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Dirty Dancing Announces Principal Casting for Pre-Broadway East Coast Premiere
London and Toronto Stars to Re-Create Their Roles on the American Stage

BOSTON, MA: Producer Jacobsen Entertainment, in association with Lionsgate and Magic Hour Productions, of the international hit Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage is pleased to announce principal casting for the upcoming pre-Broadway East Coast premiere. Josef Brown will re-create the role of Johnny Castle direct from the London production and Amanda Leigh Cobb will play Frances “Baby” Houseman. Britta Lazenga, a member of the Joffrey Ballet, joins the National Tour direct from the Toronto production in the role of Penny Johnson.

The National Tour of Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage will host its pre-Broadway East Coast premiere in Boston at The Opera House (539 Washington Street) for a limited engagement from February 7 through March 15, 2009.

Josef Brown (Johnny Castle) comes to the National touring company direct from the London and Australian productions of Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage starring in the role of Johnny Castle. London’s Evening Standard praised his performance in the West End, “His spectacular agility expressed in leaps and spins, puts an enviable muscled torso to work… [and] assertively dancing Baby back into his life.”

Brown was trained at the Australian Ballet School in Melbourne before performing to critical acclaim with The Australian Ballet. Commenting on his casting in the upcoming U.S. premiere, “It is a genuine thrill to be bringing the role of Johnny Castle to the U.S. stage. This is an American story full of hope, personal revelation and, of course, sensuality and love, uplifting literally millions of theatergoers around the world since it first opened. It has been my pleasure to be part of this experience, and I look forward to performing in three great cities of the world: Chicago, Boston and Los Angeles,” Brown states.

Britta Lazenga (Penny Johnson) is a Chicago-based dancer and member of the world-renowned Joffrey Ballet. Toronto’s Globe and Mail raves: “It is the sensational Lazenga, a gorgeous blonde with legs that go on forever, who steals the show. She can dance up a storm and her acting rings true with every word she utters.”

Lazenga says about her casting in the U.S. premiere, “It fills me with great joy and tremendous honor to be returning home to perform in the American premiere of “Dirty Dancing.” It is challenging for me to express just how grateful I am to be included in such a memorable production and it is even more challenging for me to contain my excitement. I can't wait to share this excitement and experience with the audiences of Boston, Los Angeles and of course, Sweet Home Chicago.”

Amanda Leigh Cobb (Frances “Baby” Houseman) recently performed on Broadway in The Country Girl and The Coast of Utopia and is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama. Her other credits include the Yale Repertory Theater, Milwaukee Shakespeare and the Williamstown Theater Festival. Regarding her casting she commented, “I am thrilled to be playing such an iconic role that continues to inspire people decades after the film and cannot think of three more exciting cities than Chicago, Boston and Los Angeles to welcome us on this tour across the country! Having spent only a small amount of time in Boston, I am thrilled to get the chance to familiarize myself with the history of such a dynamic town.”

The rest of the casting for the U.S. premiere of Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage will be announced at a future date.

Proclaimed “The biggest live theatre sensation of all time” by The Observer newspaper in London, Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage also received four stars from The Times, The Independent, Financial Times, Evening Standard, Mail on Sunday, Sunday Times and Time Out London.

The worldwide musical smash Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage will have its pre-Broadway East Coast premiere in Boston. This powerful theatrical event blends music, dance and drama in a wholly original way.

The movie Dirty Dancing is a legendary entertainment phenomenon. The soundtrack continues to sell millions of copies. And now live audiences can experience it as never before. Re-imagined for the stage by the original screenwriter Eleanor Bergstein, Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage, combines all the intensity and excitement of live theater with new songs, new scenes, and thrilling new dances. Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage is an unprecedented live experience for lifelong fans of the film and new audiences alike that explodes with heart-pounding music, breathtaking emotion and sensationally sexy dancing.

Step inside the classic story of Baby and Johnny – two fiercely independent young spirits from different worlds who come together in what will be the most challenging and triumphant summer of their lives. Including a cast of 37, the record-breaking show features 35 hit songs, including "Hungry Eyes,” "Hey Baby,” "Do You Love Me?" and the heart-stopping Academy Award-winning "(I've Had) The Time of My Life.”

The acclaimed creative team responsible for the record-breaking London and Toronto productions of Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage will bring the show to the United States. Directed by James Powell, with choreography by Kate Champion, the team also includes: Stephen Brimson Lewis (set design), Conrad Helfrich (music supervisor), Tim Mitchell (lighting design), Bobby Aitken (sound design), Jon Driscoll (video and projection design), Jennifer Irwin (costume design) and Craig Wilson (Latin and Ballroom dance choreographer).

Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage will make it’s pre-Broadway East Coast premiere in Boston for a limited engagement February 7 through March 15, 2009 at The Opera House (539 Washington Street).

Public on-sale to be announced at a later time. Series Tickets are now on sale for the Broadway Across America – Boston Season. To order Season Tickets call 866-523-7469 or visit www.broadwayacrossamerica.com/boston.  For groups of 10 or more please call 866-633-0194.