Displaying items by tag: Dirty Dancing

In a world of theatrical adaptations, there really are two kinds: some reinvent their source material, becoming their own “new” art, while others understand that the real pleasure they provide is in the audience seeing some beloved thing from the past brought back to life. Dirty Dancing: The Musical falls firmly into the second category. Is it a great musical? Not quite. But that’s not its purpose. As a pop-culture ritual connecting a multigenerational audience over their shared love of a movie (which never tried to be “great” cinema, either), it is undeniably effective. And with Dancing with the Stars returning next week (surely a favorite for this musical’s audience), the timing of this particular Broadway in Chicago production’s exceptional ballroom dancing could not have been better.

With original screenplay and book by Eleanor Bergstein and direction by Lonny Price, the adaptation recreates the film largely through its familiar soundtrack, supplemented by a handful of original songs. It quickly becomes clear that the production was cast with dancing as its first priority. That choice pays off whenever the music takes over: the cast members are remarkably skilled dancers, and the show’s most kinetic sequences capture the sensuality and excitement audiences expect from Dirty Dancing. Much of that impact comes from choreographer Darrell Grand Moultrie, whose work channels the film’s sensuality and athleticism with precision.

That energy largely disappears, though, when the dancing stops. Unfortunately, dialogue is often delivered with a stiffness that makes the performances feel robotic, leaving little sense of genuine connection between the characters. The chemistry missing from Baby and Johnny’s romantic scenes is just as absent from the story’s confrontations, friendships, and family relationships.

Blake Zelesnikar (Johnny Castle) and the DirtyDancing: The Musical Company. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

Almost as noticeably, the ensemble rarely displays the tight-knit community that should exist among Kellerman’s dance staff. These characters live and work together within the same rigid system; their relationships should feel immediate and deeply established. Instead, much of the large cast feels underutilized, when not simply crowded on the stage. The exception is the final number at the end-of-season talent show, when everyone suddenly moves with the same electric energy. It sends the audience out on an undeniable high, while also revealing how much more vibrant the entire production could have felt with that sense of spirit throughout.

Vocally, the cast is professional and polished, with two extraordinary exceptions: Ethan Peterson as Billy Kostecki and Ashley LaLonde as Elizabeth. Their voices are absolutely stunning. Nearly every pin-drop emotional moment in the production comes not from the dramatic plot, but from one of them singing.

Alongside its dancing among the production’s greatest triumphs is its scenic design, which transports us to the 1960s Catskills. The work of scenic designer Brett J. Banakis, costume designer Linda Cho, and lighting designer Japhy Weideman is central to creating that world. The set does not rely on spectacle or theatrical magic but is astonishing because it’s so perfectly planned and constructed to hold every corner of Kellerman’s – from polished guest spaces to humbler staff quarters, indoors and out. Seamless transitions allow locations to shift smoothly without interrupting the story’s momentum. I only wish the choreography had taken greater advantage of that flexibility, using the architecture to create more breakout moments for an ensemble overflowing with talented dancers.

Ultimately, Dirty Dancing: The Musical succeeds at recreating the movie onstage but rarely explores what live theatre could add to it.

But despite any limitations, this production provides exactly what its audience desired: an enjoyable night powered by nostalgia, tremendous dancing, and a finale worth waiting for – even if it never becomes an exceptional musical independent of the film audiences already love.

Dirty Dancing: The Musical runs at the James M. Nederlander Theatre through September 20th. Tickets are available at https://www.broadwayinchicago.com/shows/dirty-dancing-the-musical/.