DIRTY DANCING: Bringing Kellerman's Back To London

Why, hello there, BWW:UK! As a keen reader of theatre blogs myself, I'm honoured to be guest writing here in the lead up to the West End return of Dirty Dancing. I play Frances 'Baby' Houseman in the production, and yes, I get to carry watermelons, sit in the corner, and have the time of my life eight shows per week! (Sorry, couldn't resist...)

Dirty Dancing first opened in London's West End in 2006. This was actually the same year I moved from Los Angeles to London to train at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. The show played for over five years before launching a national tour in 2011. I joined the cast in the role of 'Baby' in June of 2012, and have since enjoyed a year of performing all across the UK: from Liverpool to Norwich, Edinburgh to Cardiff. This Saturday July 13 we open at the Piccadilly Theatre, marking the show's return to the West End.

Having finished our tour in Manchester mid-June, we had a little break before diving into rehearsals for DD West End. Though most of the company is the same, we have some fantastic new cast members who have recently joined us. These past few weeks of rehearsal have been about polishing, sharpening, and looking at the show with fresh eyes. I come from an acting background and the chance to play one role for such a sustained period is rare and special. I'm really relishing this chance to delve deeper into the scenes, freeing myself to see Baby's journey in the present moment, resisting the urge to clutch the safety blanket of a year's experience on tour. Our director, Sarah Tipple, is meticulous, striving to make this version the best it's been yet.

This will be my first time performing in the West End, and the buzz around opening in London is palpable. I love how busy and exciting my days are with interviews, fittings, and dialect sessions squeezed into an already chock-o-block rehearsal schedule. The highlight thus far was getting to perform our ending number 'Time of my Life' for ITV's 'This Morning' outdoors on the Southbank. This is easily one of my favourite parts of London, and on a sunny summer day, there's nowhere I'd rather be. I got a real thrill from performing live on TV, an almost post-rollercoaster sensation, and couldn't stop grinning for the rest of the day. As an American living in the UK, it felt like a perfect synergy: an iconic American story with London's elegant skyline as host. You can watch our segment here.

I've also included a photo of the day above.

So the countdown has really begun for our first performance as we speed towards Saturday. Stay tuned for an update from our move-in and tech sessions at the Piccadilly, and of course, opening night!

Jill plays 'Baby' in Dirty Dancing, which opens at the Piccadilly Theatre this weekend!