Dirty Dancing UK tour casting announced

Casting has been announced for the upcoming UK tour of Dirty Dancing.

Michael O'Reilly, making his professional debut, will star as Johnny Castle alongside Kira Malou who returns to the role of Frances 'Baby' Houseman' after regularly playing the role during the 2016-17 UK tour.

The rest of the cast includes Simone Covele as Penny Johnson, Lynden Edwards as Dr Jake Houseman, Lori Haley Fox as Marjorie Houseman, Lizzie Ottley as Lisa Houseman, Alex Wheeler as Billy Kostecki, Jack McKenzie as Max Kellerman, Greg Fossard as Neil Kellerman, Colin Charles as Tito Suarez, Mark Faith as Mr Schumacher and Sian Gentle-Green as Elizabeth. Also joining the company are Amelia Armstrong, Tom Bowen, Shaquille Brush, Stan Doughty, Katie Eccles, Millie Hood, Kieran Kuypers, Ben Mabberley, Sophia McAvoy, Alessia McDermott, Carlie Milner, Oliver Ramsdale, Ashley Rumble, Miles Russell and Austin Wilks.

The musical is based on the classic 1987 film starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey and features hit songs such as "Hungry Eyes", "Hey! Baby", "Do You Love Me?" and "(I've Had) The Time Of My Life".

The new tour opens at Theatre Royal Brighton on 20 September before visiting venues through until July 2019, with further dates to be announced.

Dirty Dancing received its West End premiere at the Aldwych Theatre in 2006, where it ran for five years. It has since gone on to tour the world and returned to the West End in 2013, playing at the Piccadilly Theatre.