Producer Karl Sydow has announced casting for the new 2018/19 UK tour of Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage, as well as additional dates for 2019 in Ipswich, Manchester, Guildford, Grimsby, Glasgow and Bristol – on sale on Friday 20 July.
The show opens in Brighton on Thursday 20 September 2018 before touring to Dartford, York, Stoke, Hastings, Southend, Birmingham, Preston, London (New Wimbledon Theatre), Plymouth, Oxford, Gateshead, Bradford, High Wycombe, Torquay, Swansea, Bromley, Edinburgh, Woking, Aylesbury and Wolverhampton followed by the above new dates.
Further 2019 dates to be announced.
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.
