After more than four years in the West End, Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage is to end its run at the Aldwych theatre on 9 July before embarking on a two-year UK tour.
The musical adaptation of the iconic 1980s film starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey was created by the film’s screenwriter Eleanor Bergstein. Set in 1963, the musical tells the story of innocent Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman’s teen rebellion when she meets a dance teacher from the wrong side of the tracks on a family holiday. Set to a soundtrack packed full of hits including Little Darlin’, Mamma Said and Hungry Eyes, over two million fans of the film and stage show have flocked to the Aldwych theatre to have the time of their lives since the show opened on 24 October 2006.
The show’s producers said: “We have enjoyed a truly wonderful five years in London and we are very excited to be taking Dirty Dancing out on the road across the UK later this year. It has been an absolute pleasure to bring this much-loved and iconic story to life on stage night after night, and we want to thank our tremendous cast and company for making Dirty Dancing such a huge success in London.”
Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage is one of 18 long-running shows eligible for the 2011 BBC Radio 2 Olivier Audience Award. The public can vote for their favourite show to win at www.olivierawards.com.
CM