Daniel Boys

Daniel Boys
Daniel Boys at the Stevenage Christmas Lights Switch-on, 18 November 2010
Born	(1979-03-26)26 March 1979 Yateley, Hampshire
Occupation(s)	Actor, singer

Daniel Boys (born 26 March 1979 in Yateley, Hampshire) is a British musical theatre actor, best known as a contestant on the BBC talent series Any Dream Will Do in 2007.

Acting career

Daniel Boys is an award-winning performer whose career encompasses TV, West End musicals, national tours, as well as numerous concerts and recordings. His appearance on the successful BBC TV talent show Any Dream Will Do in 2007 established him as one of the UK's brightest emerging musical talents.

Daniel Boys won a Cameron Mackintosh scholarship to study at the Guildford School of Acting, where he graduated with a B.A. Hons, 2001. He was selected to perform in the first UK tour of Jonathan Larson's Rent, which meant leaving college early. He understudied the characters of Mark (played by Adam Rickitt) and Angel, eventually taking over the starring role of Mark, performing on alternate nights at the Prince of Wales Theatre, in London's West End. He has also played Morino in the UK tour of Sunset Boulevard, which starred Faith Brown.

Boys appeared as Roger, one of the T-birds, in Grease at the Victoria Palace for its twelve month run. This led to him travelling with the production to Japan, and playing the role of Doody in Scandinavia and Cyprus. He also performed at Party in the Park with the company of Grease. Guest appearances with Grease also included Blue Peter and The Graham Norton Show. His numerous other theatre credits include; Doug in the workshop of The Trouble with Doug (Northampton Royal & Derngate); Jason in Ordinary Days (Trafalgar Studios); Christian in the London Premiere of "Wolfboy" (Trafalgar Studios); Eddie in the workshop of Painted Lady: The Princess Caraboo Scandal (Bristol Old Vic/Finborough); Princeton/Rod in "Avenue Q" (Gielgud/Noel Coward – Winner of 2009 Theatregoers Choice Award for Best Takeover in a Role); Austin in I Love You Because (Landor); Anthony in "Sweeney Todd" (Royal Festival Hall); Mark in Rent (European Tour) and Parson Nathanial (u/s) in "Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds" (National Tour),

2011 has seen Daniel create the title role in a brand new musical version of Peter Pan, firstly playing at the Grand Canal Theatre, Dublin over the summer and then transferring to the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton for the Christmas Period.

Any Dream Will Do

In 2007, Boys participated in the BBC reality show Any Dream Will Do. On May 19th, he was the 7th contestant to be eliminated from the series . During the series, the judges tested his vocal skills on a wide variety of music genres including rock, swing, ballads, and pop. However, his only opportunity to sing a musical theatre number was during a sing-off, in which he performed "Bring Him Home" from Les Misérables against Lewis Bradley. Unfortunately, Daniel received the least number of votes, and was chosen to leave the show by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Avenue Q

Daniel's big break came in late 2008, when he joined the cast of the hit show Avenue Q. Daniel played the lead roles of Princeton and Rod for over two years and for his performance he won the What's On Stage Theatregoers Choice Award for 'Best Takeover in a Role'.

John Barrowman, Another Side and Music Music Music Tour

In 2009, John Barrowman, judge on the Any Dream Will Do Panel, invited him to come on tour as a special guest in John Barrowman's Another Side Tour 2008 at the Hammersmith Apollo on 13 April 2008, alongside Ben James-Ellis and Keith Jack. He was a solo guest at the concerts held in Brighton (17 April) and Portsmouth (18 April). He has toured with John Barrowman on his Music Music Music tour, singing some solo material from his debut album and a duet with John Barrowman, "I Know Him So Well"

Concerts And live performances

Daniel was a featured soloist in the Disney's Enchanted Evening series of concerts, performed all over the UK in Summer 2004, with the final concert being televised on BBC1 as the BBC Family Prom in the Park. He has appeared in many other high profile concerts in the UK as a featured vocalist, such as The Best of The West End.

In 2005, Boys took part in BBC London's Children in Need - The Musical.

Boys understudied all male roles in the 2006 UK tour of Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds. He can be seen on the live tour DVD special features, performing in place of Russell Watson in the dress rehearsal.

Boys appeared as Anthony Hope in Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street which was one of the first shows to open at the newly restored Royal Festival Hall in July 2007. He was a guest on Radio 2's Friday Night is Music Night which was recorded live at LSO St Lukes, London. He also took part in three concerts, West End Comes to Walden: An Afternoon of Show Songs, When You've Got It, Flaunt It! and Georgia Stitt and Friends in Concert.

On September 14, 2008, Boys performed at Andrew Lloyd Webber's 60th Birthday concert in Hyde Park, singing "A Light at the End of the Tunnel" alongside other finalists from the talent shows, "Any Dream will Do" and "I'd Do Anything". Boys appeared on BBC programme "Songs of Praise" on January 11, 2009, performing the song "You Know Better than I" from the animated musical Joseph - King of Dreams. In May 2009 (culminating in a performance at London's Royal Albert Hall on June 1, 2009) Boys performed alongside John Barrowman in his latest Music Music Music tour. He performed 5 numbers, including one from his debut album entitled So Close. On December the 6th 2009, Boys performed with fellow artists in "Christmas in New York" at the Prince of Wales Theatre. Among his songs were "Ave Maria" and "Winter Wonderland".

In February 2010, Boys performed with Jessie Buckley in two concerts in Manchester and Birmingham entitled "Valentines at the Musicals" including songs from West Side Story and My Fair Lady. 2009 saw the release of Daniel’s debut solo album So Close which has proved popular worldwide and is still a best seller at London's Dress Circle. To coincide with the release, Daniel embarked on a series of solo concerts performing at venues such as Leicester Square Theatre, the Delfont Room at the Prince Of Wales Theatre, Wilton Music Hall, Greenwich Theatre and three sold out performances at the renowned Pizza On The Park, London. He made his American debut with the show when he performed at Show at Barre (Los Angeles), supported by Broadway actress Megan Hilty and has just returned from Australia where he played both Sydney and the Adelaide Cabaret Festival alongside acts such as Olivia Newton John and Chita Rivera.

Further concerts include: No Space For Air (Apollo); Christmas in New York (Prince of Wales & Apollo), An Evening with John Barrowman (Arundel Castle), A Spoonful of Stiles & Drewe (Her Majesty’s), Party in the Park (Hyde Park) amongst others. Daniel is also a regular soloist on BBC Radio 2’s Friday Night is Music Night.

On Oct 21, 2011, Daniel played Judas in the 40th Anniversary production of Godspell alongside Kerry Ellis at the Palace Theatre, Manchester.

Recordings

In 2008, Boys recorded a song for the CD Act One - Songs From The Musicals Of Alexander S. Bermange, an album of 20 brand new recordings by 26 West End stars, released in October 2008 on Dress Circle Records.

His debut album 'So Close' launched on June 1, 2009, something Daniel had always wanted to complete. Mixed by Grammy award-winner and cousin Jerry Boys in early 2009, each track was carefully chosen to reflect Daniel's varied taste in music (or perhaps something dear to him). The penultimate track 'Always There' features the backing vocals of friends, family and fellow cast members as a tribute to their support and friendship.

Boys also recorded the song 'My Brother's Eyes' on Terry Pratchett's 'Only You Can Save Mankind', which was released on November 23, 2009, and has also recorded a version of I Know Him So Well with John Barrowman for his 2008 album Music Music Music.

Daniel recently recorded an exclusive track for Disney called 'The World is Something You Can Imagine' which can now be heard in all their stores worldwide. It was also released as a charity single with proceeds going to the Disney Appeal at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Daniel can also be heard on numerous recordings including the cast recording of Wolfboy, More With Every Line - the Songs of Tim Prottey-Jones, Only You Can Save Mankind, Christmas in New York and Act One. 2011 has also seen him contributing to Helena Blackman's, Shona White's, Michael Bruce's and Dougal Irvine's debut albums.

Discography

• So Close (2009)

External links

• Official Daniel Boys website
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