Remember 'Dirty Dancing': Hit 1980s movie comes to life on the Lakeland stage

LAKELAND – In 1987, the show’s current musicians and singers weren’t even born.

But 36 years later, the cast of “Dirty Dancing in Concert” is re-creating the music of the award-winning movie “Dirty Dancing” on a stage.

The movie “Dirty Dancing,” starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, is a romantic drama dance film that tells the story of Frances "Baby" Houseman (Grey), a young woman who falls in love with dance instructor Johnny Castle (Swayze) at a vacation resort.

Written by Eleanor Bergstein and directed by Emile Ardolino, the film won “Best Song” for “(I’ve Had) the Time of My Life” at the 60^th Academy Awards, “Best Original Song” at the 45^th Golden Globe Awards, three Independent Spirit Awards for “Best First Feature” and grossed more than $213 million worldwide.

On Dec. 13 in the RP Funding Center, the “Dirty Dancing in Concert” musicians and vocalists will take the renowned movie soundtrack of the 1980s live on stage as the movie plays on the big screen behind them.

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The audience at “Dirty Dancing in Concert” can watch a complete screening of the digitally remastered film as a five-piece band and three vocalists perform the songs live, coordinated with the film.

The original soundtrack to “Dirty Dancing” was released on August 4, 1987, and sold 32 million copies worldwide, becoming one of the best-selling albums of all time. In addition to “(I’ve Had) the Time of My Life,” it included “Hungry Eyes” and “She’s Like the Wind,” as well as other classic pop and R&B songs from earlier years.

The 7:30 p.m. Lakeland show is the last stop for the 42-city “Dirty Dancing in Concert” tour that began Oct. 17 in Hartford, Connecticut.

Speaking from St. Louis, where he was doing a “Dirty Dancing in Concert” show, lead vocalist Michael D’Elia said has the role of “Johnny Castle,” played by Swayze in the film. He said the production isn’t a traditional musical and the performers are lined up with the action in the movie so there isn’t much leeway in straying from the plot and script.

“It’s pretty rigid in that aspect. We don’t want to interfere with any plot points; the movie keeps going whether we do or not,” said D’Elia, 34, a Long Island, New York, native who’s lived the past 10 years in Los Angeles.

D’Elia has performed in numerous stage productions, including “Sweeney Todd,” “The World Goes ‘Round,” “Putting It Together” and “The Andrews Brothers.” He has been nominated for two Broadway World Awards and was featured on the album “16 Stories: New American Musicals with The Australian Discovery Orchestra.”

He said the “Dirty Dancing in Concert” experience draws the audience into the film’s memorable songs and dance sequences through the live, on-stage, 100-minute show. He said he hoped those who attend would be “enamored and enraptured by the experience.”

“It really creates a much more immersive atmosphere," he said. "A lot of people haven’t seen this movie on the big screen in a long time or haven’t seen it at all; it’s cool to see people who have such an affinity for this movie to come and see it and then be, like, surrounded by this music that’s so iconic."

After the movie, there will be a 30-minute encore party for those in the audience who stay to continue to sing and dance along with the band to the “Dirty Dancing” hit songs.

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The Lakeland “Dirty Dancing in Concert” show is one of two in Florida, following a Dec. 12 production in Fort Myers. The “Dirty Dancing in Concert’s tour is part of a series of live-to-film concerts touring internationally from Lionsgate properties, including “La La Landin Concert,” which has had 125 performances in 25 countries as of May 8.

IF YOU GO:

WHAT: Dirty Dancing in Concert

WHEN: 7:30 p.m., Dec. 13

WHERE: RP Funding Center Youkey Theatre, 701 W. Lime St. Lakeland

COST: $53 to $107, discount pricing for groups of 10 or more. Parking $10, card only.

INFO:  www.rpfundingcenter.com/event-details/?eventId=32501; 863-834-8100

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: 'Dirty Dancing' fans can have an 'immersive' experience Dec. 13