Photo Flash: DIRTY DANCING Releases Production Photos

By Precious Lee Cundangan

Manila, Philippines, April 4, 2013 -- One of the fastest selling shows in London West End, "Dirty Dancing," makes its Manila premiere on Thursday, July 4 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, Hi-Definition Radio Inc., and Concertus Manila present Ellen Bergstein's "Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story Onstage" with a limited run of 22 performances.

"Dirty Dancing" onstage, based on the cult movie from the '80s, which starred Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, features a string of hit songs including "Hungry Eyes," "Hey Baby," "Do You Love Me," and, of course, "(I've Had) the Time of My Life."

It is the summer of 1963; and young, independent-minded teen girl Frances "Baby" Houseman reluctantly joins a family vacation at Kellerman's, a resort. However, Baby's interest is soon piqued when she discovers an all-night dance party at Kellerman's staff quarters, an underworld where young men and women dance like there is no tomorrow. Completely bowled over with the partygoers' dance moves, Baby loses herself in the pounding rhythms of that dance world. She catches sight of Johnny Castle, the resort's dance instructor. Her life comes to full swing, and drastically changes as Baby becomes Johnny's main girl both on and off stage.

The Manila premiere of "Dirty Dancing" stars Bryony Whitfield as Baby, Gareth Bailey as Johnny, and Mila de Biaggi as Penny Johnson.

Originally, "Dirty Dancing" was a low-budget film by a new studio Great American Films Limited Partnership. The movie became a massive box office hit in 1987, and a worldwide phenomenon both in box office returns and home video revenues. In addition, its soundtrack singles and album have generated more than two multi-platinum awards; Academy and Golden Globe Awards for Best Original Song for "(I've Had) the Time of My Life"; and a Grammy Award for Best Duet for "(I've Had) the Time of My Life."

"I started writing the movie with the '60s music already in mind. I picked each song, and wrote lines of the dialogue against lines of the lyric and melody. It was the time of one's life when one couldn't separate conversation from the music playing on the radio. When you couldn't separate the lyrics of the song from the words you were saying, or the beat of the music from the beat of your heart," said writer, creator Bergstein, according to press notes.

For tickets, call Ticketworld at (632)891-9999 or visit ticketworld.com.ph.

Photos by Concertus Manila

Gareth Bailey, Bryony Whitfield, Mila de Biaggi

Mila de Biaggi, Gareth Bailey

Gareth Bailey, Company

Bryony Whitfield

Bryony Whitfield

Gareth Bailey, Mila de Biaggi