Extened Run for Dirty Dancing

The upcoming London production of the musical Dirty Dancing which has already brought in millions of pounds at the box office, will extend it's run at the Aldwych Theatre in London by six months, according to Variety. It may also open on Broadway.

Dirty Dancing is set to begin previews on September 29th 2006, with doors opening to the public on October 24th 2006. The show was originally announced for a run until April 7th 2007, but it will now run through October 2007. The advance sales for the production are reported to have already earned £4.5 million in bookings so far, with it's popularity being put down to the film on which it's based.

This new production for the London Theatre is being directed by James Powell, with Georgina Rich playing the role Frances "Baby" Houseman, who while attending a holiday camp with her family, falls in love with a dance instructor. Josef Brown, who played the role of Johnny in the Australian production of Dirty Dancing, is listed to once again star in that role.

The 1987 movie smash, directed by Emile Ardolino and starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey on which the stage production is based, featured a variety of hits from the sixties and has transfixed countless millions with it vibrant dancing and hunky Patrick Swayze sweeping "Baby" off her feet.

The show produced for the London stage will try to stay faithful to the original story but will give more of an insight in to Baby's parents as well as the political themes of the period. According to an earlier London Theatre Guide article. Dirty Dancing will also retain many of the numbers from the film.