Dirty Dancing Announces Complete Cast For National Tour

Producer Jacobsen Entertainment, in association with Lionsgate and Magic Hour Productions, of the international hit Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage is pleased to announce full casting for the upcoming pre-Broadway U.S. premiere.  Rehearsals are now underway in Chicago where performances will begin on September 28 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre.

As previously announced Amanda Leigh Cobb will play Frances 'Baby' Houseman and JoseF Brown will re-create the role of Johnny Castle Baby's headstrong love interest. MR. Brown previously played Johnny in London and Australian productions of Dirty Dancing.  Chicago's own Britta Lazenga - member of the Joffrey Ballet - will return home direct from the Toronto production in the role of Penny Johnson. Ben Mingay reprises his role as Billy.  Previously he has played the role in Australia, London and Toronto. They are joined by John Bolger as Baby's father Dr. Jake Houseman, Kaitlin Hopkins as her mother Marjorie, and Katlyn Carlson as Baby's sister Lisa.

Rounding out the cast of 39 are Molly C. Callinan as Vivian, Joseph Costa as Mr. Schumacher, Jonathan Epstein as Max Kellerman, namesake of the resort at which the iconic story is set, Ryan Farrell as Robbie, Michael Howell as Tito Suarez, Lauren Klein as Mrs. Schumacher, Michael Lluberes as Stan, Gary Lynch as Moe Pressman, and Michael Zahler as Neil Kellerman.  The ensemble includes John Antony, Timothy Bish, Thea Brooks, Karen Burthwright, Theresa Coombe, E. Clayton Cornelious, Jean Michel Erole, Ashley Blair Fitzgerald, Hayley Henderson-Smith, Darina Jeleva, TRavis Kelley, Charlie Logan, Lauralyn Mcclelland, Erich McMillan-McCall, Samuel Pergande, Andrew Pirozzi, Sarah Skogland, W. Easton Smith, Billy Harrigan Tighe, Aspen Vincent, Tony Vincent, Emily J. Williams, and Candice Woods.

The National Tour of Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage will host its pre-Broadway U.S. premiere in Chicago at the Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W. Randolph St.) for a limited engagement from September 28 through December 7, 2008.

The movie Dirty Dancing is a legendary entertainment phenomenon.  The soundtrack continues to sell millions of copies.  And now live audiences can experience it as never before.  Re-imagined for the stage by the original screenwriter Eleanor Bergstein, Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage, combines all the intensity and excitement of live theater with new songs, new scenes, and thrilling new dances.  Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage is an unprecedented live experience for lifelong fans of the film and new audiences alike that explodes with heart-pounding music, breathtaking emotion and sensationally sexy dancing.

Step inside the classic story of Baby and Johnny – two fiercely independent young spirits from different worlds who come together in what will be the most challenging and triumphant summer of their lives.  Including a cast of 39, the record-breaking show features 35 hit songs, including "Hungry Eyes," "Hey Baby," "Do You Love Me?" and the heart-stopping Academy Award-winning "(I've Had) The Time of My Life."  

Proclaimed "The biggest live theatre sensation of all time" by The Observer newspaper in London, Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage also received four stars from The Times, The Independent, Financial Times, Evening Standard, Mail on Sunday, Sunday Times and Time Out London.

The acclaimed creative team responsible for the record-breaking London and Toronto productions of Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage will bring the show to the United States.  Directed by James Powell, with choreography by Kate Champion, the team also includes:  Stephen Brimson Lewis (set design), Conrad Helfrich (music supervisor), Tim Mitchell (lighting design), Bobby Aitken (sound design), Jon Driscoll (video and projection design), Jennifer Irwin (costume design) and Craig Wilson (Latin and Ballroom dance choreographer).  

Individual tickets ranging in price from $35 - $95 are currently on-sale.  A limited number of premium tickets are available to all performances and range in price from $125 - $150.  Tickets are available at Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (18 W. Monroe, 24 W. Randolph St. and 151 W. Randolph St.), through the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (312) 902-1400, at all Ticketmaster ticket centers (including all Hot Tix, select Carson Pirie Scott, Coconuts and fye stores) or online at Ticketmaster.com.

Tickets are now available for groups of 20 or more by calling (312) 977-1710 and to subscribers of the 2008 Broadway In Chicago Season Series.

For more information on Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage, go to www.dirtydancingamerica.com or www.BroadwayInChicago.com.