Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story on Stage

SHOW UPDATE - 05/08/2021

In accordance with UK Government track and trace legislation, the producers have had to suspend all performances of Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story on Stage at the Winter Gardens Blackpool up to and including Friday 13^th August 2021. The show will then continue to run from Saturday 14^th August 2021 until Saturday 28^th August 2021.
 
The production identified two positive COVID cases within the backstage team and, while other company members remain COVID-negative, the Government legislation is such that close contact workforce must now isolate for 10 days rendering it impossible to perform the show.
 
Ticket buyers impacted by the cancellation of performances will be issued a full refund from their original point of purchase. Advance dates from 14^th August remain on-sale to book now.
 
Producer Karl Sydow said “We opened to a rapturous welcome in Blackpool on Tuesday 3^rd August. We are deeply sorry to have to cancel shows and disappoint patrons, but we look forward to being back on stage on Saturday 14^th August with this brilliant new production of Dirty Dancing- The Classic Story on Stage.”
 
Michael Williams Managing Director, Winter Gardens said: “We are so disappointed for the cast and company after an amazing first night, but the safety and wellbeing of performers, staff and audience must always come first and as a Covid secure venue we look forward to welcoming everyone back safely to the Opera House on the 14th August”.
 
Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story on Stage will then continue its UK and Irish tour, concluding in Castlebar on Saturday 18^th December 2021.
 
Produced by Karl Sydow in association with Lionsgate, Magic Hour Productions and Triple A Entertainment Group, and written by Eleanor Bergstein - script writer of the phenomenally successful 1987 film - the production features the much-loved characters and original dialogue from the iconic film, as well as exciting extra scenes.
 

ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE:

Producer Karl Sydow is delighted to announce new 2021 dates for a UK and Ireland tour of a dazzlingly renewed version of Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage including a summer season run at the Opera House Blackpool from Tuesday 03 August – Saturday 28 August 2021.

Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage is set to be one of the first major large scale shows to return to the Opera House Blackpool in over 12 months since the first lockdown began in March 2020 which saw the enforced closure of venues across the country. After bumper box office visits in 2016 & 2017, Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage is sure to once again give visitors to Blackpool this summer the time of their lives.

The iconic story of Baby and Johnny, featuring the hit songs 'Hungry Eyes', ‘Hey! Baby’, ‘Do You Love Me?’ and the heart stopping ‘(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life’, returns to the stage, following two blockbuster West End runs, four hit UK tours, and multiple sensational international productions.

It’s the summer of 1963, and 17-year-old Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman is about to learn some major lessons in life as well as a thing or two about dancing. On holiday in New York’s Catskill Mountains with her older sister and parents, she shows little interest in the resort activities, and instead discovers her own entertainment when she stumbles across an all-night dance party at the staff quarters. Mesmerised by the raunchy dance moves and the pounding rhythms, Baby can’t wait to be part of the scene, especially when she catches sight of Johnny Castle, the resort dance instructor.

Her life is about to change forever as she is thrown in at the deep end as Johnny’s leading lady both on-stage and off, and two fiercely independent young spirits from different worlds come together in what will be the most challenging and triumphant summer of their lives.

Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage originally opened at London’s Aldwych Theatre in 2006 with a record-breaking advance of £15 million, making it the fastest ever selling show in West End theatre history. The production became the longest running show in the history of the Aldwych Theatre and played to over 2 million people during its triumphant 5 year run.

Since its Australian debut in 2004, Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage has become a worldwide phenomenon, with productions staged in the USA, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, South Africa, Hong Kong, Singapore and throughout Europe, consistently breaking box office records. Recent tours in France, Germany and Australia were all sell out smash hits. The first ever UK tour of Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage launched in 2011 and then returned to the West End in 2013 playing at the Piccadilly Theatre in London, prior to launching a second UK and Ireland tour. A further tour and West End Christmas season followed in 2016/17. It went on to embark on a 2018/19 tour, entertaining audiences up and down the country. That means that in the UK, the original touring production has now played to in excess of 6,000,000 people and Baby has carried over 21,000 watermelons!

Produced by Karl Sydow in association with Lionsgate, Magic Hour Productions and Triple A Entertainment Group, and written by Eleanor Bergstein - script writer of the phenomenally successful 1987 film - the production features the much-loved characters and original dialogue from the iconic film, as well as exciting extra scenes.

Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage from Tuesday 03 August 2021 – Saturday 28 August 2021, Tickets on-sale NOW from wintergardensblackpool.co.uk.

📷 Alistair Muir