Dirty Dancing: The Musical Opens at the Kravis Center — Have the Time of Your Life in West Palm Beach

Nobody puts Baby in a corner — and this week, nobody in South Florida should put this one off, either. **Dirty Dancing: The Musical** makes its West Palm Beach premiere at the Kravis Center, opening **Wednesday, October 28 at 7:30 p.m.** in Dreyfoos Hall and running for eight performances through **Sunday, November 1**. This is the stage version of Lionsgate's beloved 1987 film — the story that awakened a generation — rebuilt for live theatre with live music from the original film, electrified dancing, and the summer that changed everything at Kellerman's. ## The story you know, live in the room Set against the unforgettable summer of 1963, the musical follows Frances "Baby" Houseman as she discovers love, passion and independence through her relationship with charismatic dance instructor Johnny Castle. It's alive with the pulse of the dancing, the thrill of secret encounters and the allure of forbidden romance — and yes, the famous lift is part of the stage production. What gives this new production real pedigree: it is directed by **Lonny Price** — Tony Award nominee, Obie Award winner and two-time Emmy Award winner — who played Neil Kellerman in the original *Dirty Dancing* film. Choreography is by **Darrell Grand Moultrie**, and the story comes from **Eleanor Bergstein**, the original screenwriter of the film. The production is presented by The Path Entertainment Group in association with Lionsgate, LD Entertainment and Magic Hour Productions. The source material is no small thing: the original film grossed over $200 million at the worldwide box office, launched two multiplatinum soundtrack albums, and won an Academy Award for Best Original Song and a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. ## When to go — all eight performances - **Wednesday, Oct. 28** — 7:30 p.m. (opening night) - **Thursday, Oct. 29** — 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. - **Friday, Oct. 30** — 8:00 p.m. - **Saturday, Oct. 31** — 2:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m. - **Sunday, Nov. 1** — 1:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. **Venue:** Alexander W. Dreyfoos Concert Hall, Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL 33401 — the Kravis Center's grand 2,195-seat hall and the home of the Kravis On Broadway series, which is celebrating its 19th season. **Tickets:** $36 including fees, per the Kravis Center's published calendar listing (all programs, dates and prices subject to change). Buy direct at kravis.org or call the box office at 561.832.7469. ## Why this is the smart pick this week South Florida's forecast this week is unsettled, with showers in the picture — and this is an indoor night at one of the region's best rooms. No weather gamble, no parking-lot sprint in the rain hoping an outdoor show holds. You get a full Broadway-style production, a story everyone in your group already loves, and a run short enough — five days only — that waiting really does mean missing it. ## Insider tips 1. **Opening night has the buzz, Thursday's matinee has the breathing room.** If you want energy, go Wednesday. If you want an easier drive and a calmer lobby, Thursday at 2 p.m. is the local's move. 2. **Give Okeechobee Blvd. time.** Downtown West Palm Beach traffic builds before evening curtain. Arrive early, park once, and walk in unhurried — a rushed entrance is no way to start a night at Kellerman's. 3. **Make it a Clematis night.** The Kravis Center sits right by downtown West Palm Beach's dining strip. An early dinner before a 7:30 or 8:00 curtain turns a show ticket into a full night out. 4. **Saturday is Halloween — plan around it.** The Oct. 31 matinee gets you the show and still leaves the night free; the 8 p.m. performance is the alternative plan for anyone trading trick-or-treat crowds for theatre seats. 5. **Buy from the source.** Go through kravis.org or the box office line above, so you're paying the published price — not a marked-up resale number. ## The bottom line Five days, eight performances, one of the most loved movie romances ever made — live, with its music played in the room and its most famous dance moment built for the stage. Your reservation at Kellerman's awaits. **[Get tickets at kravis.org](https://www.kravis.org) or call 561.832.7469.**