Jefferson Performing Arts (JPA) will present a production of Billy Elliot The Musical (BETM) from March 28 to April 6, 2025 at the 1,041 seat Jefferson Performing Arts Center in Metairie, located in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. Metairie is the largest city in Jefferson Parish, which is part of the New Orleans metropolitan area.
The non-profit organization, which was originally named the Jefferson Performing Arts Society (JPAS), was founded in 1978 and is dedicated to the artistic and cultural enrichment of the New Orleans area. Prior to its inception, professional arts offerings were virtually non-existent in Jefferson Parish. Additionally, citizens had no real venue in which to enjoy the arts in their home parish. Two individuals, Dennis G. Assaf (who is now the JPA Artistic Director) and Hannah Cunningham, realized the serious artistic void that existed in the community, which relied on neighboring Orleans Parish for its cultural diversions. Together, they set out to make a change.
A critical element of the Society’s mission to support and promote the arts in the area was “to be the catalyst to build a true performing arts facility for Jefferson Parish.” So JPAS led the charge and championed the need for a state-of-the-art performance venue in Jefferson Parish, resulting in the building of the Jefferson Performing Arts Center. In 1998, the Society sought and secured $15 million in state funding for a new performing arts venue in Jefferson Parish. Groundbreaking of the new Jefferson Performing Arts Center took place in February 2007 at LaSalle Park in Metairie. The facility opened on July 20, 2015.
Over the years, JPAS has offered a wide variety of entertainment ranging from locally produced plays and musicals, to touring productions and evenings with various international stars.
In 2024, JPAS changed its name from Jefferson Performing Arts Society to Jefferson Performing Arts (JPA) to reflect its continued evolution as a vital leader in the local arts community. It was felt that the term ‘society’ had become confusing to patrons as it sounded exclusive, which could not be farther from its intention. By updating the logo to become ‘Jefferson Performing Arts’, the mission is clear. JPA represents and presents all the performing arts, … proudly based in Jefferson Parish.
To view the entire 2024/25 JPA performance season, go here.
Billy Elliot The Musical
Billy Elliot The Musical is the second of the two locally produced productions to grace the stage at the Jefferson Performing Arts Center in the 2024/25 season. Auditions for BETM were held on Sunday, November 10, 2024.
The production’s Director, Kenneth Beck, is not a full time staff member at JPA. He is director of the Jefferson Ballet Theatre, and is a long time dancer and choreographer in the New Orleans dance community, which gives the BETM production, that is so dance oriented, a unique leader.
The production’s Billy, Charlie Stover, was announced on January 4, 2025 on JPA’s Facebook Page:
INTRODUCING OUR “BILLY ELLIOT”, Charlie Stover!
While Charlie began rehearsing for his role in the show soon after he was announced, with personal instruction from Director Beck, the entire cast began rehearsals on March 5, 2025, which continued right up through the Dress Reheasal, which took place on Thursday evening (27-Mar-2025).
Here’s a video clip of Charlie rehearsing “Electricity” prior to the opening of the production:
Credit: Video by Jefferson Performing Arts
To learn more about Charlie Stover, click on the Billy Profiles button (below) to be taken to his detailed profile.
To see a complete listing of the rest of the Jefferson Performing Arts BETM cast, just click on the Cast Information button.
To A List of All Billy Elliot The Musical Articles at theskykid.com
To “Billy Elliot Dances Around The World”
