Daniel Boys
Encyclopedia
Daniel Boys is a British musical theatre actor, best known as a contestant on the BBC talent series Any Dream Will Do
Any Dream Will Do (TV series)
Any Dream Will Do, often known as 'Joseph', was a 2007 talent show-themed television series produced by the BBC in the United Kingdom. It searched for a new, unknown lead to play Joseph in a West End revival of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.The show...

in 2007.

Acting Career

Daniel Boys is an award-winning performer whose career encompasses TV, West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...

 musicals, national tours, as well as numerous concerts and recordings. His appearance on the hugely successful BBC TV talent show Any Dream Will Do in 2007 firmly established him as one of the UK's brightest emerging musical talents.

Daniel Boys won a Cameron Mackintosh
Cameron Mackintosh
Sir Cameron Anthony Mackintosh is a British theatrical producer notable for his association with many commercially successful musicals. At the height of his success in 1990, he was described as being "the most successful, influential and powerful theatrical producer in the world" by the New York...

 scholarship to study at the Guildford School of Acting
Guildford School of Acting
Guildford School of Acting is a drama school located in Guildford, Surrey, England. It is an affiliate of the University of Surrey and is an accredited member of the National Council for Drama Training and The Conference of Drama Schools.-Overview:...

, where he graduated with a B.A. Hons, 2001. He was selected to perform in the first UK tour of Jonathan Larson
Jonathan Larson
Jonathan Larson was an American composer and playwright noted for the serious social issues of multiculturalism, addiction, and homophobia explored in his work. Typical examples of his use of these themes are found in his works, Rent and tick, tick... BOOM!...

's Rent
Rent (musical)
Rent is a rock musical with music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson based on Giacomo Puccini's opera La bohème...

, which meant leaving college early. He understudied the characters of Mark (played by Adam Rickitt
Adam Rickitt
Adam Peter Rickitt is an English actor, singer-songwriter and model.-Biography:Rickitt was born in Crewe, Cheshire, the youngest of four brothers. His father is co-owner of an estate agency...

) and Angel, eventually taking over the starring role of Mark, performing on alternate nights at the Prince of Wales Theatre
Prince of Wales Theatre
The Prince of Wales Theatre is a West End theatre on Coventry Street, near Leicester Square in the City of Westminster. It was established in 1884 and rebuilt in 1937, and extensively refurbished in 2004 by Sir Cameron Mackintosh, its current owner...

, in London's West End. He has also played Morino in the UK tour of Sunset Boulevard
Sunset Boulevard (musical)
Sunset Boulevard is a musical with book and lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Based on the 1950 film of the same title, the plot revolves around Norma Desmond, a faded star of the silent screen era, living in the past in her decaying mansion on the...

, which starred Faith Brown
Faith Brown
Faith Brown is an English actress, singer, comedienne and impressionist.-Background and Early Career:Born as Eunice Irene Carroll, Faith Brown began her career as a singer at the age of fifteen, backed by a local group. She later became the resident cabaret singer in Liverpool's Rialto Ballroom...

.

Released from college six months early, he joined the first UK national tour of the musical Rent. During its run he played both the leading roles of Angel and Mark and was also the understudy. He was the alternate Mark for two shows a week when Rent
Rent (musical)
Rent is a rock musical with music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson based on Giacomo Puccini's opera La bohème...

 ran at the Prince of Wales Theatre, London (4 December 2001 - 26 January 2002). Boys appeared as Roger, one of the T-birds, in Grease
Grease (musical)
Grease is a 1971 musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. The musical is named for the 1950s United States working-class youth subculture known as the greasers. The musical, set in 1959 at fictional Rydell High School , follows ten working-class teenagers as they navigate the complexities of love,...

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
Party in the Park
Party in the Park is the generic name given to music concerts organised by various radio stations and local authorities in England and Wales, typically in large parks during the summer.-Leeds' Party in the Park:...

 with the company of Grease. Guest appearances with Grease also included Blue Peter
Blue Peter
Blue Peter is the world's longest-running children's television show, having first aired in 1958. It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the CBBC channel. During its history there have been many presenters, often consisting of two women and two men at a time...

and The Graham Norton Show
The Graham Norton Show
The Graham Norton Show is a British comedy chat show that is broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom. It was originally shown on BBC Two from February 2007 to May 2009 until it moved to BBC One from October 2009...

. 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
Wolfboy
Wolfboy is a musical with music and lyrics by Leon Parris and book by Russell Labey, based on the play by Brad Fraser. Its story concerns two teenagers committed to an asylum: Bernie has tried to commit suicide and David believes he's a werewolf. The musical addresses psychiatric disorders, abuse,...

" (Trafalgar Studios); Eddie in the workshop of Painted Lady: The Princess Caraboo Scandal (Bristol Old Vic/Finborough); Princeton/Rod in "Avenue Q
Avenue Q
Avenue Q is a musical in two acts, conceived by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, who wrote the music and lyrics. The book was written by Jeff Whitty and the show was directed by Jason Moore and produced by Kevin McCollum, Robyn Goodman, and Jeffrey Seller...

" (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
Sweeney Todd
Sweeney Todd is a fictional character who first appeared as then antagonist of the Victorian penny dreadful The String of Pearls and he was later introduced as an antihero in the broadway musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and its film adaptation...

" (Royal Festival Hall); Mark in Rent (European Tour) and Parson Nathanial (u/s) in "Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds
Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds
Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds is a title used for two 1998 video games published by GT Interactive. The first is a real-time strategy game developed by Rage Software Limited for the PC...

" (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 took part in the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...

 reality show
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...

 Any Dream Will Do
Any Dream Will Do (TV series)
Any Dream Will Do, often known as 'Joseph', was a 2007 talent show-themed television series produced by the BBC in the United Kingdom. It searched for a new, unknown lead to play Joseph in a West End revival of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.The show...

. He was 7th to be eliminated, leaving the series on May 19, 2007. His vocals were tested on a wide variety of music genres including rock, swing, ballads, and pop, but his only opportunity to sing a musical theatre number was in the sing-off, when he performed "Bring Him Home" from Les Misérables
Les Misérables (musical)
Les Misérables , colloquially known as Les Mis or Les Miz , is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo....

against Lewis Bradley
Lewis Bradley
Lewis Bradley is a British musical theatre actor, who came third place in the BBC reality talent show Any Dream Will Do. He was later chosen by Andrew Lloyd Webber to understudy the winning role of Joseph....

 in the Sing Off, where Daniel had received the least number of votes, and was chosen to leave the show by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber is an English composer of musical theatre.Lloyd Webber has achieved great popular success in musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 13 musicals, a song cycle, a set of...

.

Avenue Q

Daniel's big break came in late 2008, when he joined the cast of the hit show Avenue Q
Avenue Q
Avenue Q is a musical in two acts, conceived by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, who wrote the music and lyrics. The book was written by Jeff Whitty and the show was directed by Jason Moore and produced by Kevin McCollum, Robyn Goodman, and Jeffrey Seller...

. 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
John Barrowman
John Scot Barrowman is a Scottish-American singer, actor, dancer, musical theatre performer and media personality. Born in Glasgow yet growing up in Illinois after his family emigrated to the United States when he was eight years old, Barrowman was encouraged to further his love for music and...

'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
The Proms
The Proms, more formally known as The BBC Proms, or The Henry Wood Promenade Concerts presented by the BBC, is an eight-week summer season of daily orchestral classical music concerts and other events held annually, predominantly in the Royal Albert Hall in London...

. 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
BBC London
BBC London is the BBC English Region producing local radio, television, teletext and online services in London and parts of the surrounding area. Its output includes the daily BBC London News and the weekly Politics Show on television, the BBC London 94.9 radio station and local coverage of the...

'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
Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds
Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds is a 1978 concept album by Jeff Wayne, retelling the story of The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells. Its format is progressive rock and string orchestra, using narration and leitmotifs to carry the story via rhyming melodic lyrics that express...

. He can be seen on the live tour DVD special features, performing in place of Russell Watson
Russell Watson
Russell Watson is an English tenor who has released singles and albums of both operatic-style and pop songs. The self-styled "People's Tenor" had been singing since he was a child, and became known after performing at a working men's club...

 in the dress rehearsal.

Boys appeared as Anthony Hope in Stephen Sondheim
Stephen Sondheim
Stephen Joshua Sondheim is an American composer and lyricist for stage and film. He is the winner of an Academy Award, multiple Tony Awards including the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, multiple Grammy Awards, a Pulitzer Prize and the Laurence Olivier Award...

's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is a 1936 British film produced and directed by George King.-Plot:The film features Tod Slaughter in one of his most famous roles as barber Sweeney Todd. Sweeney Todd was wrongly sentenced to life in prison. After his release 15 years later, he begins...

 which was one of the first shows to open at the newly restored Royal Festival Hall
Royal Festival Hall
The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge. It is a Grade I listed building - the first post-war building to become so protected...

 in July 2007. He was a guest on Radio 2's Friday Night is Music Night
Friday Night is Music Night
Friday Night is Music Night is a long running live BBC radio concert programme featuring the BBC Concert Orchestra, broadcast most Fridays on BBC Radio 2 at 8.00pm. It is the world's longest-running live music radio programme....

 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 11 January 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 much anticipated 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 world famous 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 21st Oct 2011 Daniel played Judas in the 40th Anniversary production of Godspell
Godspell
Godspell is a musical by Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak. It opened off Broadway on May 17, 1971, and has played in various touring companies and revivals many times since, including a 2011 revival now playing on Broadway...

 alongside Kerry Ellis
Kerry Ellis
Kerry Jane Ellis is an English stage actress and singer who is best known for her work in musical theatre and subsequent crossover into music...

 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
Alexander S. Bermange
Alexander S. Bermange is an English musical theatre composer and lyricist. He has often served as musical director and pianist for his own productions. He is also a regular broadcaster on UK radio.-Career:...

, 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 Monday 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
I Know Him So Well
"I Know Him So Well" is a song from the concept album and subsequent musical Chess by Tim Rice, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. In this duet, two women – Svetlana, the Russian chess champion's estranged wife, and Florence, his mistress – express their bittersweet feelings for him and at seeing...

 with John Barrowman
John Barrowman
John Scot Barrowman is a Scottish-American singer, actor, dancer, musical theatre performer and media personality. Born in Glasgow yet growing up in Illinois after his family emigrated to the United States when he was eight years old, Barrowman was encouraged to further his love for music and...

 for his 2008 album Music Music Music
Music Music Music
Music Music Music is a 2008 album by John Barrowman preceded by the digital-only single "What About Us?", written by Gary Barlow and Chris Braide...

.

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
Wolfboy
Wolfboy is a musical with music and lyrics by Leon Parris and book by Russell Labey, based on the play by Brad Fraser. Its story concerns two teenagers committed to an asylum: Bernie has tried to commit suicide and David believes he's a werewolf. The musical addresses psychiatric disorders, abuse,...

, More With Every Line - the Songs of Tim Prottey-Jones, Only You Can Save Mankind
Only You Can Save Mankind
Only You Can Save Mankind is the first novel in the Johnny Maxwell trilogy of children's books and fifth young adult novel by Terry Pratchett, author of the Discworld sequence of books. The following novels in the Johnny Maxwell Trilogy are Johnny and the Dead and Johnny and the Bomb...

, 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.

External links

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