Kiril Kulish
Encyclopedia
Kiril Kulish is an American actor, dancer, and singer. Beginning his ballet training at the age of five, Kulish became a Tony Award
winner at the age of fifteen as Best Leading Actor in a Musical
for his role as one of the original Billys in the Broadway
production of Billy Elliot the Musical
.
on February 16, 1994. His family is of Ukrainian descent, and he grew up speaking Russian
and Ukrainian
, as well as English
. He started studying ballet at the age of five and is also a concert pianist. He was the Junior division Grand Prix winner of the Youth America Grand Prix in 2007, and won the Hope Award in the Pre-Competitive division in 2006.
He was the youngest male dancer admitted to the San Diego Academy of Ballet Junior Company.
, with David Álvarez
and Trent Kowalik
being other two boys who would be alternating in the role. Kulish performed in the musical's first preview performance on October 1, 2008 and on June 7, 2009, Kulish, along with Trent Kowalik
and David Álvarez
, won for the Tony Award
for best leading actor in a musical
. In all, Billy Elliot
was nominated for 15 Tony Awards, and won 10, including Best Musical and Best Book. Kulish appeared in his final performance as Billy on Saturday October 3, 2009.
. In 2010, he attended the ballroom championship at USA Dance Southwest Regional Championship in Long Beach, CA. Kulish currently resides in San Diego, California
with his parents.
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
winner at the age of fifteen as Best Leading Actor in a Musical
Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
The Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical is awarded to the actor who was voted as the best actor in a musical play, whether a new production or a revival...
for his role as one of the original Billys in the Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
production of Billy Elliot the Musical
Billy Elliot the Musical
Billy Elliot the Musical is a musical based on the 2000 film Billy Elliot. The music is by Sir Elton John, and book and lyrics are by Lee Hall, who wrote the film's screenplay. The plot revolves around motherless Billy, who trades boxing gloves for ballet shoes...
.
Early life
Kulish was born in San Diego, CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
on February 16, 1994. His family is of Ukrainian descent, and he grew up speaking Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
and Ukrainian
Ukrainian language
Ukrainian is a language of the East Slavic subgroup of the Slavic languages. It is the official state language of Ukraine. Written Ukrainian uses a variant of the Cyrillic alphabet....
, as well as English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. He started studying ballet at the age of five and is also a concert pianist. He was the Junior division Grand Prix winner of the Youth America Grand Prix in 2007, and won the Hope Award in the Pre-Competitive division in 2006.
He was the youngest male dancer admitted to the San Diego Academy of Ballet Junior Company.
Billy Elliot the Musical
At a press launch in New York on April 22, 2008, it was announced that Kulish would be one of three boys to play the title role in the original Broadway production of Billy Elliot the MusicalBilly Elliot the Musical
Billy Elliot the Musical is a musical based on the 2000 film Billy Elliot. The music is by Sir Elton John, and book and lyrics are by Lee Hall, who wrote the film's screenplay. The plot revolves around motherless Billy, who trades boxing gloves for ballet shoes...
, with David Álvarez
David Alvarez (actor)
David Alvarez is a Canadian dancer and actor, best known as being one of the original Billys in the Broadway production of Billy Elliot the Musical.- Early years :...
and Trent Kowalik
Trent Kowalik
Trent Kowalik is an American actor, dancer, and singer. Kowalik made his theatrical debut as "Billy" in the West End production of Billy Elliot the Musical on December 17, 2007...
being other two boys who would be alternating in the role. Kulish performed in the musical's first preview performance on October 1, 2008 and on June 7, 2009, Kulish, along with Trent Kowalik
Trent Kowalik
Trent Kowalik is an American actor, dancer, and singer. Kowalik made his theatrical debut as "Billy" in the West End production of Billy Elliot the Musical on December 17, 2007...
and David Álvarez
David Alvarez (actor)
David Alvarez is a Canadian dancer and actor, best known as being one of the original Billys in the Broadway production of Billy Elliot the Musical.- Early years :...
, won for the Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
for best leading actor in a musical
Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
The Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical is awarded to the actor who was voted as the best actor in a musical play, whether a new production or a revival...
. In all, Billy Elliot
Billy Elliot the Musical
Billy Elliot the Musical is a musical based on the 2000 film Billy Elliot. The music is by Sir Elton John, and book and lyrics are by Lee Hall, who wrote the film's screenplay. The plot revolves around motherless Billy, who trades boxing gloves for ballet shoes...
was nominated for 15 Tony Awards, and won 10, including Best Musical and Best Book. Kulish appeared in his final performance as Billy on Saturday October 3, 2009.
Other work
In late 2009, Kulish performed the lead role in the ballet The NutcrackerThe Nutcracker
The Nutcracker is a two-act ballet, originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The libretto is adapted from E.T.A. Hoffmann's story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King". It was given its première at the Mariinsky Theatre in St...
. In 2010, he attended the ballroom championship at USA Dance Southwest Regional Championship in Long Beach, CA. Kulish currently resides in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
with his parents.
Awards
| Awards | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Award | Category | Role | Show | Result | Ref. |
| 2009 63rd Tony Awards The 63rd Annual Tony Awards, which recognized Broadway productions of the 2008-2009 season, were presented on June 7, 2009 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The ceremony was broadcast by CBS, with Neil Patrick Harris as host.... |
Tony Award Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway... |
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical The Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical is awarded to the actor who was voted as the best actor in a musical play, whether a new production or a revival... |
Billy Elliot | Billy Elliot the Musical Billy Elliot the Musical Billy Elliot the Musical is a musical based on the 2000 film Billy Elliot. The music is by Sir Elton John, and book and lyrics are by Lee Hall, who wrote the film's screenplay. The plot revolves around motherless Billy, who trades boxing gloves for ballet shoes... |
||