'Billy Elliott' to close on Broadway

NEW YORK, Oct. 3 (UPI) -- The Broadway production of "Billy Elliot the Musical" is to wrap up its three-year run in January, the Tony Award-winning show's producers said Monday.

The final performance is set for Jan. 8 at Manhattan's Imperial Theatre. The show about a young boy who falls in love with ballet will have played 40 preview and 1,304 regular performances, Playbill.com said.

The stage adaptation of the film with the same name featured music by Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall, and choreography by Peter Darling. It was directed by Stephen Daldry.

"After three unforgettable years, we are announcing the final performance of 'Billy Elliot the Musical' on Broadway," producer Eric Fellner said in a statement issued to Playbill.com. "To see this story of a small boy from a small town in the northeast of England achieve such enormous success and receive such an incredible response from the musical theater capital of the world has been hugely rewarding.

"Sadly, all great things come to an end and we look forward to working on Broadway again soon."

John said "Billy Elliot" was "one of the most rewarding experiences of my entire life" and seeing it staged on Broadway was "a dream fulfilled."

"I'm so proud of the brilliant young performers who have mastered the role of Billy on Broadway -- their commitment and sheer talent has been the backbone of this production," he said.