. She is very loud and is always screaming. Favorite lyric/line in the show? “Oh no!” What song/artist makes you feel like dancing? Ariana Grande.

Where are you from originally? Gloversville, NY Tell us a little something about your character. Lesley comes from a family of miners. She’s even married to one. She has two lovely children, and loves her town. She stands proudly alongside her husband and the other miners. Favorite lyric/line in the show? “We stand as one, beneath the sun” What song/artist makes you feel like dancing? I could always dance to some Wham!

Where are you from originally? Bethesda, MD. Tell us a little something about your character. Small Boy is a funny miner’s kid. Favorite lyric/line in the show? “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus” and other dialogue from the boxing scene. What song/artist makes you feel like dancing? Songs by Panic at the Disco :)

Where are you from originally? Bethesda. Tell us a little something about your character. I play a miner involved in the 1984 Miner’s Strike. I have a wife and 2 children. Favorite lyric/line in the show? “No one else can give what I can give.” What song/artist makes you feel like dancing? If we can extend the sense of ‘artists’, then our director Matt Gardiner, associate & assistant choreographers Kelly d’Amboise & Dani Ebbin. They don’t make me feel LIKE dancing so much as they make me feel like I AM dancing.

Where are you from originally? Born in NYC, but now lives in Virginia. Tell us a little something about your character. Small Boy doesn’t have a name, so Malcolm has decided to name his character Declan and Declan had decided to name his character Malcolm. :-) Malcolm like to think of his character as being funny and fearless. Favorite lyric/line in the show? Wanker! What song/artist makes you feel like dancing? Justin Timberlake – “Can’t Stop the Feeling!”

Where are you from originally? England! I only lived there for the first two years of my life, but a Brit nonetheless. Tell us a little something about your character. Gibson. Like many miners he believes in the cause for which we are striking, but he is torn between that & the necessity of putting food on the table. Favorite lyric/line in the show? Grandma asks, “Two slices of fried bread?” To which Dad replies, “It’s an egg actually.” What song/artist makes you feel like dancing? Michael Jackson makes me need move my body!

Where are you from originally? Fairfax County, Virginia. Tell us a little something about your character. I play Susan Parks, a girl who really loves ballet but is just not good at it. She can be really snotty at times (without meaning to) but also loves her family and will always be there for her little brother. Favorite lyric/line in the show? “And I’d dance alone and enjoy it and I’d be me for an entire life.” – Grandma’s Song What song/artist makes you feel like dancing? “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers makes me want to dance!

Where are you from originally? Alexandria, Virginia. Tell us a little something about your character. Posh Boy is a boy ballet dancer from London. He is rich and rubs off on Billy as a snob. Favorite lyric/line in the show? “We walk proudly, and we walk strong. All together we will go as one.” It applies to modern times, as our music director told us, and is empowering. What song/artist makes you feel like dancing? Any Mamma Mia song- they’re so exciting and energetic.

Where are you from originally? Owensboro, Kentucky! :) Tell us a little something about your character. I swing 4 different characters in the show: various miners and cops. Favorite lyric/line in the show? “Everyone is different, it’s a natural state; it’s a fact that’s plain to see. The world’s grey enough without making it worse. What we need is individuality!” What song/artist makes you feel like dancing? Kim Petras is a new artist that’s putting out some great 80s vibes/retro-pop music.

Where are you from originally? Fredericksburg, VA! Tell us a little something about your character. I play Tracy Atkinson. She is the girl who favors eating over anything else. She gets very upset when her food is taken from her. She is so fun to play!! Favorite lyric/line in the show? “Susan, you look like a spastic starfish, girl!” What song/artist makes you feel like dancing? This is hard but I LOVE Sia and when I hear her songs I always just want to get up and dance!

Where are you from originally? Lafayette, IN – near Purdue University and lots of corn. :) Tell us a little something about your character. I play Billy’s Mum. One thing that strikes me about this story is how far-reaching Mum’s love is. It feels completely relatable – a guiding force that colors one’s life. Favorite lyric/line in the show? “We have got the chance to let him live.” So timely, so important, so right. What song/artist makes you feel like dancing? My kids & I have a dance party to the entire Trolls soundtrack.

Where are you from originally? Born in Silver Spring, Maryland and raised in Bethesda. Shout out to Walt Whitman HS & Montgomery College. Tell us a little something about your character. I go between miner and policeman. The two are different but it’s thrilling to play the stakes of each side. Favorite lyric/line in the show? “Don’t forget the golden rule, girls. Never hide your light under a bushel. No matter how big the bushel, Tracy Atkinson.” What song/artist makes you feel like dancing? “Mambo No. 5” by Lou Bega.

Where are you from originally? New Jersey. Tell us a little something about your character. I’m Grandma’s understudy. I believe it is from Grandma that Billy gets his innate love of dance and his determination to go his own way. Favorite lyric/line in the show? “If I’d only known then what I know now I’d have given them all the finger… and I’d be me for an entire life.” What song/artist makes you feel like dancing? “Uptown Funk” (Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars). Sorry, corny, but true.

Where are you from originally? Maryland. I’m Vietnamese-American. Tell us a little something about your character. I play Keeley Gibson. She forgets to bring her ballet shoes to class. Favorite lyric/line in the show? “Of course it was a bloody lesson, it nearly killed me.” Or “Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!” I think those lines are really funny! What song/artist makes you feel like dancing? “We’re All in this Together” from High School Musical. It always brings back memories when my brother and I would dance and sing to it all the time.

Where are you from originally? As a baby I moved to San Juan, Puerto Rico. ¡Soy Boriqua de corazon! Tell us a little something about your character. I play Debbie Wilkinson, the ballet teacher’s daughter, and I like her because she’s so sassy! Favorite lyric/line in the show? “Electricity sparks inside me, and I’m free, I’m free” from the song “Electricity.” That’s how I feel when I’m dancing. What song/artist makes you feel like dancing? “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen.

Where are you from originally? Alexandria, VA. Tell us a little something about your character. I am one of the male swings covering the ensemble. I am also the ballet assistant. Favorite lyric/line in the show? “No you won’t, Billy. You’ll get down there and you’ll realize just what a crap little dance school this was. What complete second-rate training I gave you. And you’ll spend five years unlearning everything I taught you. It’s alright; that’s the way it is.” What song/artist makes you feel like dancing? Anything from Beyoncé.

Where are you from originally? Maine! Tell us a little something about your character. I play Adult Billy in the show. I appear in Billy Elliot’s mind or dream—as his older self. We dance together in a beautiful duet. Favorite lyric/line in the show? “I suppose it’s like forgetting, losing who you are. And at the same time, something makes you whole.” What song/artist makes you feel like dancing? Anything that makes me feel the energy!

Where are you from originally? Bowie, MD. Tell us a little something about your character. My character is Angela Robson, one of the girls in Mrs. Wilkinson’s ballet class. She’s the “goody two shoes.” She is a daydreamer. Favorite lyric/line in the show? I like when Mrs. Wilkinson says, “I don’t care if your mother has cerebral palsy, Keeley. You have to bring your shoes.” What song/artist makes you feel like dancing? My favorite artists are Ariana Grande & Rex Orange County. My go to songs are “R.E.M.” and “Sunflower.”

Where are you from originally? Washington, D.C. Tell us a little something about your character. I play Susan Parks, one of the ballet girls who is very wild, and full of personality! Favorite lyric/line in the show? “Susan Parks, you look like a spastic starfish!” What song/artist makes you feel like dancing? Whenever I hear “Boomerang” by Jojo Siwa, I go off!

Where are you from originally? Brinklow, MD. Tell us a little something about your character. I play Val Gibson, a coal miner’s wife and mother of a beautiful ballerina! I keep my family and home together. Favorite lyric/line in the show? “When the stars look down and know our history; when the stars look down upon our past; and the stars look down and see a future bright at last, when we’ll stand as one beneath the sun.” What song/artist makes you feel like dancing? I ALWAYS dance to “Let’s Go Crazy” by Prince.

Where are you from originally? I grew up in Warrensville Heights, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland. Tell us a little something about your character. I play Big Davey, a shop steward of sorts with an appetite just as large as he is and who’s passionate about his community. :P :P :P Favorite lyric/line in the show? Grandma says “Big Davey, I wouldn’t eat that if I were you!!!” What song/artist makes you feel like dancing? Bruno Mars.

Where are you from originally? Lorton, Virginia! Tell us a little something about your character. My character is one of the ballet girls, Angela. She is an orphan and quite the daydreamer! Favorite lyric/line in the show? “Margot. Margot flippin Fonteyn… it was a rhetorical question, now piss off over there!” – Mrs. Wilkinson What song/artist makes you feel like dancing? Anything Broadway but especially Newsies!

Where are you from originally? Middletown, New York. Tell us a little something about your character. I play Allison Summers, one of the ballet girls. Alison is energetic, playful and animated – she goofs off quite a bit with Susan Parks. Favorite lyric/line in the show? “What the hell’s wrong with expressing yourself? Be who you want to be” is my favorite because it’s so meaningful and just simply makes sense. What song/artist makes you feel like dancing? I’m obsessed with the Hamilton Soundtrack.

Where are you from originally? I am originally from Bowie, MD. Tell us a little something about your character. My character Keeley Gibson is a very lazy young ballet girl. She always forgets her ballet shoes and during class she always gives up while doing things she doesn’t really like or doesn’t think she can do. Favorite lyric/line in the show? My favorite line from the show is “Cush!” The way the two small boys deliver the line is priceless! What song/artist makes you feel like dancing? Whitney Houston!