Broadway Across America

Buzz

TOUR - Dirty Dancing - Gillian Abbott - square - 3/15

Be My Baby! Gillian Abbott Joins the National Tour of Dirty Dancing—The Classic Story On Stage

March 3rd, 2015 | By Ryan Gilbert

You're going to love her! Newcomer Gillian Abbott assumes the role of Frances “Baby” Houseman in the North American tour of Dirty Dancing—The Classic Story On Stage. Abbott joins Samuel Pergande as Johnny Castle in the production as it begins performances in Cleveland. The tour launched in Washington, DC in August 2014 and is currently booked through the 2015-2016 season.

In addition to Abbott and Pergande, the cast of Dirty Dancing—The Classic Story On Stage features Doug Carpenter as Billy Kostecki, Jerome Harmann-Hardeman as Tito Suarez, Ryan Jesse as Neil Kellerman, Caralyn Kozlowski as Marjorie Houseman, Gary Lynch as Max Kellerman, Scott McCreary as Robbie Gould, Herman Petras as Mr. Schumacher, Emily Rice as Lisa Houseman, Mark Elliot Wilson as Dr. Jake Houseman and Jenny Winton as Penny Johnson.

Based on the 1987 film of the same name, Dirty Dancing—The Classic Story On Stage features a book by Eleanor Bergstein, who also penned the screenplay for the film. The production will be directed by James Powell with choreography by Michele Lynch, based on the original choreography by Kate Champion. With unforgettable songs like "Hungry Eyes," the Academy Award-winning "(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life," and classics like "Do You Love Me?," Dirty Dancing is a pop culture icon.

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.

 

Read original article on broadway.com