‘Billy Elliot’ is set to begin its North American tour in Chicago next March

October 8th, 2009 American rocker JAY REATARD is searching for a new band to take on tour to Europe, after bassist STEPHEN POPE and drummer BILLY HAYES quit. Reatard announced the pair's departure in a foul-mouthed Twitter.com rant, just weeks before the trio were due to hit the road.

September 30th, 2009 Aussie popstar KYLIE MINOGUE kicked off her first North American tour in flamboyant style on Wednesday night (30Sep09) - and branded the show's debut in Oakland, California "unforgettable". The superstar has never embarked on a Stateside trek before and has been in manic rehearsals for the past few weeks to perfect her performance.

September 17th, 2009 BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN and his E STREET BAND are eyeing a hiatus after their current tour wraps up in November (09). The veteran rocker, who hits the landmark age of 60 on Wednesday (23Sep09), is expected to take at least a year to himself while the members of his band work on solo projects following the end of their ongoing North American trek.

September 9th, 2009 HALLOWEEN II director ROB ZOMBIE is taking a break from moviemaking to return to music - the rocker is set to go on tour before the release of his next film. The follow-up to Zombie's 2007 remake of the horror classic opened in theatres this month (Sep09) and busy Zombie has already signed on to direct a remake of The Blob, which he will begin shooting in the spring of 2010.

August 25th, 2009 British rockers THE CHARLATANS have been forced to cancel their forthcoming North American tour so drummer JON BROOKES can undergo shoulder surgery. The band was due to perform a string of gigs across the U.S.

July 26th, 2009 Billy Joel ill, postpones 2nd upstate NY showALBANY, N.Y. — Billy Joel and Elton John have postponed a second upstate New York concert on their top-grossing tour after Joel fell ill with flu-like symptoms.

June 24th, 2009 Billy Crystal takes '700 Sundays' on the roadNEW YORK — Billy Crystal is taking his acclaimed stage autobiography, "700 Sundays," on the road this fall. "700 Sundays" was a Broadway success during the 2004-2005 season, playing to sold-out houses and winning a Tony Award for special theatrical experience.

June 8th, 2009 Partial list of winners of 2009 Tony AwardWinners of the 2009 American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards, announced Sunday. PLAY: "God of Carnage." REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL: "Hair." BOOK OF A MUSICAL: Lee Hall, "Billy Elliot, The Musical." ORIGINAL SCORE (MUSIC AND/OR LYRICS) WRITTEN FOR THE THEATRE: "Next to Normal." REVIVAL OF A PLAY: "The Norman Conquests." SPECIAL THEATRICAL EVENT: "Liza's at The Palace." PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTOR IN A PLAY: Geoffrey Rush, "Exit the King." PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTRESS IN A PLAY: Marcia Gay Harden, "God of Carnage." PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL: David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, and Kiril Kulish, "Billy Elliot, The Musical." PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL: Alice Ripley, "Next to Normal." PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY: Roger Robinson, "Joe Turner's Come and Gone." PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY: Angela Lansbury, "Blithe Spirit." PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL: Gregory Jbara, "Billy Elliot, The Musical." PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL: Karen Olivo, "West Side Story." SCENIC DESIGN OF A PLAY: Derek McLane, "33 Variations." SCENIC DESIGN OF A MUSICAL: Ian MacNeil, "Billy Elliot, The Musical." COSTUME DESIGN OF A PLAY: Anthony Ward, "Mary Stuart." COSTUME DESIGN OF A MUSICAL: Tim Hatley, "Shrek The Musical." LIGHTING DESIGN OF A PLAY: Brian MacDevitt, "Joe Turner's Come and Gone." LIGHTING DESIGN OF A MUSICAL: Rick Fisher, "Billy Elliot, The Musical." SOUND DESIGN OF A PLAY: Gregory Clarke, "Equus." SOUND DESIGN OF A MUSICAL: Paul Arditti, "Billy Elliot, The Musical." DIRECTION OF A PLAY: Matthew Warchus, "God of Carnage." DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL: Stephen Daldry, "Billy Elliot, The Musical." CHOREOGRAPHY: Peter Darling, "Billy Elliot, The Musical." ORCHESTRATIONS: Martin Koch, "Billy Elliot, The Musical"; Michael Starobin and Tom Kitt, "Next to Normal." SPECIAL TONY AWARD FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN THE THEATRE: Jerry Herman.

June 8th, 2009 List of winners of 2009 Tony AwardWinners of the 2009 American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards, announced Sunday. BOOK OF A MUSICAL: Lee Hall, "Billy Elliot, The Musical." SCENIC DESIGN OF A PLAY: Derek McLane, "33 Variations." SCENIC DESIGN OF A MUSICAL: Ian MacNeil, "Billy Elliot, The Musical." COSTUME DESIGN OF A PLAY: Anthony Ward, "Mary Stuart." COSTUME DESIGN OF A MUSICAL: Tim Hatley, "Shrek The Musical." LIGHTING DESIGN OF A PLAY: Brian MacDevitt, "Joe Turner's Come and Gone." LIGHTING DESIGN OF A MUSICAL: Rick Fisher, "Billy Elliot, The Musical." SOUND DESIGN OF A PLAY: Gregory Clarke, "Equus." SOUND DESIGN OF A MUSICAL: Paul Arditti, "Billy Elliot, The Musical." CHOREOGRAPHY: Peter Darling, "Billy Elliot, The Musical." ORCHESTRATIONS: Martin Koch, "Billy Elliot, The Musical"; Michael Starobin and Tom Kitt, "Next to Normal." SPECIAL TONY AWARD FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN THE THEATRE: Jerry Herman.

June 8th, 2009 Tonys should aid success of 'Billy' and 'Carnage'NEW YORK — Tony wins should strengthen even more the box-office appeal of "Billy Elliot" and "God of Carnage," already two of Broadway's biggest hits. "It's the cherry on top of the sundae," said producer Ken Davenport about the 10 Tonys for "Billy Elliot," including best musical, and the three for "Carnage," including best play.

June 8th, 2009 NEW YORK - Billy Elliot, the unlikely British musical about a miner's son with a passion for ballet, dominated the Tony Awards, scooping up 10 prizes, including the coveted prize for best musical. The Tony for best play went Sunday night to the searing marital comedy "God of Carnage" by Yasmina Reza while the remake of the musical "Hair" won the prize for best revival of a musical.

June 7th, 2009 'Billy Elliot,' 'God of Carnage' look toward TonysNEW YORK — "Billy Elliot" dominated the early going at Sunday night's Tonys, collecting six awards, including best book of a musical and choreography. The show also received design prizes for sets, lighting, sound and a tie with "Next to Normal" for best orchestrations.

June 3rd, 2009 Broadway's 3 Billys win 2009 Astaire AwardsNEW YORK — Broadway's three Billy Elliots have danced off with Astaire Awards. David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik (COE'-wall-ick) and Kiril (KA'-reel) Kulish (COO'-lish) will share the prize for best male dancer on Broadway for their performances as the title character in "Billy Elliot." Peter Darling, also of "Billy Elliot," received the award for best Broadway choreographer.

May 5th, 2009 List of nominees for 2009 Tony AwardNominations for the 2009 American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards, announced Tuesday. BEST PLAY: "Dividing the Estate," ''God of Carnage," ''reasons to be pretty," ''33 Variations." BEST MUSICAL: "Billy Elliot, The Musical," ''Next to Normal," ''Rock of Ages," ''Shrek The Musical." BEST BOOK OF A MUSICAL: "Billy Elliot, The Musical," ''Next to Normal," ''Shrek The Musical," ''(Title of Show)." BEST ORIGINAL SCORE (MUSIC AND/OR LYRICS) WRITTEN FOR THE THEATRE: "Billy Elliot, The Musical," ''Next to Normal," ''9 to 5: The Musical," ''Shrek The Musical." BEST REVIVAL OF A PLAY: "Joe Turner's Come and Gone," ''Mary Stuart," ''The Norman Conquests," ''Waiting for Godot." BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL: "Guys and Dolls," ''Hair," ''Pal Joey," ''West Side Story." BEST SPECIAL THEATRICAL EVENT: "Liza's at The Palace," ''Slava's Snowshow," ''Soul of Shaolin," ''You're Welcome America.

May 5th, 2009 'Billy Elliot,' 'God of Carnage' score Tony nomsNEW YORK — "Billy Elliot," the season's biggest musical hit, dominated the 2009 Tony Award nominations Tuesday, picking up 15, more than any other show. Based on the popular British movie, the show about a coal miner's son who dreams of becoming a dancer, will compete for best musical against "Next to Normal," ''Rock of Ages" and "Shrek The Musical." "It's been an amazing experience," Elton John, nominated for the show's original score, told CBS' "Early Show," which telecast early nominations.