Full Casting Announced For Return Of DIRTY DANCING

Casting has been announced for the new 2018/19 UK tour of DIRTY DANCING - THE CLASSIC STORY ON STAGE, visiting Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from Monday 1 - Saturday 6 April 2019.

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, three hit UK tours, and multiple sensational international productions.

Michael O'Reilly will star as Johnny Castle, one half of one of the best-loved duos in popular culture. Michael is making his professional debut in the show after graduating in dance and musical theatre from Bird College and is thrilled to be donning Johnny's iconic shades and leather jacket. While training he performed as a dancer at The Classic BRIT Awards, MTV Europe Music Awards and appeared in Magic Mike Live on the Britain's Got Talent 2018 final.

Kira Malou, will star as idealistic Frances 'Baby' Houseman. Kira is a member of the DIRTY DANCING - THE CLASSIC STORY ON STAGE family already, having played the role of Baby regularly during the 2016-17 UK tour, as well as being a member of the ensemble. A previous winner of The Stage Scholarship, Kira has performed as a dancer with Ellie Goulding on Children in Need, and at the UEFA World Cup opening ceremony. She has also just finished her first TV series playing the lead role of Mimy in the new Disney series School Hacks.

Simone Covele will star as Penny Johnson. Since graduating in 2013, Simone has performed extensively in her home country of Australia, as well as internationally, and was a soloist at the world-famous Moulin Rouge in Paris.

Joining Michael, Kira and Simone will be Lynden Edwards as Dr. Jake Houseman, Lori Haley Fox as Marjorie Houseman, Lizzie Ottley as Lisa Houseman, Alex Wheeler as Billy Kostecki, Jack McKenzie as Max Kellerman, Greg Fossard as Neil Kellerman, Colin Charles as Tito Suarez, Mark Faith as Mr Schumacher and Sian Gentle-Green as Elizabeth. Also joining the company are Amelia Armstrong, Tom Bowen, Shaquille Brush, Stan Doughty, Katie Eccles, Millie Hood, Kieran Kuypers, Ben Mabberley, Sophia McAvoy, Alessia McDermott, Carlie Milner, Oliver Ramsdale, Ashley Rumble, Miles Russell and Austin Wilks.

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.

Produced by Karl Sydow & Joye Entertainment 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.

To book tickets, call 01902 42 92 12, book online at grandtheatre.co.uk or visit the Box Office in person.

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