DIRTY DANCING Coming to Crown Theatre in August 2015

Leading Australian theatre producer John Frost today announced that his new production of the iconic musical Dirty Dancing will be heading to Perth in August 2015 for a limited season at the Crown Theatre. Ten years after its world premiere in Sydney, the worldwide hit Dirty Dancing returns to Australia and begins previews tonight at the Sydney Lyric Theatre, then tours to Melbourne's Princess Theatre from 1 March 2015, the Lyric Theatre, QPAC from 27 May, and finally to the Crown Theatre, Perth from 2 August.

Tickets for the Perth season of Dirty Dancing will go on sale in early 2015, but fans can waitlist for priority bookings now at dirtydancingaustralia.com

Two extraordinary young talents have made the leap from chorus to leading roles as the two iconic characters in this new production of the much loved musical. The role of charismatic dance teacher Johnny Castle is played by Kurt Phelan while the role of innocent young Frances "Baby" Houseman is played by Kirby Burgess. A NIDA graduate, Phelan is an actor, choreographer and writer. His musical theatre credits include Singin' in the Rain, Witches of Eastwick, Saturday Night Fever and Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Burgess has been seen on stage in Sweet Charity, An Officer and A Gentleman, Hairspray, High School Musical - Live on Stage and on television in Wonderland.

"I'm thrilled to bring this wonderful new production of Dirty Dancing to Perth," said John Frost. "The stage musical gave audiences the chance to hear the songs from the hit film performed live and to experience the breathtaking dance routines. People flocked to it, breaking records all around the world. Now, ten years after the World Premiere in Sydney, it returns home to Australia where the magic began with a sensational new cast, and audiences can again have the Time Of Their Lives."

It's the summer of 1963, and 17 year old Frances "Baby" Houseman is about to learn some major lessons in life as well as a thing or two about dancing. On holiday in New York's Catskill Mountains with her older sister and parents, Baby shows little interest in the resort activities, and instead discovers her own entertainment when she stumbles upon the staff quarters when an all-night dance party is in full swing. Mesmerised by the raunchy dance moves and the pounding rhythms, Baby can't wait to be part of the scene, especially when she catches sight of Johnny Castle the resort dance instructor. Baby's life is about to change forever as she is thrown in at the deep end as Johnny's leading lady both on-stage and off with breathtaking consequences.

Featuring hit songs including Hungry Eyes, Hey! Baby, Do You Love Me? and the iconic (I've Had) The Time Of My Life, Dirty Dancing has become one of the most popular musical productions of all time. The new production begins tonight at the Sydney Lyric Theatre, then plays Melbourne's Princess Theatre from 1 March, the Lyric Theatre, QPAC from 27 May, and the Crown Theatre, Perth from 2 August.