Get Ready to Have The Time of Your Life: ‘Dirty Dancing’ Musical Adaptation Aims for Broadway 2025
Eleanor Bergstein, writer and co-producer of the 1987 blockbuster, helms a new musical production
Baby may be Broadway-bound. Lionsgate, the distributor of the ‘80s classic starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, is bringing audiences a musical adaptation of the story. Dirty Dancing: The Musical is slated to hit the stage in late 2025 (the exact date is yet to be announced) with the goal of finding a home at a Broadway theater. While few details have been revealed, here’s everything we know so far!
“Dirty Dancing: The Musical will bring a fresh creative approach to the timeless love story that captured the hearts of millions around the world,” says a press release from The Path Entertainment Group, a partner of Lionsgate.
The famous plot is here to stay, as the production team confirmed the musical will take place in the summer of 1963 and follow the personal journeys and fiery romance of Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman and dance instructor Johnny Castle.
“The original film celebrates themes of empowerment, independence, and the joy of dance—elements that will be present in the new stage adaptation. The new production will deliver iconic moments, unforgettable songs, and electrifying dance sequences while reimagining key elements of the story to resonate with today’s theatergoers. Fans can expect new choreography and staging concepts, and perhaps even some new songs.”
The original cast and creative team members returning for ‘Dirty Dancing: The Musical’
Eleanor Bergstein, writer of the 1987 screenplay, is developing the show and writing the script for the musical. In a recent interview with Woman’s World, Bergstein shared insights into the many ways her own life experiences were reflected in the iconic film as well as the importance of music to weave together the beloved story.
Bergstein is also a central creative team member in Dirty Dancing in Concert, which begins in January 2025. This is a separate venture not connected to the upcoming adaptation, but Bergstein’s sentiment is very similar.
“Most of the spinoffs make me wince, but the reason I thought this was a good idea is that when you sit in the audience, you can always hear people very softly singing along,” she told Woman’s World. “People really wanted to sing along with the music. If you’re watching it at home, of course, you can do that. But to sit in a community and sing along—I realized that’s what people mainly want to do. And that’s also what I’ve been working on in the stage show, and why I think it has been a success.”
Also a co-producer of both the film and impending show, Bergstein said in a statement about the new re-envisionment that she felt fans were yearning to “be there while the story was happening.”
Additionally, Lonny Price is set to direct the production. While Price played Neil Kellerman, the grandson of the lodge owner in Dirty Dancing, he’s not new to theater by any means. In fact, Price earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Book of a Musical in 2001 for A Class Act.
“I am beyond excited to be reunited with Eleanor and to join her in bringing this expanded Dirty Dancing to the stage,” he said. “For the people who already love the movie, they will get a deeper, more nuanced version of the characters they fell in love with. Having played Neil in the movie, I know full well the scores of people who have been touched by this story, and for me to return to Kellerman’s and direct this new musical iteration truly is a thrill.”
More announcements regarding who will round out the cast and creative team, tour dates and ticket availability will follow in the coming months. In addition to the potential Broadway run, production plans to expand the musical’s reach with a North American tour before heading across the globe.
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