Note: Charlie Stover will be appearing as Billy in Billy Elliot the Musical (BETM) in Metairie, Louisiana, presented by Jefferson Performing Arts (JPA), from March 28 -April 6, 2025.
Debut: March 28, 2025 (Metairie, Louisiana)
Total Performances as Billy to Date: 0 (As of 28-Feb-2025)
Charlie Stover, who was born and raised in St. George, Utah, just turned 15 (D.O.B. = 3-Mar-2010) as this BETM production opened. He is the youngest of five children in his Utah family. He currently attends a performing arts high school — the Utah Arts Academy where he presently takes courses in Improv Dance, guitar and drawing. Besides performing, Charlie loves to snowboard, golf and cook.
Charlie got involved in performing from a young age. He remembers he loved watching his older sister by three years, Lilly Mae, as she performed in various artistic offerings. In preparation for his performing, Charlie started his dance training at Vista School, where teacher Rebekah Wainwright instructed him in ballet, jazz and contemporary dance.
Charlie’s own extensive performance resume includes theater, TV and film work — and lately he’s traveled many miles to do it — from Utah to France to Hong Kong to LA (twice) and now to New Orleans. As he puts it he’s “had a busy couple of years”.
Stage
His previous appearances on stage, along with the principal role he played in them, have included:
At the Tuacahn Amphitheatre in Ivins, Utah
- 2019 – Elf The Musical (Children’s Ensemble)
- 2021 – Beauty & The Beast (Chip), School of Rock (James), A Christmas Story (Randy)
- 2022 – Mary Poppins (Michael Banks)
- 2023 – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Charlie Bucket)
Front Row Reviewers had this to say about Charlie’s portrayal of Charlie Bucket: “Stover, who plays the title character, and (adorably) really is named Charlie, is probably the standout performer of the night for me. His singing is always on key and his dancing is so impressive for his age. The emotional arc of the story is heartbreaking because of the authenticity and heart that Stover brings to the character. I also loved the duets between him and Wonka, played by Jonathan Wagner. They have a great blend.”
Beginning at the age of nine, when Charlie appeared in Elf the Musical at Tuacahn, he started a working relationship with the Director of that show, Peggy Hickey. She also worked with him in School of Rock and Mary Poppins. Sadly, Peggy passed away in January of 2023. Charlie feels that her guidance and support was instrumental in any success he’s had at this point in his career as a performer. Today, he dedicates every one of his performances to her.
Continuing a summary of Charlie’s stage work:
At the Ahmanson Theater In Los Angeles
- 2023 – A Christmas Story (Ensemble and Ralphie understudy)
At the Hudson Theatre In Los Angeles
- 2024 – It’s All Your Fault Tyler Price (Jackson)
There was one review about Charlie’s portrayal of Jackson in this musical that was glowing about it. Among other things, the reviewer said “discovering young triple-threat Charlie Stover is what got to me the most. He’s beautiful-looking, sings great, and sells the role of the brother of the girl with epilepsy, who both protects her and feels unseen by his parents who always have to worry about their impaired daughter. And then I saw him do one grand leap at the beginning of Act II, and immediately thought, “The kid needs to play Billy Elliot!” Those interested in reading that entire review can see it here.
For his work in It’s All Your Fault Tyler Price Charlie won “Best Actor in a Musical” award. 
Charlie also spent two months in Hong Kong with the Global Tour of:
- 2024 – The Sound of Music (Friedrich von Trapp)
TV/Film
- In 2021, Charlie appeared in two episodes of the television series Yellowstone, in which he played the role of Spencer Dutton.
- In 2023, Charlie played the role of Hazel A’Dale in the film Riddle of Fire, which premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.
Credit: Video by IGN Movie Trailers
- In 2024, he played the role of Abraham Ballard in This Bloody Country, which has yet to be released.
Billy Elliot The Musical
Billy Elliot has been a dream role for Charlie for several years now. He saw the announcement of the 2024 production of BETM in Aurora, IL, but was disappointed that he had to miss the auditions there because he was playing Charlie Bucket in Charlie and The Chocolate Factory at Tuacahn Amphitheatre in Utah.
So he and his family researched any other upcoming BETM productions. When they saw this production at JPA, Charlie’s mom asked JPA when their auditions would be. They got back to her asking about Charlie and his experience and were impressed enough with what they heard about Charlie that the director, Kenneth Beck, traveled to Utah to meet him and Charlie auditioned for him there in his hometown. Beck obviously liked what he saw because he offered Charlie the role of Billy that day!
In early January, 2025, Charlie announced via a post on his Instagram that he had been cast to play Billy at JPA. Because of Charlie’s very busy schedule, JPA made accomodations so he could be well prepared for the BETM production.
For example, after he was cast in the title role, Director Beck traveled to Utah again so Charlie could begin to work on “Electricity” and learn his parts in “Solidarity” and “Expressing Yourself”.
Charlie moved to New Orleans the last week in February in preparation for rehearsing at the theater with other members of the cast. Those full cast rehearsals began on March 5, 2025 and continued right up to opening night.
Charlie says “Billy Elliot has been a dream role for many years. I’m so grateful and excited to play Billy and work with all the talented people at JPAS.”
Upon his debut in his dream role of Billy Elliot, he will become the 376th performer in the world, since 2005, to bring the title role of the musical to life in a professional, regional or community theatre production.
Here’s a brief video clip in which some of Charlie’s dance skills are on display as he prepares for a competition he had entered. BETM fans may recognize that he’s incorporated some BETM choreography into his routine.
For more information about Charlie Stover, visit:
Billy Elliot the Forum, Charlie’s Instagram, Charlie on IMDb
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