“Billy Elliot” is coming to Chicago

Jim Ortlieb, who played Nasedo/Ed Harding on “Roswell”, is back on the stage again. He will play George in the musical “Billy Elliot” which comes to Chicago. The show takes the Ford Center/Oriental Theatre stage beginning March 18, with opening set for April 11.

“Billy Elliot” is a musical based on the 2000 film with the same title with music by Sir Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall, choreography by Peter Darling and direction by Stephen Daldry.

More information on the musical can be found on the official website www.billyelliotchicago.com.

Billy Elliot the Musical
Theatre: Ford Center/Oriental Theatre, Chicago Illinois
Dates: Begins March 18, 2010
Running time: Approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes, including intermission.
Other information: Recommended for ages 8+ and includes some strong language.

The cast has already started rehearsals on January 11, so it was a crazy thing for Roswell-Fan Shandelle to spot Nasedo on the train platform that she uses every day. She shares her “Nasedo” sighting with us:

I know it may not be official news, but I was on the Chicago red line CTA train this afternoon and spotted Jim Ortlieb walking down the platform toward the exit of the station in the theatre district of Chicago. He was wearing a tan cowboy type hat so I wasn’t sure it was him at first, but when I got home I verified on the internet that he’s on the cast of the play Billy Elliot opening at the Oriental Theatre in March. It just so happens he was getting off at the Lake stop of the CTA red line, in the heart of the Chicago theatre district. And the Oriental Theatre is about a block or so from that train stop.

Please find here some articles on the musical and the castings:
Billy Elliiot the Musical
TIME Magazine Names BILLY ELLIOT The Best Musical Of The Decade, Rehearsals Begin In Chicago 1/11
Emily Skinner to ‘Shine’ in Chicago’s Billy Elliot

Related News:
Broadway: Jim Ortlieb in “Guys and Dolls”, February 22nd, 2009