Here are the three Billy's for "Billy Elliot"

San Diego teen to be a Billy Elliot

San Diego teenager Kiril Kulish is one of three boys selected to share the role of Billy in the Broadway production of "Billy Elliot: The Musical," with music by Elton John and lyrics and libretto by Lee Hall.

The show, based on the 2000 movie "Billy Elliot," about a talented kid from a working-class family in northern England who wants to dance, opens Oct. 1 at the Imperial Theater in New York.

Announced Tuesday in New York, the selection of the three Billys who will rotate through the role -- Kulish, 14; New Yorker Trent Kowalik, 13, a veteran of the London production; and Montreal-born David Alvarez, 13, who spent many years in San Diego and now lives in New York -- follows a scouting process that began more than three years ago, with countrywide auditions involving hundreds of boys.

Kulish, a trained pianist who began studying ballet at age 5 and ballroom dancing at 8, has won awards in ballet and ballroom competitions.

His sister and publicist Beatrice, who was with Kulish in New York for the announcement, said that at age 3 Kulish began following the ballroom and dance steps she demonstrated on visits home from college. She says she encouraged Kulish to dance "because I just wanted him to meet girls, you know?"

-- Diane Haithman