Jacob Clemente (born April 12, 1997) is an American actor and dancer. He is best known for his portrayal of "Billy" in the Broadway production of Billy Elliot: The Musical.
Jacob Clemente | |
|---|---|
 Jacob Clemente on tour with the Yale Alley Cats in Geneva | |
| Born | Jacob Clemente April 12, 1997 |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Website | Official Website |
Clemente was born in North Greenbush, New York, on April 12, 1997.[1][2][3] He began his study of dance in Colonie, New York, at The World of Dance.[3]
Clemente appeared in regional theatre productions as a boy, including Toy Camp,[4] The Music Man,[5] High School Musical on Stage!,[4] and Seussical.[3][6] He also participated in dance competitions including with The New York City Dance Alliance (NYCDA).[citation needed]
In 2008, Clemente auditioned for the revival production of Gypsy, starring Patti Lupone. On September 2, he became a replacement in the cast as a "Boy Scout",[2] making his Broadway debut at the age of 11.[7] He remained with the show until it closed on January 11, 2009.[8]
After successfully auditioning for the Broadway production of Billy Elliot: The Musical, Clemente appeared as the "Tall/Posh Boy" and was the understudy for "Michael."[1] His second performance as "Tall/Posh Boy" was on October 3, 2009, which was the final performance of Kiril Kulish, the Tony Award-winning Broadway preview night Billy.[9]
On April 3, 2010, Clemente became the ninth actor to play the role of "Billy" in the Broadway production of Billy Elliot the Musical.[1][10][11][12] He performed the role for the final time on July 3, 2011.[3][13]
In 2010, Clemente participated with other Broadway stars in recording the song "It Gets Better," to benefit the Trevor Project. The song was released on iTunes October 19, 2010.[14]
At CES 2011, Clemente played the host character Zoll for the Samsung keynote.[15]
Clemente attended Columbia High School in East Greenbush, New York. In 2015, Clemente began attending Yale College, where he double-majored in Russian[16] and economics. He is a member of a number of performing groups on campus, including the Yale Alley Cats.
Credits
Stage
| Date | Production | Role | Theatre |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 15–17, 2006 | Toy Camp | Jig[4] | Capital Area Productions |
| February 2–4, 2007 | High School Musical on Stage! | Party Kid (ensemble)[4] | Capital Area Productions |
| November 15–18, 2007 | The Music Man | Winthrop[5] | Schenectady Light Opera |
| September 2, 2008 - January 11, 2009 | Gypsy | Boy Scout | St. James Theatre |
| June 10–18, 2010 | Seussical | Haree (Wickersham #2)[6] | Cohoes Music Hall |
| April 3, 2010 - July 3, 2011 | Billy Elliot: The Musical | Billy | Imperial Theatre |
| October 2, 2009 - November 15, 2009 | Tall/Posh Boy, Understudy: Michael | ||
| June 6, 2011 | Camelot Benefit Concert | Tom of Warwick[17][18] | Shubert Theatre |
Film
| Date | Production | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | The Prize Guys | Pre-Production | |
| Max's Fantastic Adventures - The Well of Lost Souls | Harry[19] | Pre-Production |
Awards
- NYCDA National Mini Outstanding Dancer 2008[20]
- 1st Place Junior Division PrimeTime Albany, NY Regional 2008[21]
- NYCDA Boston Regional Mini Outstanding Dancer Dec. 2007[22]
- Junior Mr. Starquest, World Finals, Virginia Beach 2007[23]
- NYCDA Regionals Outstanding Dancer Runnerup 2007[24]
- Regional Petite Mr. Starquest, Albany, NY 2007[25]
- 2nd Runner Up, Dance Xplosion National Mini Mister Title, July 2006[3]
