‘Dirty Dancing’ Set For Stage Musical Adaptation

The writer of the hugely successful 1987 original movie, Eleanor Bergstein, is involved with scripting the stage version, which is planning a 2025 launch.

(L to R) Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in 'Dirty Dancing'. Photo: Vestron Pictures.

Preview:

1987’s ‘Dirty Dancing’ is being adapted as a stage musical.
Original writer Eleanor Bergstein is scripting with Tony winner Lonny Price directing.
Price also appeared in the film alongside Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey.

Movies and TV shows have long been adapted into stage (and stage musical) versions, with examples including ‘Mean Girls,’ ‘Back to the Future,’ ‘The Color Purple’ and recent hit ‘Stranger Things.’

We can now add 1987 hit ‘Dirty Dancing’ to the list, as Lionsgate is turning the movie into a stage musical with the help of Eleanor Bergstein (who scripted the movie) and Lonny Price, who in addition to being a Tony-winning director, began his career as an actor and played Neil Kellerman in the film.

Dirty Dancing

"First dance. First love. The time of your life."

PG-131 hr 40 minAug 21st, 1987

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What’s the story of ‘Dirty Dancing’?

(L to R) Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze in 'Dirty Dancing'. Photo: Vestron Pictures.

The film saw Frances “Baby” Houseman (Jennifer Grey) spending the summer at a Catskills resort with her family, where falls in love with the camp’s charismatic dance instructor, Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze).

Against the wishes of her family and the camp’s authorities, Baby and Johnny keep seeing each other –– and dancing, while a jealous fellow dance frames him for theft.

With Bergstein writing the script, Emile Ardolino directed the movie.

‘Dirty Dancing’ became a big box office hit at the time and is a perennial favorite. It spawned a late, far less well-regarded sequel (‘Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights’ in 2004), a couple of short-lived TV adaptations and a TV movie in 2017. And not forgetting (though many people have) reality competition series ‘The Real Dirty Dancing’ in 2022.

Jonathan Levine is currently developing a new version for the big screen, with Grey attached.

The original soundtrack, created by Jimmy Ienner, yielded two multi-platinum albums and multiple singles. “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life”, performed by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes, won the Oscar for Best Original Song, as well as the Golden Globe for Best Original Song and the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals.

There was also the chart-toppers “She’s Like the Wind” which was performed by Swayze and “Hungry Eyes” performed by Eric Carmen.

‘Dirty Dancing’ Musical: The Writer and Studio Speak

(L to R) Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze in 'Dirty Dancing'. Photo: Vestron Pictures.

Here’s what Bergstein had to say in a statement:

“In the years after I wrote and co-produced the original film ‘Dirty Dancing,’ I was grateful and astonished by the generations of audiences who responded with open hearts to the themes of honor and courage beneath the surface. Years later, sensing our audiences wanted to ‘be there’ while the story was happening, I wrote and co-produced a stage show. Its reception all over the world exceeded my sweetest dreams. Now we’ve come full circle, and with my old friend Lonny Price by my side, I’m returning to the stage with a reimagined version. Its hope is to be equal to the new world swirling around us while revisiting more fully and precisely the story I’d wanted to tell when I wrote my first lines. It’s my way of saying thank you to you all.”

And this was the comment from Jenefer Brown, Lionsgate Head of Global Products & Experiences:

“Dirty Dancing continues to be one of the most enduring and impactful titles in Lionsgate’s library. The important truths and themes present in Dirty Dancing are as relevant today as they were in 1987. We’re thrilled to create a live experience that honors the cultural significance and storytelling magic of the original film while inviting a new generation to fall in love with Dirty Dancing.”

When will the ‘Dirty Dancing’ musical arrive?

(L to R) Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in 'Dirty Dancing'. Photo: Vestron Pictures.

The aim is for the show to kick off in 2025 with a major run in North America and ambitions to hit Broadway.

From there, there are plans to take the show abroad to Asia, Australia, Latin America and beyond.

Now, of course, we have to wonder if the stage show is a success, whether it’ll go the ‘Color Purple’ and ‘Mean Girls’ route and return to screens in musical movie form…