Tickets to ‘Dirty Dancing’ on sale Monday

DES MOINES — Des Moines Performing Arts will present the Iowa premiere of
"Dirty Dancing — The Classic Story on Stage" at the Des Moines Civic Center for a limited engagement Sept. 15-20. This beloved story enjoyed by millions across the globe is the first production in the 2015-2016 Willis Broadway Series.

Tickets to “Dirty Dancing — The Classic Story On Stage,” which start at $35, will be on sale starting at 9 a.m. Monday at DesMoinesPerformingArts.org, the Civic Center Ticket Office, all Ticketmaster locations and charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000. Groups of 15 or more should call 515-246-2340.

“As I learned how many people watched the movie over and over and over,” said Eleanor Bergstein, screenwriter of the film Dirty Dancing and book writer for the musical, “I began to think that what they really wanted was to share more intensely in the event, to step through the screen and be there while the story was happening. Writing it for the stage, I was also able to add more Baby and Johnny scenes, more about the family, more songs I couldn’t afford last time, and, most exciting of all — more dancing.”

The production’s book is written by Eleanor Bergstein and the North American tour will be directed by James Powell with choreography by Michele Lynch based on the original choreography by Kate Champion.

“Dirty Dancing — The Classic Story On Stage” is an unprecedented live experience, exploding with heart-pounding music, passionate romance and sensational dancing. Seen by millions across the globe, this timeless love story features the hit songs “Hungry Eyes,” “Hey Baby,” “Do You Love Me?” and the heart-stopping “(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life.”

It’s the summer of 1963, and 17-year-old Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman is on vacation in New York’s Catskill Mountains with her older sister and parents. Mesmerized by the racy dance moves and pounding rhythms she discovers in the resort’s staff quarters, Baby can’t wait to be part of the scene, especially when she catches sight of Johnny Castle, the resort’s sexy dance instructor. Passions ignite and Baby’s life changes forever when she is thrown in to the deep end as Johnny’s leading lady, both on-stage and off.

For more information about the “Dirty Dancing — The Classic Story On Stage” visit us.dirtydancingontour.com/.