Quote of the Day: There are people willing to stand up for other people no matter what it costs them. Johnny Castle in Dirty Dancing: The Musical, written by Eleanor Bergstein. 

The atmosphere at the Ordway Performing Arts Center in St. Paul, MN was electric last night at the Opening/Media Night of the launch of the North American Tour of Dirty Dancing: The Musical. The greeters and ushers were all wearing Kellerman’s shirts, and there were dance lessons on the second floor lobby. I believe that many people came for the nostalgia from experiencing the 1987 film and a longing to revisit these characters, their story, a family summer camp experience, and connecting with a moment in your life where you saw the world a little differently. The performance was nearly sold out, and the audience was completely engaged with the performance. There’s something about going to live theater that makes the experience even more emotional. We laughed together, cheered, sighed, and cried. Several times, it felt like the audience was holding a collective breath waiting for those iconic lines or swooning over those magical moments. 

Annalese Starzec as Baby and Blake Zelesnikar as Johnny in Dirty Dancing: The Musical, North American Tour. Photo: Matthew Murphy of MurphyMade

The stunning cast of Dirty Dancing: The Musical truly embodies these iconic characters with perfect casting, costuming, set, and choreography. Annalese Starzec radiates as Frances “Baby” Houseman. She looks so much like Jennifer Grey who played Baby in the film, but she makes her actions and expressions her own, giving us genuine emotions and reactions to what is happening that poignant summer of 1963. 

Blake Zelesnikar is stunning as bad boy dancer Johnny Castle. He has the moves that would make Patrick Swayze shake in his leather boots. Starzec & Zelesnikar play beautifully off each other, creating tension, being at odds, then working together for the dance number and facing some hard truths about the society they live in. And, naturally, that irresistible attraction. 

Blake Zelesnikar as Johnny and Olivia Cece as Penny in Dirty Dancing: The Musical, North American Tour. Photo: Matthew Murphy of MurphyMade

Olivia Cece as Penny was spectacular. She has the moves! When she and Johnny dance together, the entire audience is riveted to the stage. They do a great job of showing us that they have a deep affection for each other, but as friends not lovers, and they would do anything to help each other.

Bryan Fenkart is a sweet Jake Houseman. He has his moments to shine with some iconic lines, a few solo parts, and as a dad watching his daughters grow up. Gina Lamparella plays Marjorie Houseman. In this stage version, she has a few more moments with her daughters and her husband that I really liked. 

Blake Zelesnikar as Johnny and Olivia Cece as Penny and cast in Dirty Dancing: The Musical, North American Tour. Photo: Matthew Murphy of MurphyMade

The large ensemble cast are the staff at Kellerman’s. They have all the greatest dance moves and interactions. Ashley LaLonde plays Elizabeth and Ethen Peterson is Billy Kostecki. They, along with Erick Pinnick, provide some outstanding vocals in several scenes where the main actors are dancing or interacting in more intimate ways. Loren Lester is Max Kellerman, and Dan Klimko plays his nephew Neil. 

Lonny Price is the director of this stunning stage production of Dirty Dancing: The Musical. Brilliant choreography by Darrell Grand Moultrie. Fantastic stage design by Brett J. Banakis. It’s a movable set with sections that drop down. The cast moves set pieces in and out. They also did a great job staging the outdoor scenes where Johnny & Baby balance on a log and are in the water. Video projections by David Bengali. Emily Rebholz did an amazing job with the costume design, giving us the look of these iconic characters and depicting the time that the story is set in. Lighting design by Japhy Weideman, and sound design by Kai Harada.

Annalese Starzec as Baby and Blake Zelesnikar as Johnny in Dirty Dancing: The Musical, North American Tour. Photo: Matthew Murphy of MurphyMade

Overall, this new musical adaptation does a great job of bringing a beloved story to life. A few scenes are added to ground us more firmly in its time in history, including a scene of people rallying for the freedom rides and references to what is happening with Civil Rights. The themes of this story give us more to think about than pretty dance moves and first loves. And, those are great. But, it also challenges us to think about how we treat people, where our prejudices lie, and that fighting for justice can be choices we make right at home, within our own families and communities. Of course, the music is iconic. Live orchestra directed by Patrick Tice-Carroll, Orchestrations by Charlie Rosen. They were spectacular.

The Ordway Performing Arts Center has the privilege of launching this grand production of Dirty Dancing: The Musical. Be one of the first audiences to see it, through Sept. 6, 2026. It’s spectacular!

Go. Create. Inspire!

Journaling Prompt: When have you been challenged to stick up for someone, or a belief, especially when it seemed hard?