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RECORD BREAKING WEST END SHOW DIRTY DANCING - THE CLASSIC STORY ON STAGE CELEBRATES ITS FIRST BIRTHDAY AND EXTENDS BOOKING TO APRIL 2009 WITH 250,000 EXTRA TICKETS ON SALE
October 9, 2007
The smash-hit show Dirty Dancing - The Classic Story On Stage will celebrate its first birthday on the 24th October with a champagne-fuelled party – including an impressive, pink-themed birthday cake - after the performance. This hugely popular show, which opened to rave reviews and record breaking box office sales in October last year, still has audiences flocking to the Aldwych Theatre for "the time of their lives".
Executive producer Kevin Jacobsen commented: "We are so proud that Dirty Dancing - The Classic Story On Stage has reached its first birthday in the West End and continues to pull in the crowds with sell-out performances every night of the week. We look forward to many more happy years at the Aldwych!"
Since opening at the Aldwych Theatre on 24th October 2006 Dirty Dancing - The Classic Story On Stage has now been seen by over half a million people, and has taken more than £31million at the box office, having opened to the highest advance sales in West End Theatre history. Dirty Dancing is now booking further in advance than any other West End show, with booking opening on 29th October 2007 for dates through to April 2009 to meet public demand.
Written by Eleanor Bergstein, script writer and creator of the phenomenally successful film, Dirty Dancing is the coming of age love story between the talented and headstrong dancer Johnny Castle (Josef Brown) and Frances 'Baby' Houseman (Sarah Manton) during her family's summer holiday.
The stage show features all the much-loved characters from the iconic film as well as the tantalising dance sequences and the hits from the unforgettable soundtrack such as 'Do You Love Me?', 'Hungry Eyes' and the Academy Award Winning 'Time Of My Life'
Dirty Dancing - The Classic Story On Stage is produced by Jacobsen Entertainment and Karl Sydow, in association with Lionsgate and Magic Hour Productions. The stage show is directed by James Powell, music supervisor Conrad Helfrich, choreographer Kate Champion, set design Stephen Brimson Lewis, lighting design Tim Mitchell, sound design Bobby Aitken, video and projection design Jon Driscoll, Ballroom and Latin choreographer Craig Wilson and costume design Jennifer Irwin.
And as an extra special treat for Dirty Dancing fans, a Special Edition 20th Anniversary DVD of the timeless classic is being released in October, including an exclusive behind the scenes look at creating the London production and featuring interviews with the stars and breathtaking footage of the show. With a digitally restored picture and a host of rare and never before seen special features, the packed two disc commemorative edition is released by Lionsgate on 22nd October 2007. To celebrate, Dirty Dancing - The Classic Story On Stage and Lionsgate have teamed up to offer one lucky DVD purchaser a pair of excellent tickets to see the show, two nights' accommodation in a top London hotel, dinner for two, official show merchandise and a dance lesson with the show's dance captain, as well as a back stage tour. See the DVD for more details.
Meanwhile, for those who just can't get enough of the hits from the show, the soundtrack to Dirty Dancing - The Classic Story On Stage is released on download exclusively with itunes also on 22nd October to celebrate the first birthday. The download includes exclusive video footage of the stage show, while the CD is also available in all good music stores now.
