Opening: Dirty Dancing in Birmingham

Dirty Dancing opens this Wednesday (July 4) at the Birmingham Hippodrome ahead of it summer run in the city where it will play until August 25. The season will introduce new cast members to the production as previously announced.

The first ever national tour of the hit West End show, based on the classic 1987 film starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey opened in Bristol last September and has toured the country since to packed houses.

American actress Jill Winternitz stars as Baby Houseman, the iconic role portrayed by Jennifer Grey. Her previous credits include Ophelia in Hamlet and The Prioress in The Canterbury Tales. As a member of the company since the beginning of the tour, Nicky Griffiths will take over the role of Penny Johnson. Her other credits include Lisa in Mamma Mia! (West End), Lou-Anne and understudy Amber Von-Tussle in the London cast of Hairspray, the original London cast of Wicked (West End) and Grease (UK tour).

Paul-Michael Jones will continue in his role as Johnny Castle. Paul-Michael trained at Laine Theatre Arts. Theatre credits include Eddie in Mamma Mia! (West End) and understudying the roles of Jake and Adrian in Never Forget (UK tour). He has also represented England as a Latin American and Ballroom Dancer, as one of the top two English couples, at The World Championships in Singapore.

Dirty Dancing runs at the Birmingham Hippodrome from July 4 – August 25 and returns to the Midlands next year where it plays at the Theatre Royal Nottingham from February 12 – March 2 and then from March 12 – 30 2013 at Stoke’s Regent Theatre.