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    Meet Billy Elliot: Truman Bednar

    Note:  Truman Bednar will be appearing as Billy in Billy Elliot the Musical (BETM) in Delano, Minnesota – presented by the Delano Dramatic Company, from July 18-27, 2025.

    Debut: July 18, 2025 (Delano, MN)

    Total Performances as Billy to Date:  0 (As of 30-Jun-2025) 

    Truman Bednar was 13 years old when he starred as Billy Elliot in the Delano Dramatic Company (DDC) production of the musical.

    Truman is a long time student of dance. Recent training has taken place at the WestMet Classical Training facility in Long Lake, Minnesota, and at the Woodbury Dance Center in Woodbury, Minnesota. While training at those facilities, he’s competed in various dance competitions, including the prestigious Youth America Grand Prix (YAGA) dance competitions. In the 2023 YAGA in Kansas City, representing the WestMet company, at 11 years old, Truman was awarded 1st Place for his age category in Classical Dance. A year later in 2024, in Chicago, Truman won a 3rd Place in his age group in the Contemporary Dance category while representing the Woodbury Dance Center.

    Truman’s Ballet training has been extensive over the past eight years. In addition to training at the aforementioned facilities, he has received invitations and scholarships to the School of American Ballet, Miami City Ballet and the Chautaugua Institute.

    Here are a couple of examples of Truman’s dancing skills in competition. The first is at a Masquerade Dance competition in the Fall of 2024. The video features Truman dancing in the “Teen Contemporary Solo” category in a number called “Bows”.

    Credit: Video by Lovely Dancers

    The second example of Truman’s competitive dancing is from the YAGP dance competition in Chicago in 2024.  The number is called “Satanella” and is in the “Classical Dance” category.

    Credit: Video by Lovely Dancers 5

    In addition to time spent on stage strictly as a dancer, Truman also has put together quite a resumé in musical theatre. Most recently, from April 2 to May 4, 2025, he portrayed the character “Christian” in Fun Home at Theater Latté Da in Minneapolis. The musical had won Broadway’s Best Musical Tony Award in 2015.

    Truman Bednar (1st from Left) in “Fun Home”

    Truman had made his professional theater debut in July of 2022 as “Billy” in School of Rock for the Zephyr Theatre in Stillwater, MN. Other previous productions and the roles he played include: Frozen Jr (Olaf); Shrek (Lord Farquaad); and The Jungle Book (King Louie). Truman also participated in Loyce Houlton’s Nutcracker Fantasy at the State Theatre in Minneapolis for three years. 

    In addition to his stage roles, Truman also has a film credit on his resumé. He played a student in the short film Filter in 2024.

    Billy Elliot The Musical

    Auditions for BETM were held May 15, 16 & 17, with call backs held on May 19. The cast was announced on May 24th. The show is directed by DDC’s Artistic Director, Jack Neveaux.

    The show will feature a 33 member cast, led by Truman Bedar

    When Truman debuts on July 18, 2025, he becomes the 380th performer worldwide to bring the role of Billy Elliot to life on stage in a professional, regional or community theatre production of the musical since it was first performed in London’s West End in 2005.

    For more information about Truman Bednar, visit:

    Billy Elliot the Forum

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