Eleven-year-old Billy is taken by his father Jackie to a gym to learn how to box. Billy chooses instead to study ballet when he sees a class being held in an adjacent room. Despite Jackie's disapproval, Billy continues dancing in secret, and with the help of his ballet teacher, he earns an audition at the prestigious Royal Ballet School.
Released in 2000, "Billy Elliot" was directed by Stephen Daldry from a screenplay by Lee Hall. The cast included Jamie Bell as Billy, Julie Walters as Mrs. Wilkinson (Billy's ballet teacher) and Gary Lewis as Jackie. Dance numbers were choreographed by Peter Darling.
The British Independent Films Awards cited "Billy Elliot" as the Best Picture of 2000, with Daldry as Best Director and Bell as Best Newcomer. In America, the film received Academy Award nominations for Daldry (Best Director), Julie Walters (Best Supporting Actress) and Lee Hall (Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen).
The film was later developed into "Billy Elliot: The Musical," with book and lyrics written by screenwriter Hall and music composed by Sir Elton John. The play opened in London's West End in 2005. The Broadway production opened in 2008.
The London production received 4 Laurence Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical. In 2009, the Broadway production won 10 Tony Awards, including Best New Musical, Best Book (Lee Hall) and Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Gregory Jbara as Jackie).
"Billy Elliot: The Musical" made Tony Award history when the young actors who share the role of Billy--David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik and Kiril Kulish--were jointly awarded the Tony for Best Leading Actor in a Musical.