The Billy Club

Anthony Edwards, Ron Howard, Autumn Hurlbert, Mark Indelicato, Rosie O'Donnell, Lynn Redgrave, Natasha Richardson, Kevin Spacey, John Stamos, Ben Stiller, and Rachel Weisz join Elton John and company for the Broadway opening of Billy Elliot.

By Joseph Marzullo,Brian Scott Lipton • Nov 14, 2008 • New York

The long-awaited Broadway production of Billy Elliot: The Musical officially opened on Thursday night at the Imperial Theatre. After the show, composer Sir Elton John caught up with Kiril Kulish, Trent Kowalik, and David Alvarez, the three young men who alternate in the show's super-demanding title role.

British actress Haydn Gwynne makes a brilliant Broadway debut as Billy's hard-nosed yet supportive dance teacher Mrs. Wilkinson

Gregory Jbara, a longtime Broadway favorite, turns in an impressive performance as Billy's embattled father.

Tony Award winner Carole Shelley is a scene-stealer as Billy's loving grandmother.

The opening's celebrity turnout was unusually high. Among the attendees was Oscar winner Kevin Spacey, soon to direct the play Complicit at his home turf, London's Old Vic Theatre.

Oscar winner and stage veteran Rachel Weisz will return to big screen shortly in The Brothers Bloom.

Academy Award-winning director (and former TV favorite) Ron Howard will likely be back in the Oscar race with the soon-to-be-released film version of Frost/Nixon.

Here's Ugly Betty star Mark Indelicato, whose character Justin "tried out" for the musical in a recent episode of the hit ABC sitcom.

Rosie O'Donnell -- who will tape a live television variety show later this month -- brought son Parker to the opening.

The wonderful Lynn Redgrave is a welcome addition to any opening night.

Redgrave's celebrated niece, Natasha Richardson -- who will play Desiree in the Roundabout's upcoming benefit concert of A Little Night Music -- brought her sons, Michael and Daniel Neeson.

Actor Anthony Edwards just made a much-talked-about return visit to his former television series ER.

John Stamos, another member of the ER family, has starred on Broadway in such shows as Cabaret and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

Autumn Hurlbert, who shot to fame via MTV, currently appears in the musical Glimpses of the Moon at the Algonquin Hotel's Oak Room.

Finally, here's Christine Taylor and husband Ben Stiller, who was honored earlier this week at the American Museum of the Moving Image.

For TheaterMania's review of Billy Elliot, click here.