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Dirty Dancing: The Musical Set for Broadway Debut

3:05 PM ETConfirmed

Entertainment Desk

In Short: Dirty Dancing: The Musical is set to make its Broadway debut this winter, marking the 40th anniversary of the beloved film.

Dirty Dancing: The Musical is set to make its Broadway debut this winter, marking the 40th anniversary of the beloved film. The show will play at the Lena Horne Theatre for a limited seven-month engagement.

Eleanor Bergstein, who wrote the original screenplay, penned the book for the musical, which features songs from the film's iconic soundtrack.

The production includes a 27-member company, with 21 performers making their Broadway debuts. Starzec and Zekesnikar will lead the cast as Frances 'Baby' Houseman and Johnny Castle, respectively.

Lonny Price, who starred in the original film as Neil Kellerman, is directing the new revival. Choreographer Darrell Grand Moultrie, known for his work on Broadway and with Beyoncé, is handling the dancing.

The musical has been touring North America since August, with stops in Detroit, West Palm Beach, Boston, Toronto, and other cities before arriving in New York.

General sales for the Broadway run will begin on October 9 at 10 AM ET via Broadway Direct, with pre-sales starting on October 8 at 10 AM ET through DDMusical.com.

The show's Broadway debut is part of Lionsgate's strategy to bring popular films to the stage. The studio is also developing musicals based on 'La La Land' and 'The Hunger Games.'

Tickets for the Broadway run will go on sale on October 9 at 10 AM ET, with further information available at DDMusical.com.

Jennifer Grey, who starred in the original film, has previously commented on its enduring appeal, noting its 'genuine and simple' nature and its focus on innocence and coming-of-age themes.

What this adds

What's confirmed

• Dirty Dancing: The Musical comes to Broadway this winter in celebration of the beloved movie's 40th anniversary.
• The musical features a book by Eleanor Bergstein, who wrote the film screenplay, and songs from the film.
• Lionsgate is also developing a musical production of the studio’s six-time Academy Award-winning film La La Land from producer Marc Platt, and a stage adaptation of the $400-million hit film The Housemaid.
• The tour will resume the national run following the Broadway engagement.
• The movie remains one of Lionsgate’s all-time best-selling library titles, and the studio is currently developing a Dirty Dancing sequel from The Hunger Games producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson and starring Grey in a reprisal of her role of Baby.
• Dirty Dancing: The Musical is produced by The Path Entertainment Group, Lionsgate and LD Entertainment and co-produced by Magic Hour Productions, Nederlander Presentations and John Gore Organization.

What's still developing

• Lamparella’s Broadway credits include Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables and Caroline, or Change.
• Dirty Dancing is among the screen-to-stage projects currently in the works by Lionsgate, a roster that also includes Now You See Me Live ( arriving on Broadway this fall ), and The Hunger Games: On Stage in London (beginning its second year at a purpose-built theatre in Canary Wharf).
• The show’s Broadway debut is an extended stop of its latest North American tour, which launched in August 2026; previous North American tours ran in 2006 and 2014.
• Join the circle of life and experience The Lion King on Broadway.
• Based on the classic Jennifer Grey/Patrick Swayze film of the same name, Dirty Dancing follows a young woman who falls in love with a dance instructor while on vacation in the Catskills in 1963.
• The musical version of Dirty Dancing first played in Australia in 2004, and it later played in London in 2006, 2013, and 2022.
• This production is the latest in a string of stage musicals adapted from the cult classic film. Lionsgate is producing the tour in conjunction with The Path Entertainment Group, LD Entertainment, and Magic Hour Productions. The film first came to the stage in 2004 with an Australian production that used the songs from the film and a script by the title's screenwriter, Eleanor Bergstein. The musical played a five-year run in London's West End beginning in 2006, getting revivals in 2013 and 2022. Broadway had proved more elusive. A North American mini-tour, publicized as "pre-Broadway," was launched in 2006, playing Toronto, Chicago, Boston, and Los Angeles.
• Dirty Dancing centers on Frances "Baby" Houseman, who falls in love with a dance instructor while at a summer camp resort with her family.
• Previous stage adaptations have used songs from the film's multi-platinum soundtrack, which includes the Oscar-winning "(I've Had) The Time of My Life." This production is the latest in a string of stage musicals adapted from the cult classic film.
• This is the latest stage adaptation from Lionsgate, which is also bringing the illusionist show Now You See Me Live to Broadway this fall, and premiered The Hunger Games: On Stage in London.
• The move to Broadway follows a successful North American tour, and will coincide with the film’s 40 anniversary, which starred Jennifer Gray and Patrick Swayze.
• Featuring a company of 27 dazzling dancers and powerhouse singers, Dirty Dancing: The Musical uplifts a new generation of rising stars, 21 of whom will make their Broadway debuts.

Sources

• Broadwaylink
• New York Theatre Guidelink
• Peoplelink
• Playbilllink
• The Hollywood Reporterlink
• Varietylink
• West End Best Friendlink
• Newyorktheatreguidelink
• Playbilllink
• Varietylink
• Broadwayworldlink
• Rolling Stonelink
• The Hollywood Reporterlink
• Deadlinelink
• Popbyteslink
• Theatrefullstoplink
• Dirty Dancing: The Musical — video link