Review Roundup: DIRTY DANCING Launches North American Tour

The North American Tour of Dirty Dancing: The Musical is now underway! The tour launched at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in Saint Paul, MN and will continue across North America, making stops in cities including Detroit, Boston, Toronto, and Washington, DC. Read the reviews below!

Leading the company are Annalese Starzec as Frances “Baby” Houseman and Blake Zelesnikar as Johnny Castle, Baby’s dance instructor-turned-love interest. They will be joined at Kellerman’s by Olivia Cece as Penny Johnson; Bryan Fenkart as Jake Houseman; Dan Klimko as Neil Kellerman; Ashley LaLonde as Elizabeth; Gina Lamparella as Marjorie Houseman; Loren Lester as Max Kellerman; Ethan Peterson as Billy Kostecki; and Erick Pinnick as Tito Suarez. Rounding out the company are Emma Jade Branson, Marcus Anthony Byers, Jr., Jonas Cohen, Sarah Ellis, Aria Christina Evans, Anthony J. Gasbarre III, Lily Kren, Zoe Edan Lemelman, Francesca Mancuso, Brett Rawlings, Jason Richards, Antony Sanchez, Grace Sautter, Neil Starkenberg, Fisher Lane Stewart, John Swapshire and Carmella Taitt.

Set against the unforgettable summer of 1963, Dirty Dancing: The Musical follows Frances “Baby” Houseman as she discovers love, passion, and independence through her relationship with charismatic dance instructor Johnny Castle. With live music from the original film, Dirty Dancing: The Musical is the feel-good escape audiences have been craving, alive with the pulse of electrified dancing, the thrill of secret encounters, and the allure of forbidden romance. 

Dirty Dancing: The Musical is directed by Tony Award nominee, Obie Award winner, and two-time Emmy Award winner Lonny Price (Sunset Boulevard, Sweeney Todd), who played Neil Kellerman in the original Dirty Dancing film, with choreography by Darrell Grand Moultrie (Fat Ham, Beyonce’s World Tour). Bringing to the stage the celebrated story from Eleanor Bergstein — the original screenwriter of the film — the musical captures the pulse, romance, and youthful urgency that have defined Dirty Dancing for nearly four decades.

Dennis Polkow, New City Stage: The only lead singing here comes from two minor characters who suddenly step up and belt out some of the cult classics indelibly linked with the film now and then. The instrumental underscoring even offers a nod to the swing era, with standards of yesteryear’s yesteryear. It’s now a well-crafted show, to be sure. For those craving eighties nostalgia, “Dirty Dancing: The Musical” delivers.

Paul Lisnek and Frank Meccia, Around The Town Chicago: The opening night audience seemed mostly reserved in its response but was enthusiastic when the long awaited final scene arrives and understandably so. Overall, nostalgia is doing much of the heavy lifting until that final scene. Then, the communal experience takes over to delight. One has to ask if the production’s journey is as memorable as the destination.

Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune: There’s also a notable performance to enjoy here from Bryan Fenkart in the role made famous by the late, great Jerry Orbach. It struck me that Fenkart subtly was honoring his predecessor in his work here as Jake Houseman and it’s quite moving to see. Add some powerhouse vocals from Ashley LaLonde and some smooth song stylings from Erick Pinnick and you have an overall rehabilitation of quite impressive proportions.

Average Rating: 70.0%