Dirty Dancing is coming to SA! DIRTY DANCING is coming to SA!! DIRTY DANCING IS COMING TO SA!!!!

Cue girlie scream!

Dirty Dancing, The Classic Story On Stage is the fastest selling theatre production in West End history and it’s opening at the Teatro at Montecasino in Johannesburg this Friday, 26 October 2012. Cue silly happy dance! As tempted as I am to leap onto a plane and fly to Jozi for the opening night, I will be (not so) patiently waiting for the show to come to the Artscape in Cape Town from 18 January – 10 February 2013. (Gosh that’s a long wait…maybe I can find a cheap flight…)

Adapted for stage by the same woman who brought it to our screens, Eleanor Bergstein brings all the excitement and passion of this sexy summer love story to a whole new level. With world-famous producers like Pieter Toerien and Hazel Feldman on board, the show is going to sell out as quickly as hearts will be pounding to see it. Featuring favourite scenes like “I carried a watermelon” and “nobody puts Baby in a corner”, the show will blow you away with spectacular dancing, striking visuals, and music from the original soundtrack that will make you want to dance right out of your seat, up the aisle, and attempt “the leap” into Jonny’s arms!

The production has an extraordinary track record. But that’s hardly a surprise – show me one lady who doesn’t rank the movie in her top 3 favourites of all time! Some WOW facts about the musical:

  • It broke records in Germany and the UK for the highest advance ticket sales in history.
  • The London show was sold out for the first 6 months of its run – before it even opened!
  • It was first performed at the Theatre Royal, Sydney, Australia on 18 November 2004. It had a sell-out season of 18 months throughout Australia and New Zealand.
  • A new production opened at the Theater Neue Flora in Hamburg, Germany in March 2006 where it broke records for achieving the highest advance in European history. Over 1 MILLION tickets have been sold here.
  • It is the longest running show at the Potzdammer Platz theatre in Berlin, and the Aldwych Theatre in London.
  • The production has a cast of 35 who get through 55 songs during 73 scene changes lit by 200 moving lights. Baby alone has 21 costume changes. The cast is supported by 24 production staff with 4 wig girls, a creative team of 10, and 11 in the orchestra pit.

If those stats aren’t convincing enough, check out the YouTube promo clip. Then visit the official website or make your way to Computicket to book your ticket (prices range from R100 – R400). If you’re travelling from out of town, book your accommodation with us – we have fantastic establishments near Montecasino and the Artscape. Even if you have to ask for a ticket as a Christmas present, don’t miss out on this smash-hit! “Come on ladies, God wouldn’t have given you maracas if he didn’t want you to shake ’em…”

What is your favourite line or moment from Dirty Dancing?

 

Images courtesy of Montecasino