Adam Vesperman to Leap Into Title Role of Billy Elliot in London

Adam Vesperman will make his West End debut on July 25 as the title character in Billy Elliot. Vesperman will alternate the role with Ryan Collinson, Josh Baker, Dean Charles-Chapman, and Scott McKenzie in the Elton John-Lee Hall musical, currently running at the Victoria Palace Theatre.

Vesperman, a 13-year-old from Seattle, Washington, started dancing when he was seven, training in jazz and hip-hop and is now trained in a variety of dance styles, including contemporary and ballet. "After a few auditions around America, I was the happiest boy on earth when I found out that I would be coming to London and to train to be Billy Elliot,” Vesperman said in a statement. “It's so hard being 5,000 miles away from my family and friends for so long, but it's worth it. Being Billy has changed my life so much - the training, experience, and best of all the wonderful people I get to work with. I miss my family a lot, but being in the show keeps us so busy that I don't really think about it too much. I am the sixth American Billy to star in the London production and I hope that I can maintain the high quality shown by my predecessors."

In addition to the actors who play Billy, the London cast currently features Reece Barrett, Connor Kelly, Connor Lawson, and Joe Massey, who alternate the role of Billy’s best friend Michael; Francesca Mango, Emily Smith and Emily Williams, who alternate the role of Debbie. Also featured are Genevieve Lemon (Mrs. Wilkinson), Martin Marquez (Dad), Tom Lorcan (Tony), Diane Langton (Grandma), Chris McGlade (George), Kay Milbourne (Dead Mum), Kevin Patricks (Mr. Braithwaite) and Barnaby Meredith (Older Billy).

Based on the Oscar-nominated film, Billy Elliot is an inspirational story of one boy’s dream to realize his ambitions against the odds. Set in the North East of England against the background of the historic 1984 miners strike, Billy pursues his passion for dance in secret to avoid disapproval of his struggling family.