Dirty Dancing Musical Lead Stars Bring Baby and Johnny Castle to Life on Broadway-Bound Tour

Tour heads toward Broadway

Dirty Dancing: The Musical is scheduled to arrive on Broadway next year. Before then, audiences across North America can see the touring production, which has five stops left before reaching New York.

The show opened at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. Its listed upcoming stops include Charlotte, North Carolina; Greenville, South Carolina; Boston, Massachusetts; and Toronto, Ontario.

Starzec takes on Baby

Annalese Starzec plays Frances “Baby” Houseman and is making her national touring debut with the production. She attended the University of Alabama, and her Playbill biography names a local Georgia production of West Side Story as a favorite credit.

She said she admires Baby’s determination to defend people she loves and what she believes is right. Starzec is also set to make her Broadway debut when the show opens in New York.

Zelesnikar prepares for Johnny

His connection to A Chorus Line also links to his wife, Jessica Lee Goldyn, who made her Broadway debut in the musical in 2006 as Val before taking on Cassie. Zelesnikar said he has practiced the “Time of My Life” lift since childhood.

“Playing Johnny is another dream come true,” Zelesnikar told BroadwayWorld. He said Patrick Swayze had inspired him and that he approaches rehearsals and performances with admiration and respect.

Florida dates and next stops

The production is scheduled to play the Kravis Center through November 1. The listed tour cities after Florida are Charlotte, Greenville, Boston and Toronto.