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Last night DIRTY DANCING – THE CLASSIC STORY ON STAGE welcomed its 5 millionth audience member across all its international productions at the Aldwych Theatre in London. Thirteen cities across three continents have witnessed the stage sensation that has enjoyed standing ovations worldwide since its premiere in Sydney in 2004. 

THE INTERNATIONAL SENSATION

DIRTY DANCING – THE CLASSIC STORY ON STAGE

WELCOMES 5 MILLIONTH GUEST

“Spectacular… a gorgeous feast of dance.” - Financial Times, UK

“A bona fide entertainment juggernaut.” - Los Angeles Times, USA

“Perfect entertainment.” - Tagesspiegel, Germany

Last night DIRTY DANCING – THE CLASSIC STORY ON STAGE welcomed its 5 millionth audience member across all its international productions at the Aldwych Theatre in London. Thirteen cities across three continents have witnessed the stage sensation that has enjoyed standing ovations worldwide since its premiere in Sydney in 2004. 

With critical acclaim across the board from the Los Angeles Times and the Boston Sun in American to the Tagesspiegel in Germany and the Financial Times in London, 5 million people agree that DIRTY DANCING – THE CLASSIC STORY ON STAGE is a not-to-be-missed dazzling and crowd pleasing show.

DIRTY DANCING – THE CLASSIC STORY ON STAGE opened in 2004 touring Australia and New Zealand before playing Hamburg, London, Chicago, Toronto, Boston and Utrecht.  The production continues to delight audiences in London and opened earlier this year in Berlin and Los Angeles.

The UK production alone has welcomed over 1 million fans through its doors. DIRTY DANCING – THE CLASSIC STORY ON STAGE opened in London in 2006 and was sold out 6 months in advance, breaking West End records with a mammoth £11 million in advance sales.  With incredible demand for tickets, DIRTY DANCING – THE CLASSIC STORY ON STAGE UK is currently booking until 2010.

The stage show, written by Eleanor Bergstein, script writer and creator of the phenomenally successful film, features all the much-loved characters from the iconic film as well as the tantalizing dance sequences and hits from the unforgettable soundtrack such as ‘Do You Love Me?,’ ‘Hungry Eyes’ and the Academy Award^© Winning ‘(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life.’ The show has been seen by a host of celebrities including Dame Judi Dench, Matt Damon, Tess Daly, Penny Lancaster, Sir Ian McKellen, Barbara Windsor, Graham Norton and members of the Royal Family including the Duchess of York and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

DIRTY DANCING – THE CLASSIC STORY ON STAGE is produced by Jacobsen Entertainment and Karl Sydow, in association with Lionsgate and Magic Hour Productions. The stage show is directed by James Powell, music supervisor is Conrad Helfrich, choreography by Kate Champion, set design by Stephen Brimson Lewis, lighting design by Tim Mitchell, sound design by Bobby Aitken, video and projection design by Jon Driscoll, Ballroom and Latin choreography by Craig Wilson and costume design by Jennifer Irwin

It's OPENING NIGHT in Boston and the audience is thrilled! They had so much fun, they're singing and dancing before they even walk out the doors of the theater!

The coming-of-age love story is about to be reborn on the Chicago stage and ABC7 got a backstage peak. It's an all-American musical that's been a hit on three continents. Dirty Dancing is making its U.S. debut in Chicago. This show's a baby nobody's putting in the corner.

It's OPENING NIGHT! Get a backstage look at the gifts and glory that goes on at the U.S Premiere of Dirty Dancing. You'll see the sights and groove to the sounds with exclusive clips from the show. There's even an inside look at the after party as the cast and guests tear up the dance floor!

The original cast recording of Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage, the dance-heavy theatrical event based on the hit movie, is in U.S. stores Sept. 30 from the Masterworks Broadway label.The release coincides with the Sept. 28 Chicago launch of the Broadway-aimed national touring production, which reunites the London creative team.

Tickets for the East Coast U.S. premiere of the international stage hit Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage go on sale at 10am on Oct. 5. The pre-Broadway run is scheduled at Boston Opera House Feb. 7 - March 15, 2009.

The pre-Broadway U.S. premiere of Dirty Dancing - The Classic Story On Stage, the London and Toronto hit based on the film of the same name, began Sept. 28 with the launch of a tour at Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre.
The dance-heavy musical features Amanda Leigh Cobb as Frances "Baby" Houseman and Josef Brown, re-creating the role of Johnny Castle, Baby's headstrong love interest.

The producers of Dirty Dancing –  The Classic Story On Stage have announced that 300 additional unrestricted orchestra seats have been released and are available for every performance.

  “Now that the production has completed its multi-week load-in and is well into its technical rehearsal process with the cast on stage, we are pleased to be able to release these additional seats for sale,” said Kevin Jacobsen, Executive Producer.  Now more Chicagoans have the chance to see the phenomenon that critics around world have called, “the biggest live theatre sensation of all time!”
 

Eleanor Bergstein, Dirty Dancing’s original screenwriter, has completely re-envisioned the film for the stage. In an interview with BroadwayFanClub.com, she talks about her process for taking the show from screen to stage. After successful engagements in Europe, Australia and Canada, a new stage production based on the film is set to begin a Broadway-bound US 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.