Alex Ko and Kate Hennig Join Billy Elliot; Kulish, Gwynne and Bologna Exit

Alex Ko and Kate Hennig are joining the cast of the Tony-winning musical Billy Elliot. Kiril Kulish, one of the trio of young actors (along with David Alvarez and Trent Kowalik) who originated the title role on Broadway, will play his last performance on October 3. Hennig replaces Tony nominee Haydn Gwynne as dance teacher Mrs. Wilkinson on October 6. Another Tony nominee, David Bologna, who shares the role of Michael (with Trevor Braun), is also departing the show. He will play his final performance on September 27, with understudy Keean Johnson talking over the part.

Ko makes his Broadway debut as Billy. He was the youngest student admitted to the University of Iowa Dance Department at age 12 and has been guided by ballet masters Eloy Barragán and George de la Peña. He is the winner of national and regional dance titles under Michael Kohli of the National Dance Academy, and is a gymnastics champion coached by Dmitri Trouch and Brad Virkler.

Canadian native Henning is also making her Broadway debut in Billy Elliot. Her stage credits include The Danish Play, The Blue Light, The Penelopiad, Cabaret, Beauty Queen of Leenane, Ratbag and many more on the Canadian stage. On film, she has been seen in The Claim, Losing Chase and 32 Short Films About Glenn Gould.

They join stars Alvarez, Kowalik and Tommy Batchelor as Billy, Gregory Jbara as Dad, Carole Shelley as Grandma, Will Chase as Tony and Braun as Michael.

Billy Elliot, set against the historic British miners’ strike of the 1980s, follows Billy’s journey as a boy in a small mining town who, after stumbling across a ballet class while on his way to a boxing lesson, realizes that his future lay not in the boxing ring but on stage as a dancer.

Featuring music by Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall, choreography by Peter Darling and direction by Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot won 10 Tony Awards in 2009, including Best Musical.