Photo Flash: First Look at Gillian Abbott in DIRTY DANCING National Tour

Gillian Abbott recently assumed the iconic role of Frances "Baby" Houseman in the North American tour of Dirty Dancing - The Classic Story On Stage. Check out a first look at Abbott in the production bleow!

Abbott joins Samuel Pergande as Johnny Castle to lead the company of 26 that includes Doug Carpenter (Billy Kostecki, Singer), Jerome Harmann-Hardeman (Tito Suarez), Ryan Jesse (Neil Kellerman), Caralyn Kozlowski (Marjorie Houseman), Gary Lynch (Max Kellerman), Scott McCreary (Robbie Gould), Herman Petras (Mr. Schumacher), Emily Rice(Lisa Houseman), Mark Elliot Wilson (Dr. Jake Houseman) and Jenny Winton (Penny Johnson). The ensemble comprises John Antony, Rachel Boone, Amanda Brantley, Josh Drake, Rashaan James, II, Joshua Keith, Alexandra Matteo, Michael Milton, Phoebe Pearl, Virginia Preston, Michael Thomas Pugliese, Jennlee Shallow, Nicole Spencer and Paul Victor.

The production's book is written by Eleanor Bergstein and the North American tour is directed by James Powell with choreography by Michele Lynch based on the original choreography by Kate Champion. The creative team also includes Stephen Brimson Lewis (set design), Tim Mitchell (lighting design), Jennifer Irwin (costume design), Bobby Aitken (sound design), Jon Driscoll (video and projection design), Bernie Ardia (hair design), Conrad Helfrich (music supervisor and orchestrations) and Alan Plado (music director).

Dirty Dancing - The Classic Story On Stage is an unprecedented live experience, exploding with heart-pounding music, passionate romance and sensational dancing. Seen by millions across the globe, this timeless love story features the hit songs "Hungry Eyes," "Hey Baby," "Do You Love Me?" and the heart-stopping "(I've Had) The Time Of My Life." London's Sunday Express says "This crowd-pleasing stage adaptation hits the jackpot!"

It's the summer of 1963, and 17-year-old Frances 'Baby' Houseman is on vacation in New York's Catskill Mountains with her older sister and parents. Mesmerized by the racy dance moves and pounding rhythms she discovers in the resort's staff quarters, Baby can't wait to be part of the scene, especially when she catches sight of Johnny Castle, the resort's sexy dance instructor. Passions ignite and Baby's life changes forever when she is thrown in to the deep end as Johnny's leading lady, both on-stage and off.

The production began performances on London's West End in October 2006 with an £11 million advance and went on to become the longest running show in the history of the Aldwych Theatre. It closed in July 2011 in advance of a two-year UK national tour and then returned to London for a strictly limited season at the Piccadilly Theatre.

Photos by Matthew Murphy