Dirty Dancing is a beloved 1987 movie that Rolling Stone calls “a cultural touchstone for a generation,” and now it’s here to inspire us again. This musical is full of feel-good moments, electric dancing, forbidden romance, and many of the iconic moments and songs we know and love. Dirty Dancing: The Musical, directed by Lonny Price, is at The National Theatre to give us the time of our lives.
Dirty Dancing follows Frances “Baby” Houseman and her family while they vacation at Kellerman’s resort in the summer of 1963. While exploring the grounds one night, Baby stumbles into a secret dance party for resort staff and finds herself drawn to dance instructor Johnny Castle. When his dance partner finds herself in an undesirable situation, Baby offers to step in as Johnny’s dance partner. What follows is an energizing romp through various dance montages, thrilling encounters, and the journey to make the world a better place. It is, after all, the summer that changed everything.
The absolute highlight of this show was the dancing. Choreographed by Darrell Grand Moultrie, the dance sequences were flashy, dynamic, and at times even a bit erotic, and they did a fantastic job setting the mood for each scene. Even in moments where the dancing was in the background, the pacing and grace of the dancers elevated every scene. A standout dancer was Olivia Cece, who played Penny, whose high kicks wowed audience members from the start. Blake Zelesnikar dominated the stage as Johnny Castle, and his dance moves were also impeccable from start to finish. Annalese Starzec, who played Baby Houseman, took us on a journey through her character’s growth from a girl to a woman … and into a dancer! The montage scene where she learns to dance was funky, dynamic, and truly highlighted the screen-to-stage magic. Ashley Lalonde and Ethan Peterson, who played staff members Elizabeth and Billy, were powerhouse singers who brought the beloved ’50s/’60s songs to life, and I found myself wishing they covered all the songs in the show.
The mobility of this show’s set, designed by Brett J. Banakis, allowed for great fluidity in the transitions between locations and even from one day to the next (specifically in the montage scene). Their approach to the water scene was also innovative, evoking the feeling of the original moment while staying true to the essence of a stage show.
The added scenes and storylines built on cast members who didn’t feature as prominently in the movie and added to the sociopolitical commentary, although at times these additions felt disconnected and rushed. Similarly, while all the actors perform their parts admirably, the character development falls flat across the board, though knowing the characters from the movie helps. It’s fascinating that the themes of reproductive rights, social change, and classism from an ’80s movie (that’s set in the ’60s) still feel so prevalent today, and this cast and crew did a great job highlighting these themes with the respect they deserve.
Overall, Dirty Dancing was an exciting, charming experience filled with fantastic dance numbers, a classic soundtrack, iconic moments, and ever-present important themes that captivated the audience and made you want to jump up and dance.
Running Time: Two hours and 20 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission.
Dirty Dancing: The Musical plays through October 4, 2028, at the National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC. Tickets ($99–$239) are available online or by calling Broadway at The National at (202) 628-6161. Recommended for ages 12 and up.
Cast and creative credits for the North American tour can be found here.
