“Dirty Dancing” – The Classic Story On Stage

The producers of Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage announced casting for the third year of the North American Tour, which coincides with the film’s 30^th anniversary. Christopher Tierney, having originally performed the role of Johnny Castle during the 2015 Toronto engagement, returned to the show during its most recent North American tour and will once again thrill audiences alongside the fast-rising young star Bronwyn Reed as Frances “Baby” Houseman. Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage is coming to the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County beginning November 29 through December 4, 2016.

 

The Arsht Center, along with Broadway Across America and presenting sponsor Bank of America, are proud to continue the 2016-2017 Broadway in Miami season with the Miami premiere of Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage. Tickets for Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage are on sale now. To purchase tickets, visit www.arshtcenter.org, call 305.949.6722 or visit Arsht Center Box Office 1300 Biscayne Blvd. Miami, FL 33132. Ticket prices start at *$29.

 

The 2016-2017 Broadway in Miami subscription season is made possible with the generous support of Bank of America and is presented by Florida Theatrical Association and the Adrienne Arsht Center.

Tierney and Reed lead a company of 26 that includes Matthew Amira as Robbie (The Hunchback of Notre Dame  – Ogunquit Playhouse), Jordan Edwin André as Billy Kostecki/Singer (West Side Story – Regional), Alyssa Brizzi as Lisa Houseman (Beauty and the Beast – National Tour), Jerome Harmann-Hardeman as Tito Suarez (The Full Monty), Jennifer Mealani Jones as Penny Johnson (“So You Think You Can Dance” season 10), Gary Lynch as Max Kellerman (Les Misérables), Hannah Jane McMurray as Marjorie Houseman (Peter Pan 360 – National Tour), Jon Powell as Dr. Jake Houseman (The Rose Bowl Queens – LA), Alan Scharf as Mr. Schumacher (Take Her – National Tour) and Matt Surges as Neil Kellerman (A Funny Thing Happened… – Regional). The ensemble comprises Matthew Borchers, Kristian Brooks, Henry Byalikov, Kellie Drobnick, Jenifer Dillow, Lindsey Hailes, Kevin Mylrea, John Swapshire, Anjelica Fellini, Michal Kolaczkowski, Sophie Lee Morris, Julz Tocker and D. Scott Withers.

 

Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage features an eight-piece band that performs the timeless hits on stage, led by Conductor Alan J. Plado (Keyboard) and Associate Conductor Julie Homi (Keyboard). The band also includes Matt Brown (Guitar), Brian Krock (Saxophone), Rich Donato (Drums), Miles Lassi (Percussion), Brad Lovelace (Bass) and Michael Robb (Trumpet).

 

The production’s book is written by Eleanor Bergstein, author of the original script of the film, and the North American tour is directed by James Powell with choreography by Michele Lynch based on the original choreography by Kate Champion. The creative team also includes Stephen Brimson Lewis (Set Design), Tim Mitchell (Lighting Design), Jennifer Irwin (Costume Design), Bobby Aitken (Sound Design), Jon Driscoll (Video and Projection Design), Bernie Ardia (Hair Design), Conrad Helfrich (Music Supervisor and Orchestrations) and Alan Plado (Music Director).

 

“As I learned how many people watched the movie over and over and over,” said Eleanor Bergstein, screenwriter of the film Dirty Dancing and book writer for the production, “I began to think that what they really wanted was to share more physically in the event, to step through the screen and be there while the story was happening. And if that was true, then its natural form was theatre – live audiences watching live bodies dancing and singing here and now in the present – on the log, on the bridge, on the dance floor and in the staff quarters at Kellerman’s. Writing it for the stage, I was also able to add more scenes with Baby and Johnny, more about the family, more songs I couldn’t afford last time, and, best of all – more dancing. We have added 20 new original scenes and 36 numbers of live music played by an eight piece band onstage, which invite the audience to come into Kellerman’s and experience the story in a whole new way as a live event as it happens.”

Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County beginning November 29 through December 4, 2016. To purchase tickets, visitwww.arshtcenter.org, call 305.949.6722 or visit Arsht Center Box Office 1300 Biscayne Blvd. Miami, FL 33132. Ticket prices start at *$29.