Dirty Dancing reveals West End cast

Dirty Dancing will return to the West End early next year, and casting has been confirmed.

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”.

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. It then returned again to the Phoenix Theatre in 2016, and had runs at the Dominion Theatre in 2022 and 2023.

Michael O’Reilly returns as Johnny Castle. He will lead the company alongside Pippa Jackson as Baby Houseman and Emily Layden-Fritz as Penny Johnson.

Produced by Karl Sydow, in association with Lionsgate and Magic Hour Productions, the stage production is written by Eleanor Bergstein, screenwriter of the 1987 film.

The creative team features director and set designer Federico Bellone, choreographer Austin Wilks, music supervisor Richard John, lighting designer Valerio Tiberi, sound designer Chris Whybrow, associate director Juliet Gough, costume designer Jennifer Irwin, casting director Harry Blumenau, and production manager Pete Kramer. The associate producer is Russ Spencer, the co-producer is Ivan Mactaggart with general management by New Road Theatricals.

Dirty Dancing will run at the Prince Edward Theatre from 19 January 2027 for a limited season, until 24 April.

The news comes following the postponement of the opening of the new Capital Theatre, where Dirty Dancing was due to run as the venue’s first show.