DIRTY DANCING HEADS TO BRISTOL HIPPODROME
The producers of the first ever national tour of Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage, one of the most successful musicals in West End history, are delighted to announce the lead casting of one of the most iconic couples in cinematic history as part of the tour’s original company.
Paul-Michael Jones will be putting on the leather jacket to play Johnny Castle, one of the most iconic roles in popular culture, made famous around the world by Patrick Swayze in the 1987 smash hit movie. Emily Holt will be carrying the watermelon as idealistic Baby Houseman, the role taken by Jennifer Grey in the film, who discovers love and life in the summer she will never forget.
Paul-Michael trained at Laine Theatre Arts, graduating in 2007. His theatre credits include Eddie in Mamma Mia! (Prince of Wales Theatre, London); Understudying & performing the roles of Jake and Adrian in Never Forget (UK National Tour); Jack in Jack & The Beanstalk (Victoria Theatre, Halifax), We Will Rock You (Cologne); Dance Captain in Fame (European Tour). His TV credits include dancing for Dame Shirley Bassey on The Dame Edna Everage Show (ITV), and with Paul O’Grady & Michael Parkinson on The Paul O’Grady Show. He has represented England as a Latin American and Ballroom Dancer, as one of the top two English couples, at The World Championships in Singapore. Paul-Michael said: “I am so excited to be putting on the leather jacket of Johnny Castle. Patrick Swayze made it one of the iconic roles in cinema history, so it’s fantastic to have been given the opportunity of playing Johnny the length and breadth of the country”.
Emily played Martha in the TV series The Pillars of The Earth also starring Donald Sutherland. Prior to this Emily played Susie in a film directed by Henry Mason and co-starring Rik Mayall. Her film roles include a young Bridesmaid in The Boat That Rocked for Working Title Films and directed by Richard Curtis. Having trained at LAMDA Emily has a great theatre background and has appeared in Much Ado About Nothing at The Globe Neuss, Germany and a tour of Cling To Me Like Ivy. Other Theatre includes Cabaret and The Far Pavilions in the West-End, and Grease No 1 UK Tour. Emily said: “We can’t wait for the tour to begin and are so excited about our opening night in Bristol”.
Since its announcement in November 2010, demand for tickets for the first-ever UK Tour of Dirty Dancing has been phenomenal, with sales already exceeding £11m, and many performances already sold out. It runs at the Bristol Hippodrome from September 1 – October 8. Tickets from £10. More info at www.dirtydancingontour.com
