B I L L Y D A W S O N
A B O U T
"Billy Dawson is impeccable as the extroverted and groovy host of The Corny Collins Show -- his voice clear as a bell and his character clearly made for television... When I watched scenes from the 2007 Hairspray movie, I found myself thinking Dawson should have been cast in the role."
-Melissa Rooney, Triangle Theatre Review
"Billy Dawson displays an effortless sexiness as Corny Collins, think a non-neutered Ryan Seacrest"
-Harker Jones, BroadwayWorld
"Just ideal in every way. He's got the looks, the moves, the voice... no wonder the nicest kids in town tune in every day"
- Paul Wontorek, broadway.com
"The smooth voiced Billy Dawson"
- Imaan Jalali, LA Excites
"Dawson's charisma and winking stage presence carries the show and the audience in..."
- Kathryn Olsen, Front Row Reviewers
"Dawson, portraying a more boisterous version of Dick Clark, reminded me of watching 'American Bandstand' as a kid. He was delightful"
- Bestie Freeman, Omaha World Herald
Billy is a midwest based artist that has been wowing audiences across the globe (30+ countries, and counting). Originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana, after school he moved to Chicago and began working with companies like Paramount Theatre (Beauty and the Beast), Lyric Opera of Chicago (Wozzeck, Tosca), Porchlight Music Theatre (New Faces), BoHo Theatre (110 in the Shade), Light Opera Works (Damn Yankees, Fiddler on the Roof, Candide, The Merry Widow), and Music Theatre Works (Hunchback of Notre Dame [Quasimodo - Chicago Premiere]). Billy has sung in numerous concerts and cabarets with companies like Fort Wayne Philharmonic (Holiday Pops, Orchestra Sings), Harbor Country Opera (Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera), and the Chicago Artists Chorale. Billy made his international debut performing at in Osaka, Japan, and has since traveled the world as a Lead Vocalist with Holland America Line. While aboard the fleet, he performed as a member of the tenor quartet, Cantaré, and was a lead vocalist in the smash hit "& Company." Selected stage credits include Hairspray (Corny Collins - National Tour), Hunchback of Notre Dame (Quasimodo - Chicago Premiere), Sing! On Tour (Johnny), Jekyll & Hyde (Dr Jekyll/Mr. Hyde), Cabaret (Emcee), The Last Five Years (Jamie), The Light in the Piazza (Fabrizio), A New Brain (Gordon), and A Little Night Music (Carl Magnus).
Billy recently completed two years crooning audiences across America as Corny Collins in the 20th Anniversary National Tour of HAIRSPRAY! On this production, he had the honor of working with the original broadway creative team of Jack O'Brien, Matt Lenz, Jerry Mitchell, and Lon Hoyt.
In addition to his work on stage, Billy can be heard as the original voice of the villianous Callum Thorn in The Realm Tree, and he spent several years as on on-air personality for The CW.
In his free time, Billy enjoys listening to music, traveling the world for the best thrift stores, spending time with friends and family, and sipping on a fresh cup of coffee. His dream duet partners are Audra McDonald, Shoshana Bean, Sarah Vaughan, and Kurt Elling. His binge-watching favorites include; The Lord of the Rings, The Crown, Will & Grace, The Golden Girls, Schitt's Creek, and RuPaul's Drag Race because his mother raised him right.
"Billy Dawson, who proves to be a Broadway caliber performer from start to finish."
-Alan Bresloff, Around The Town Chicago
"Mr. Dawson has truly left his mark on the musical stage with this role and will, without doubt, soon become Chicago’s newest leading man."
-Colin Douglas, Chicago Theatre Review
"Handsome, wily Billy Dawson is stunning and extremely funny..."
-Colin Douglas, Chicago Theatre Review
"...panache and charm, as well as a good amount of tongue-in-cheek attitude."
- Christopher Kidder-Mostrom, New City Stage
"This is not an easy part to play. It is not a "make-up role." A change in hairstyle and Dawson's powerful acting are all that separate Jekyll from Hyde. It is a performance that could so easily go awry, but Dawson makes Jekyll's fantastical struggles and his slow self-destruction utterly believable and riveting."
-Stephen Penhollow, WhatzUp
"Dawson's booming operatic vocals never flag..."
-Catey Sullivan, Chicago Sun-Times