CAST & CREATIVES
ANNALESE STARZEC (Frances “Baby” Houseman) is elated to make her national tour debut! One of her favorite credits includes West Side Story at City Springs Theatre Company in her home state of Georgia. She would love to thank Eleanor and the entire casting/creative team for letting her have the time of her life. Thanks Mom.
BLAKE ZELESNIKAR (Johnny Castle). NY: Gotta Dance!, A Chorus Line 50th Anniversary (Don). 1st National Tours: Mean Girls (Shane Oman), Phantom of the Opera, An American in Paris, Flashdance. Regional: Bull Durham, 3 Summers of Lincoln, Chicago, Jerome Robbins Broadway. Thank you to my family and wife, @jessicaleegoldyn for your love and support! @b_zelez
OLIVIA CECE (Penny Johnson) is thrilled to be playing Penny in Dirty Dancing: The Musical. Broadway: Moulin Rouge, (OBC) Heart of Rock & Roll. Tours: The Prom, Charlie & The Chocolate Factory. Credits: “SNL”, “Lady in Lake,” “Your Friends & Neighbors,” Meg Thee Stallion, NYFW, “Good Morning America,” “Blues Clues.” Thanks to Lakey Wolff Co, my family, teachers, and Dylan. Excited for this venture. Here we go! @Livcece.
BRYAN FENKART (Jake Houseman). Broadway/Off-Bway/Tour: Memphis, Waitress,Little Shop of Horrors. Regional: Hard Road to Heaven, Water for Elephants, DarlingGrenadine, These Paper Bullets!,Diner, Piece of My Heart. TV: “Manifest”, “FBI”, “Harlem”, “Interview with the Vampire”, “Chicago Med”, “Law & Order: Criminal Intent”. Thanks to my reps, fam, and Bluebird. Socials: @BryanFenkart.
DAN KLIMKO (Neil Kellerman) is overwhelmingly excited to be making his National Tour Debut. Regional credits include Les Miserables (The Muny) and Jersey Boys (The Lex). He endlessly thanks his family (Dirty Dancing is mom's favorite movie!), Zoey, friends, and his agents and team at Henderson Hogan for all of their support.
ASHLEY LALONDE (Elizabeth). Favorite credits include Hamilton (Eliza/Angelica/Peggy Cover, Tour), Dreamgirls (Deena, WPPAC), Hair (Sheila, CSC), Next to Normal (Natalie, WCP), Black Rabbit (Netflix), and world premieres at American Repertory Theater, Lincoln Center, and National Black Theatre. Harvard University, B.A. Sociology. Love to God, Noah, & family! Matthew 6:33 @ashleylalaa.
GINA LAMPARELLA (Marjorie Houseman) has appeared on Broadway in Caroline or Change, The Phantom of the Opera, A Little Night Music, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Fiddler on the Roof, Gypsy, Imaginary Friends, Jane Eyre, & Les Misérables. Lots of other theatre (including as director and choreographer). TV: “The Other Two,” “The Blacklist,” “Master of None” @ginalamp.
LOREN LESTER (Max Kellerman). Broadway: Cabaret. National Tour: The Band’s Visit. TV: 200+ episodes including “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins,” “The Orville,” “Hung” (recurring), Robin/Nightwing on “Batman: The Animated Series.” Film (favorites): Wes Craven’s Red Eye, Rock ‘n’ Roll High School. Regional: Pasadena Playhouse, North Coast Rep, LA Philharmonic. @actorlorenlester.
ETHAN PETERSON (Billy Kostecki). Credits: “Elsbeth” (CBS). Next To Normal (Gabe), The Great Emu War (Goodspeed), Rent (Mark), Into The Woods (Baker), Sweeney Todd, Trampoline (54 Below). Recently Graduated from Penn State, BFA Musical Theatre. Performed PSU v. Michigan halftime show. Special thanks to his Mom, Dad, and agents for all the support! @ethanrpeterson.
ERICK PINNICK (Tito Suarez) has appeared in 1st National tours of Shucked, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, and Sunset Boulevard. NY credits: A Christmas Carol at MSG and The Tin Pan Alley Rag with Roundabout Theatre Company. TV credits: “Blacklist”, “EVIL”, and “The Good Fight”. Proud graduate of James Madison University and AEA and SAG member.
EMMA JADE BRANSON (Swing). Proud Boston Conservatory Dance alumna. Credits: Complexions Contemporary Ballet and the 1st & 2nd National Tour of The Cher Show. Huge thanks to The TRC Company and creative team for this opportunity! All my love and thanks to my family. IG: @emmabranson.
MARCUS ANTHONY BYERS, JR. (Swing). National Tour Debut! Marcus is thrilled to bring this story back to the stage. Recently, High Spirits at New York City Center Encores! Regional: Music Theatre Wichita, Classical Theatre of Harlem. Proud University of Michigan alum. Glory to God. IG: @marcusbyersjr.
JONAS COHEN (Mr. Schumacher/Ensemble) is delighted to join Dirty Dancing: The Musical. Theater credits include Riverside Theatre, Walnut Street, Portland Stage, & Great Lakes Theater Festival. TV credits include: “Succession,” “Mr. Robot,” “FBI,” “Law & Order: SVU,” and “The Equalizer.”
SARAH ELLIS (Vivian/Ensemble). WI born, NYC based, Proud Penn Stater. Actor, Filmmaker, Symphony Guest Artist, Dir/Choreographer. 1st Nat’l Tours: A Gentleman’s Guide…, Austen’s Pride. Find more at meetsarahellis.com. Say HI @iamsarahellis IG/TikTok. For Dad. Always.
ARIA CHRISTINA EVANS (Swing) is over the moon to be making her National Tour Debut in Dirty Dancing: The Musical. Recent; Guys and Dolls (Shakespeare Theatre Company), Beautiful (Asolo Rep Theatre). Endless thanks to her wonderful team at Hudson Artists and her incredible friends and family! Let's dance! @ariacevans.
ANTHONY J. GASBARRE III (Swing). is excited to join the National Tour of Dirty Dancing: The Musical. Tour: Back to the Future (Ensemble, u/s George McFly) West Side Story (Action, u/s Riff) Regionally: Escape to Margaritaville (Ogunquit) Saturday Night Fever (MSMT), Grease (KC Starlight) TV/Film: “Papi Wines”, “The Crowded Room”, “Bros”, “Succession”. Wichita State University, BFA-Musical Theatre. @agasbarre
LILY KREN (Lisa Houseman/Ensemble). Broadway: The Who’s Tommy. National Tour: Summer: The Donna Summer Musical. Regional favorites: Gulfshore Playhouse, Riverside Theatre, Casa Mañana. BFA Musical Theatre, Texas State. Love to Dad, Family, Roan, Avalon Artists Group. For Momma. @lilykren_official.
ZOE EDAN LEMELMAN (Ensemble). From Boston to Pace University, Zoe makes her national tour debut with Dirty Dancing: The Musical. Credits: AHF’s Ohh Mamma Burlesque (Shannon Beach/Anthony Garza), Rebecca Black’s Speakerphone (Richy Jackson). Grateful for her family. IG: @zoe.edan <3
FRANCESCA MANCUSO (Ensemble). National Tour Debut! Elon BFA. Regional: Goodspeed, Drury Lane, Flat Rock, Weston, New London Barn, Bucks County Playhouse. TV: "Maisel." Director of Development for Interim Dance Collective. Love to TRC, DGRW, her parents, sisters, and Daniel. @frenchiemancuso.
BRETT RAWLINGS (Ensemble). National Tour: Austen’s Pride Select Regional: Paper Mill Playhouse, Ogunquit Playhouse, Casa Mañana, Stages St. Louis, John W. Engeman Theater. A huge thank you to his family, friends, TRC, and DGRW. BFA TCU @brettrawlings.
JASON RICHARDS (Moe/Ensemble) is a Jeff Award-winning Chicago-based actor whose credits include productions at Marriott Theatre, Paramount Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Mercury Theater Chicago, and Peninsula Players. Endless thanks to DDO, Elya, and his incredible family, without whom none of this would be possible.
ANTONY SANCHEZ (Robbie/Ensemble). Select credits: West Side Story International Tour (Bernardo), Paper Mill Playhouse, Barrington Stage, Fulton Theatre. TV: “American Horror Story”, “Law & Order”, “Dying for Sex”. Thanks to CESD and TRC. Love to my family, friends and Hunter. @sanchez_antony_
GRACE SAUTTER (Ensemble) is a NYC native who most recently performed with the Martha Graham Dance Company for their Centennial. She is thrilled to be making her theatre debut with this incredible team! @bygracesautter @gracesautter.
NEIL STARKENBERG (Ensemble). BROADWAY: Mamma Mia! (Pepper, u/s Sky). TOUR: Mrs. Doubtfire, Peter Pan, Mamma Mia!. TELEVISION: “Instinct”, “How I Met Your Mother.” Thanks to the creative team & TRC. Love to the fam, Brad, & LA Talent @njstarkenberg.
FISHER LANE STEWART (Ensemble) is having the time of his life on his second National Tour! Fisher grew up performing professionally in Kansas City. Recent: Back To The Future National Tour, Disney Cruise Line. Many Thanks to TR casting and family! IG: @fisherlstewart.
JOHN SWAPSHIRE (Ensemble). Blending art, Spirituality, and personal development. This Aquarian Visionary uses storytelling, intuitive insight, and energetic awareness to inspire growth. Their work encourages authenticity, Deep self-awareness, and freedom through art and spirituality.
CARMELLA TAITT (Ensemble). "Born and Raised in Brooklyn, NY, Carmella has performed in the First National Tours of Jagged Little Pill, and Moulin Rouge! The Musical. Credits include: Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, Vogue NYFW, and more! Thank you to my Loved ones! @c.melllaa.
ELEANOR BERGSTEIN (Original Screenplay, Book) is a novelist, screenwriter, producer and director. Her stories have been published in national magazines, ranging from Transatlantic Review to Redbook and Cosmopolitan. Her first novel, Advancing Paul Newman, about women and politics in the 1960s, was published by the Viking Press, and her first movie script was It’s My Turn, starring Jill Clayburgh and Michael Douglas. Her second novel, Ex-Lover, about sexual obsession, was published by Random House. She has worked on a variety of film projects, including the final script revision of Sister Act. She then wrote and directed Let It Be Me, which starred Patrick Stewart, Leslie Caron, Campbell Scott and Jennifer Beals.
Her most famous project was one of the most successful independent films of all time – Dirty Dancing, which she wrote and co-produced.
In 2004, she wrote and produced Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story on Stage, which premiered in Sydney, Australia. Since opening, Dirty Dancing - The Classic Story on Stage has played in 22 countries with 35 productions. The production has broken box office records around the world, including Germany, where it achieved the highest advance in European history, and the West End, where it opened in 2006 with a record breaking £15 million advance. The show was a complete sell-out for the first six months and went on to become the longest running show in the history of the Aldwych Theatre. The show has become a worldwide phenomenon over the last 21 years, with productions in markets as diverse as Hong Kong, Singapore, Sweden, Holland, South Africa, Mexico and throughout Europe, as well as in North America (US Tour and a Canadian production). The show will return to the London in 2026.
Ms. Bergstein has just completed a collection of stories from her life. She is currently putting final touches on a new stage musical set a few years following Dirty Dancing. The era witnessed musicians like Paul McCartney, inspired by Elvis Presley, in turn inspiring young people and propelling them into a new world to find their own love, passion and honor. The musical centers around young Americans who face a moral crisis of their beloved country and seek to reconcile and embrace what it means to be American.
LONNY PRICE (Director) has been a consistent presence on and off Broadway, as a director, writer, and actor, for more than 40 years. As a performer, he made his Broadway debut in 1981, at the age of 22, in The Survivor and later that year starred as Charley Kringas in Stephen Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along. His work on that production sparked a decades-long working relationship with the composer with Price going on to direct productions of Sweeney Todd (starring Emma Thompson and Bryn Terfel, Emmy Award), Company (starring Neil Patrick Harris and Stephen Colbert), Passion (starring Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald, and Michael Cerveris, Emmy Award), and the special event “Sondheim: The Birthday Concert” (Emmy Award).
On Broadway, Price directed Beaches, Gabriel Byrne in Walking with Ghosts, the 2017 revival of Sunset Boulevard (starring Glenn Close), Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill (starring Audra McDonald), 110 in the Shade, and Urban Cowboy. He directed, starred in, and co-wrote the book for A Class Act, which earned him a Tony Award nomination for Best Book of a Musical, and starred in Athol Fugard’s “Master Harold”…and the Boys (opposite Zakes Mokae and Danny Glover and later, James Earl Jones). He also co-wrote and directed the play Sally Marr…and her Escorts (written with and starring Joan Rivers).
Off Broadway, he directed the Mitnick/Gwon collaboration Scoltand, PA, Visiting Mr. Green (starring Eli Wallach), and Athol Fugard’s Valley Song. Price made his opera directing debut at the Houston Grand Opera, directing Audra McDonald in Poulenc’s La Voix humaine and Michael John LaChiusa’s Send. His directorial film work includes Hal Prince: The Director’s Life, The Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened (New York Film Festival), and the HBO screen adaptation of Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill.
As a film actor, he is best remembered as Neil, the grandson of resort owner Max Kellerman, in the classic Dirty Dancing.
DARRELL GRAND MOULTRIE (Choreography). A recipient of the Princess Grace Choreography Fellowship Award and SDC’s Joe A. Callaway Award for Excellence in Choreography, Moultrie’s work includes Saturday Church (New York Theatre Workshop), Twelfth Night (Shakespeare in the Park), Goddess (The Public Theater, Berkeley Repertory Theatre), the Pulitzer Prize winning play Fat Ham (Broadway, The Public, Royal Shakespeare Company), Good Bones (The Public Theater), Disney’s new revival of the Tony Award winning musical Aida in the Netherlands for which he received a Netherland Musical Awards “Best Choreography” nomination, Merry Wives (Shakespeare in the Park), Space Dogs (MCC), Daddy (The New Group), Witness Uganda (American Repertory Theater), Sugar In Our Wounds (MTC), Invisible Thread (Second Stage), Redwood (Portland Center Stage Theater), Evita and Pride & Prejudice (Kansas City Repertory Theatre), and El Public (Teatro Real - Madrid).
Moultrie has created and staged works for dance companies across the world including American Ballet Theatre, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Ballet X, Atlanta Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, BalletMet Columbus, Ailey 2, Tulsa Ballet, Richmond Ballet, Smuin Ballet, Sacramento Ballet, Grand Rapids Ballet, The Juilliard School, North Carolina Dance Theatre, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, and NBA Ballet in Japan among others. Moultrie also served as a choreographer on Beyonce’s record-breaking Mrs. Carter Show World Tour.
A native New Yorker, Moultrie is a graduate of LaGuardia High School and The Juilliard School.
BRETT J. BANAKIS (Set Design). Designer for theater, opera, film, and environments based in NYC. Brett is a co-founder of AMP Scenography, a design collective created to amplify emerging and underrepresented designers by engaging in equitable collaborations. Broadway: The Outsiders, John Proctor Is the Villain, The Notebook, The Cher Show. Nat'l Tour: An Officer and a Gentleman. International Scenic Supervisor for all worldwide productions of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Faculty at NYU Tisch. www.brettjbanakis.com @brettjbanakis
EMILY REBHOLZ (Costume Design). Broadway: Gutenburg! The Musical!, Jagged Little Pill (Tony Award nomination); Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune; Getting the Band Back Together; Indecent; Oh, Hello on Broadway; If/Then; Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike; Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. Off-Broadway work includes Lincoln Center Theatre, Roundabout Theatre, New York Theatre Workshop, The Public Theater, LAByrinth Theatre Company, Playwrights Horizons, Second Stage, NY City Center, among others. Emily has designed opera at The Santa Fe Opera House and Opera Theater St. Louis. Her work has been seen internationally on the West End and extensively through the US regional theaters. MFA: Yale.
JAPHY WEIDEMAN (Lighting Design) is a five-time Tony Award nominee. Broadway: Shucked; The Heart of Rock and Roll; The Piano Lesson; Summer, 1976; Dear Evan Hansen; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; Bright Star; The Nance; Of Mice and Men; The Heidi Chronicles; Macbeth (Ethan Hawke); Airline Highway; The Visit. West End/UK: Come Fall in Love (the DDLJ musical), Nice Fish, Blackbird. Tours: Liz Phair's Exile in Guyville, Hasan Minhaj's The King’s Jester (Netflix).
KAI HARADA (Sound Design). Broadway: Ragtime; Dead Outlaw; A Wonderful World; Once Upon a Mattress; The Days of Wine and Roses; Merrily We Roll Along (Tony nomination); New York, New York (Tony nomination); Kimberly Akimbo; The Old Man and the Pool; Mister Saturday Night; Head Over Heels; The Band’s Visit (Tony, Drama Desk Awards); Amélie; Sunday in the Park with George; Allegiance; Gigi; Fun Home; On the Town; First Date; Follies (Tony, Drama Desk nominations); and Million Dollar Quartet. Many other musicals around the world.
DAVID BENGALI (Video Design) is an award-winning projection, media, and lighting designer based in NYC. Broadway credits include Good Night, and Good Luck (2025 Tony Award nominee); Water for Elephants (2024 Tony Award and Outer Critics Circle Award nominee); Eureka Day (Manhattan Theatre Club); The Thanksgiving Play (Helen Hayes Theater); and 1776 (A.R.T., National Tour, Roundabout). Off-Broadway credits include We Live in Cairo (A.R.T, NYTW), Here There Are Blueberries (NYTW, La Jolla Playhouse, Signature D.C.; Hewes and Helen Hayes Awards), Twilight: LA 1992 (Signature Theatre; Henry Hewes Award, Drama Desk Nomination), Anthony Rapp’s Without You (New World Stages), The Visitor (The Public Theater, Lucille Lortel Award Nominee), Circle Jerk (Obie Award, Drama League Nomination), Einstein’s Dreams (Prospect Theatre, 59E59; Drama Desk Nomination), Van Gogh’s Ear (Signature Theatre, Drama Desk Nomination), and The Great Leap (Atlantic Theatre Company). He was a 2017-2019 Arts Fellow at the Princeton University Lewis Center for the Arts and received his M.F.A. at New York University.
THE TRC COMPANY / CLAIRE BURKE, CSA & PETER VAN DAM, CSA (Casting). Led by partners Claire Burke, Kevin Metzger-Timson, Xavier Rubiano, and Peter Van Dam. Broadway: Beaches, Mamma Mia!, Dead Outlaw, BOOP! The Musical, Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends, Buena Vista Social Club, Death Becomes Her, Left on Tenth, The Outsiders, SIX, Aladdin. National Tours: The Phantom of the Opera, Water for Elephants, Beauty & The Beast, The Wiz, Back to the Future, Les Misérables. The TRC Company is proud to continue the casting legacy of Tara Rubin Casting and Johnson-Liff Associates.
JOSEPH JOUBERT (Music Supervision & Arrangements). Broadway: Pirates: The Penzance Musical (Drama Desk nom.); The Wiz; Caroline, or Change; Disaster; The Color Purple (Drama Desk nom.); Violet; Leap of Faith. Off Broadway: Carmen Jones (Orchestrations/Musical Supervisor), Violet (Drama Desk nom.), Hercules at Paper Mill (Orchestrations). Arena Stage: American Prophet. Ford’s Theatre: Shout Sister Shout, Grace. TV: “Smash.” PBS: Orchestrations for “A Capitol Fourth,” “National Memorial Day,” “Memorial Day,” “Three Mo’ Tenors,” “Three Mo’ Divas.” Film: Respect, Nights in Rodanthe. Broadway (Music Director): Caroline, or Change; Motown The Musical. Encores: Tap Dance Kid. Recording: Broadway Inspirational Voices, Patti Labelle, Ashford & Simpson, Diana Ross, Whitney Houston, Cissy Houston, Jennifer Holiday, Norm Lewis, Tom Kitt, Fantasia, Jennifer Hudson, Stephanie Mills. Grammy and Emmy Award nominee.
ALCHEMY PRODUCTION GROUP (General Management) is headed by partners Carl Pasbjerg, Lauren Tucker, and Alex Stone. Select credits include: Beaches, Little Bear Ride Road, Redwood,Come From Away (Broadway, North American Tour, Toronto, West End, Australia), The Music Man, To Kill a Mockingbird, Melissa Etheridge – My Window, Memphis (Broadway, West End and North American Tour).
The Path Entertainment Group (TPEG) partners with some of the world's largest brands, bringing their leading IP to life by producing first-class experiences across the globe. TPEG is comprised of two divisions, Gamepath, specializing in themed attractions, and Showpath focusing on live stage productions. As a company we work towards the vision to create innovative translations of much-loved titles for audiences to engage with in ways they never have before.
Showpath Entertainment, the live stage division of The Path Entertainment Group, is fast becoming a global force in live entertainment. The company partners with major studios and brands to create bold, immersive productions that push the boundaries of theatrical storytelling. Having recently launched Come Alive! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular in Australia, Showpath’s growing international portfolio spans North America, Australia, Asia, and Europe, with recent highlights including the West End launch of The SpongeBob Musical and the Sydney Opera House co-production of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS The Twenty-Sided Tavern.
LIONSGATE GLOBAL PRODUCTS & EXPERIENCES (Producer) is a division within Lionsgate Studios Corp. (Nasdaq: LION), one of the world’s leading standalone, pure-play, publicly traded content companies. By leveraging the studio’s world-class portfolio of film and television brands and franchises, the division drives incremental revenue and builds consumer engagement via live shows and experiences, location-based entertainment destinations, games, physical and digital merchandise, and select strategic partnerships and investments.
The group announced multiple stage productions (Wonder, Nashville and La La Land for Broadway, and The Hunger Games - now open in London), integrations with marquee games (Call of Duty, Dead By Daylight, Roblox, and Fortnite), and collaborations with best-in-class consumer products licensees (LEGO, American Classics, Hot Toys, Funko, and more). Attractions based on Lionsgate’s top franchises The Hunger Games, John Wick, SAW and other iconic IP can be found at theme parks and destinations in Asia, the United States, United Kingdom, and the Middle East, with the highly anticipated JOHN WICK EXPERIENCE now open in Las Vegas.
MAGIC HOUR PRODUCTIONS (Co-Producer) is a company founded by Eleanor Bergstein and Michael Goldman in 1994 to facilitate, develop and produce Ms. Bergstein’s diverse works. Tomoko Minami joined the company in 2001. Magic Hour has helped produce Dirty Dancing stage musical since its very inception, from readings to workshops to the world premiere in Sydney, Australia, in 2004. Magic Hour has been a co-producer on every Dirty Dancing stage musical worldwide.