Note: Keenan Moran will be appearing as Billy in Billy Elliot the Musical (BETM) at the Woodland Opera House, in Woodland, California, from May 1-16, 2026.
Debut: May 1, 2026 (Woodland, CA)
Total Performances as Billy to Date: 0 (As of 30-Apr-2026)
Keenan Thomas Moran, from Walnut Creek, California was 14 years old when he debuted as Billy in Billy Elliot The Musical in Woodland, California. He has been acting since the age of five, with a first appearance in the Performing Academy‘s production of Peter Pan. There is performing in Keenan’s blood. His mother, Renee DeWeese Moran, is a dancer and is the founder and executive director of Performing Academy.
Keenan brings a wealth of previous performing experience to the stage when he brings Billy to life for the Woodland Opera House audiences. This Bay Area perfomer’s work bridges regional theatre, an international tour production and feature film. In fact, Keenan brings to his role as Billy Elliot a wealth of previous performing experience that rivals that of anyone who has ever played Billy.
Some of Keenan’s stage work includes:
- Newsies! (2022 in the role of Les) Tri-Valley Repertory Theatre
- Matilda The Musical (2022 in the role of Eric) Berkeley Playhouse
- Fun Home (2022 in the role of John) 42nd Street Moon
- Kinky Boots (2023 in the role of Young Charlie Price) Berkeley Playhouse
- Merrily We Roll Along (2023 in the role of Franklin Shepard, Jr.) 42nd Street Moon
- The Addams Family (2025 in the role of Pugsley Addams) Berkeley Playhouse
- Mary Poppins (2025 in the role of Michael) TMC Arts
Keenan also played the role of Friedrich Von Trapp in the Broadway International Tour Group’s The Sound of Music. The show toured China, from November 2023 to April of 2024.
Keenan’s documented theatre credits and public materials point toward a performer profile that is unusually dance-forward for his age. His own published musical theatre reel description states that he takes “ballet and tap” classes and plays guitar.
His documented singing includes both local competitions and program-based showcases.
The Lamorinda Arts Council, which holds annual singing competitions, in it’s official “Performers Archive” lists Keenan as the 2023 winner for the 3rd–5th Grade Solo category. The same archive also lists him as a 2024 finalist (3rd–5th grade solo), and as part of a 2025 group entry (“Mor Hart”).
This video clip, called In the Cards (from the musical, Diamonds), was recorded at a performance by Keenan Moran at the Lamorinda Idol Finals, August 18, 2024. It gives the reader a good feel for his singing talent:
Credit: Video by Steve Harwood
Keenan also has some film work on his resume, including roles in the films: Gladiators (2024 in the role of Tagora), No Address (2025 in role of Sam) and Zayde (2025 in the role of Trey). You can see further details about these roles on Keenan’s IMDb page.
Beyond stage/screen, Keenan appears to be building media fluency and an interview voice: A public podcast listing describes Stage Notes Bay Area as hosted by “mother and son duo Renee and Keenan Moran,” focused on Bay Area theatre conversation and related topics. If you click on the link in the previous sentence, several episodes are available for a listen.
Billy Elliot The Musical
On December 23, 2025, a call went out via the Theater’s social media platforms for video submissions for young people looking to be cast for child roles in the show, including Billy Elliot, with a submission deadline of January 5, 2026. The Moran family has friends in the Woodland area who alerted them of the theatre’s “Find our Billy” search, so Keenan sent in a video submission at that time.
Live auditions (call backs) were held on February 16 & 17, 2026. These included each candidate doing a vocal selection, a dance demo and an acting piece. A 23 member cast was announced on February 21, 2026 and rehearsals began on March 2, 2026. Rehearsals for the show were held five days per week, leading up to “Tech Week”, April 26-30, 2026. Because the theatre is about 60 miles from where the Moran’s live, Renee shared that as it was such a long drive for them to do round trip, either she or her husband would take turns driving Keenan and then staying with him while Keenan rehearses. Renee said that the town of Woodland, CA has been very welcoming to them and its a very charming place and a great place to work.
As a dancer herself, Renee was very aware of the show, Billy Elliot The Musical, long before Keenan decided to audition for this production. She said she told him how demanding it would be physically and emotionally. But she is happy to report that Keenan was up for the challenge and she’s seen improvement in his dance technique as a result of rehearsing for the role. She said he’s also enjoyed perfecting his Geordi/Newcastle dialect.
Upon his debut, Keenan becomes the 394th performer to bring the role of Billy to life in a professional, regional or community theatre production of the musical worldwide.
For more information about Keenan, visit:
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