'Dirty Dancing' Announces Principal Casting!

 
London and Toronto Stars to Re-Create Their Roles on the American Stage
 
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 principal casting for the upcoming pre-Broadway U.S. premiere. Josef Brown will re-create the role of Johnny Castle direct from the London production and Amanda Leigh Cobb will play Frances "Baby" Houseman.  Chicago's own Britta Lazenga - member of the Joffrey Ballet - will return home direct from the Toronto production in the role of Penny Johnson.
 
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.
 
Josef Brown comes to the National touring company direct from the London and Australian productions of Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage starring in the role of Johnny Castle. London's Evening Standard praised his performance in the West End, "His spectacular agility expressed in leaps and spins, puts an enviable muscled torso to work… [and] assertively dancing Baby back into his life."
 
Brown was trained at the Australian Ballet School in Melbourne before performing to critical acclaim with The Australian Ballet.  Commenting on his casting in the upcoming U.S. premiere, "It is a genuine thrill to be bringing the role of Johnny Castle to the U.S. stage. This is an American story full of hope, personal revelation and, of course, sensuality and love, uplifting literally millions of theatergoers around the world since it first opened. It has been my pleasure to be part of this experience, and I look forward to performing in three great cities of the world: Chicago, Boston and Los Angeles," Brown states.
 
Britta Lazenga is a Chicago-based dancer and member of the world-renowned Joffrey Ballet. Toronto's Globe and Mail raves: "It is the sensational Lazenga, a gorgeous blonde with legs that go on forever, who steals the show. She can dance up a storm and her acting rings true with every word she utters."
 
Lazenga says about her casting in the U.S. premiere, "It fills me with great joy and tremendous honor to be returning home to perform in the American premiere of Dirty Dancing. It is challenging for me to express just how grateful I am to be included in such a memorable production and it is even more challenging for me to contain my excitement.  I can't wait to share this excitement and experience with the audiences of Boston, Los Angeles and of course, Sweet Home Chicago."
 
Amanda Leigh Cobb recently performed on Broadway in The Country Girl and The Coast of Utopia and is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama. Her other credits include the Yale Repertory Theater, Milwaukee Shakespeare and the Williamstown Theater Festival.  Regarding her casting she commented, "I am thrilled to be playing such an iconic role that continues to inspire people decades after the film and cannot think of three more exciting cities than Chicago, Boston and Los Angeles to welcome us on this tour across the country! I particularly look forward to soon exploring Chicago's amazing art scene, architecture, and natural beauty when we start rehearsals later this summer."
 
The rest of the casting for the U.S. premiere of Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage will be announced at a future date.
 
The worldwide musical smash Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage will have its pre-Broadway US premiere in Chicago. This powerful theatrical event blends music, dance and drama in a wholly original way.
 
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 37, 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."
 
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).
 
Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage will premiere in Chicago for a limited engagement beginning September 28, 2008 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W. Randolph St.).
 
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.
 
For more information on Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage, go to www.dirtydancingamerica.com or www.BroadwayInChicago.com