Dirty Dancing: The Musical, a new stage production based on the 1987 film, will arrive on Broadway this winter for a limited seven-month engagement, producers announced today.
The musical, which will be directed by Lonny Price (Sunset Boulevard, Sweeney Todd), who played Neil Kellerman in the original film, and choreographed by Darrell Grand Moultrie (Fat Ham), will begin performances at Broadway’s Lena Horne Theatre on Friday, February 12, 2027, with a “gala celebration” on Sunday, March 14. (An official press opening night will be announced at a later date).
The engagement runs through Sunday, September 5, 2027.
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The musical features a book by Eleanor Bergstein, who wrote the film screenplay, and songs from the film. The popular movie soundtrack included such songs as “Hungry Eyes,” “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life,” “Be My Baby,” “Hey! Baby,” and classic ’50s and ’60s pop hits.
Producers are The Path Entertainment Group, Lionsgate, LD Entertainment, and Magic Hour Productions.
Dirty Dancing is among the screen-to-stage projects currently in the works by Lionsgate, a roster that also includes Now You See Me Live (arriving on Broadway this fall), and The Hunger Games: On Stage in London (beginning its second year at a purpose-built theatre in Canary Wharf). Lionsgate is also developing a musical production of the studio’s six-time Academy Award-winning film La La Land from producer Marc Platt, and a stage adaptation of the $400-million hit film The Housemaid.
The Broadway production is part of the musical’s ongoing North American tour, which includes pre-Broadway stops this fall in Detroit, West Palm Beach, Boston, Toronto, and other cities. The tour will resume the national run following the Broadway engagement.
The cast includes Annalese Starzec as Frances “Baby” Houseman (the role played by Jennifer Grey in the film) and Blake Zelesnikar as Johnny Castle (the Patrick Swayze role). Both will be making their Broadway debuts, as will 21 of the 27 dancers and singers in the production.
The official synopsis: “Set during an unforgettable summer in the Catskills in 1963, Dirty Dancing: The Musical follows Frances “Baby” Houseman, whose undeniable connection with charismatic dance instructor Johnny Castle leads to an unexpected discovery of love, passion, and independence. Pulsing with the iconic music from the original film, including such hits as “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life,” “Hungry Eyes,” “Do You Love Me?” and “She’s Like the Wind,” the musical captures the exhilaration of forbidden romance and the courage it takes to stand by one’s convictions, all told through electrifying dance and a finale that will lift you out of your seat.”
The film grossed more than $200 million at the worldwide box office and launched two multiplatinum soundtrack albums and numerous hit singles, earning an Academy Award for Best Original Song and a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life,” performed by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes. The movie remains one of Lionsgate’s all-time best-selling library titles, and the studio is currently developing a Dirty Dancing sequel from The Hunger Games producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson and starring Grey in a reprisal of her role of Baby.
The stage musical’s creative team includes set design by Brett J. Banakis; costume design by Emily Rebholz; lighting design by Japhy Weideman; sound design by Kai Harada; video design by David Bengali; and hair, wig and make-up design by Robert Pickens. Music supervision and arrangements are by Joseph Joubert, orchestrations by two-time Charlie Rosen, and dance arrangements by Michael Thurber. Co-producers are Magic Hour Productions, Nederlander Presentations and John Gore Organization.
