Note: Ford’s last show as Billy in the Tulsa Project Theatre (TPT) production of Billy Elliot The Musical, at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center, was on May 7, 2016.
Debut: April 29, 2016 (Tulsa Performing Arts Center, Tulsa, OK)
Total Performances as Billy: 8 (No partial shows)
Thirteen-year-old Ford Mirowski (at the time of his debut as Billy) is a 7th Grader at Pipkin Middle School in Springfield, MO where he lives with his mom and dad, Dana and Steve, and his sister Faith. In addition to his work in the performing arts, Ford enjoys playing the trumpet, running and biking; his favorite subjects are humanities and science.
As an example of his running activities, Ford competed last summer in the Springfield, Missouri Route 66 Festival and its Route 6.6 Mile Run (see picture at right). With regard to his love of music, when not dancing or singing Ford can be found playing his trumpet for the Springfield Community Jazz Ensemble.
Regarding previous theatrical experience, Ford appeared in February of 2015 as “Tom of Warwick” in the national Broadway tour of Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot at Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts in Springfield.
He is a member of Springfield Little Theatre’s Youth Performance Troupes where he has appeared in eight main stage productions. Ford says his favorite role in those productions was as Michael Banks in Mary Poppins.
Music Director Ron Spigelman says that Ford wears a Superman T-shirt to rehearsals for good luck. With his talent, Ford won’t need much of that.
Says Ford about his being cast as Billy, “Billy Elliot is a dream role and I am so thankful to Lloyd Holt, Jordan Alexander (Co-Directors) and Ron Spigelman (Music Director) for this opportunity, their trust in me, and for their incredible direction”.
When asked if he’s anything like the character of Billy he plays, Ford replied ““He’s really the total opposite of me. I have a loving and supportive family; I live in a good neighborhood, whereas Billy lives in this kind of dreary place. His father is depressed, his mother is dead, his brother is a bully. So I really had to dig deep to really understand what it must be like, to know what is happening in Billy’s head and heart.”
Upon his debut on Friday, 29-Apr-2016, he becomes the 129th boy in the world to bring Billy to life on stage in a professional production of the show.
For more information about Ford visit:
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