Stage: The Time of My Life: Dirty Dancing heads to Crawley

Dirty Dancing is perhaps the ultimate chick flick, the movie phenomenon that had few known stars and was produced by a relatively unknown Hollywood studio. It has gone on to become a record breaking international success, and possibly the cause of innumerable back injuries as over enthusiastic lovers attempt that iconic lift.

But can this kind of screen to stage adaptation ever hit the right note for dedicated fans of the original? Well clearly this production can, as its history will show.

The classic story of Baby and Johnny featured the hit songs ‘Hungry Eyes’, ‘Hey! Baby’, ‘Do You Love Me?’ and the heart stopping ‘(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life’. It was eventually made into a stage musical that has been a storming West End Success running for two seasons and then two hit UK Tours, and now it’s back and heading to the Hawth in Crawley.

Full of passion and romance, heart-pounding music and sensationally sexy dancing, this record-breaking all new concept of the show is directed by Federico Bellone, choreographed by Gillian Bruce with set design re-imagined by top Italian designer Roberto Comotti. It premiered in Milan in July 2015, subsequently packing out the 15,000 seat Roman Arena in Verona, and then played a season in Rome.

Full of passion, romance and heart-pounding music

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 two million people during its triumphant five year run.

Produced by Karl Sydow, Joye Entertainment and Paul Elliott, in association with Lionsgate and Magic Hour Productions, 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 added in.

14 – 19 August The Hawth, Crawley
Tickets from The Hawth Box Office on 01293 553636 or online hawth.co.uk