Elton John celebrates Billy Elliot Toronto opening

Pop superstar Elton John and his partner, executive producer David Furnish, took a break from diaper duty Tuesday night to attend the Canadian opening of Billy Elliot the Musical.

The power couple, who became parents to a baby boy last Christmas Day, were among the stars who walked the red carpet at the Canon Theatre in Toronto.

"For me it's a dream come true," said Furnish, who was raised in Toronto.

John wrote the music for the 10-time Tony Award winning show, about a British boy whose father doesn't understand his desire to become a dancer.

On Tuesday, the singer said he will encourage his son to do whatever he wants.

"We would never encourage our son to do anything he didn't want to do. And if he wanted to do something that was totally alien to what I do then fantastic," said John.

"Nine weeks of fatherhood has been the best thing that's ever happened to us."

Billy Elliot is based on the 2000 film that earned three Oscar nominations. Stephen Daldry, who directed the film, also helms the stage show that debuted to critical acclaim in London in 2005.

Furnishcame up with the idea for the stage musical afterwatching the Billy Elliot film with John at the Cannes Film Festival.

He said John was in tears because the story mirrored his own personal life so closely.

Cesar Corrales, Myles Erlick, Marcus Pei and J.P. Viernes rotate in the role of Billy in the Toronto production that started preview performances Feb. 1.

Alberta-raised Kate Hennig co-stars as dance teacher Mrs. Wilkinson, a role she also played in the Broadway show.

Daldry and Furnish wanted to bring Billy Elliot the Musical to Toronto before Broadway, because they felt the story would have a strong cultural connection in Canada.

But several issues stood in the way, including theatrical availability, logistics and budget.

Producers also needed to develop a support system in Canada for the young leads, who go through intensive training before taking on the role.