Billy Hartung
Encyclopedia
Billy Hartung, also known as Bill Hartung and William Hartung, is an American
actor and dancer with credits ranging from Broadway
to film.
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
in 1971, Hartung is a graduate of Seton-La Salle Catholic High School
and received a BFA from Point Park University
.
He made his acting debut in 1991 in the made for TV movie Guilty Until Proven Innocent. In 1993, he made his big screen debut as a boat preppie in the movie Striking Distance
, which was filmed in his hometown of Pittsburgh.
Hartung appeared in the original cast of the Broadway productions of Side Show
, as Roustabout, and Footloose
, as Chuck Cranston. He also appeared in the film version of Chicago
.
He currently teaches acting at Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts
. He continues working in regional theatre
.
He is now working at the Center for Theater Arts in Mt. Lebanon, PA as creative director. He most recently directed a group of talented high school students in a version of Footloose where he mirrored his broadway experience by teaching the teens original Broadway choreography and provided original scripts for each cast member. He says that directing these students rounded out his Footloose experience because he has now partaken in every aspect of the show now including teaching. Billy says the teens have recreated his Footloose memories and image of the show.
He is no longer teaching at the Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor and dancer with credits ranging from 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...
to film.
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
in 1971, Hartung is a graduate of Seton-La Salle Catholic High School
Seton-La Salle Catholic High School
Seton-La Salle Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
and received a BFA from Point Park University
Point Park University
Point Park University is a liberal arts university located in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Formerly known as Point Park College, the school name was revised in 2004 to reflect the number of graduate programs being offered....
.
He made his acting debut in 1991 in the made for TV movie Guilty Until Proven Innocent. In 1993, he made his big screen debut as a boat preppie in the movie Striking Distance
Striking Distance
Striking Distance is a 1993 thriller starring Bruce Willis, Sarah Jessica Parker, Dennis Farina, and Tom Sizemore as Pittsburgh Police officers pursuing a serial killer. It was directed by Rowdy Herrington and written by Herrington and Marty Kaplan...
, which was filmed in his hometown of Pittsburgh.
Hartung appeared in the original cast of the Broadway productions of Side Show
Side Show
Side Show is a musical about Daisy and Violet Hilton, conjoined twins who make a change from being a circus act to becoming famous stage performers in the 1930s. The show was written by Bill Russell and Henry Krieger . The show starred Alice Ripley as Violet and Emily Skinner as Daisy...
, as Roustabout, and Footloose
Footloose (musical)
Footloose is a 1998 musical based on the 1984 film of the same name. The music is by Tom Snow , the lyrics by Dean Pitchford , and the book by Pitchford and Walter Bobbie.-Act 1:...
, as Chuck Cranston. He also appeared in the film version of Chicago
Chicago (2002 film)
Chicago is a 2002 musical film adapted from the satirical stage musical of the same name, exploring the themes of celebrity, scandal, and corruption in Jazz-age Chicago....
.
He currently teaches acting at Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts
Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts
Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts 6–12 is a magnet school located in the Cultural District of Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. CAPA is one of four 6th to 12th grade schools in the Pittsburgh Public Schools...
. He continues working in regional theatre
Regional theatre in the United States
Regional theaters, or resident theaters, in the United States are professional or semi-professional, theater companies that produce their own seasons. The term regional theatre most often refers to professional theatres outside of New York City...
.
He is now working at the Center for Theater Arts in Mt. Lebanon, PA as creative director. He most recently directed a group of talented high school students in a version of Footloose where he mirrored his broadway experience by teaching the teens original Broadway choreography and provided original scripts for each cast member. He says that directing these students rounded out his Footloose experience because he has now partaken in every aspect of the show now including teaching. Billy says the teens have recreated his Footloose memories and image of the show.
External links
He is no longer teaching at the Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts