Kaitlin Hopkins to play the mom in Dirty Dancing: Onstage National Tour

[KeepCool]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 1:19pm

This has been posted in a lot of places...her official myspace (myspace.com/kaitlinhopkinsmusic) being the main source. Anyone know anything about this show/the size of that part/whether it's worth checking out the tour?

I hope Kaitlin comes back to the NY Stage soon.

[Craig]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 1:22pm

Have you seen the movie?

The show is nearly a word for word translation to the stage.

Oh.. and the company doesn't sing but maybe 2-3 numbers - the rest is pre-recorded music from the original artists (soundtrack of the movie + other recorded songs)

[Kelly2]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 1:25pm

I love the movie, I'm definitely gonna check this out. :)

Updated On: 7/2/08 at 01:25 PM

[Anakela]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 1:34pm

Oh.. and the company doesn't sing but maybe 2-3 numbers - the rest is pre-recorded music from the original artists (soundtrack of the movie + other recorded songs)

Really?? I did not know that, that's actually slightly disappointing. But good to know- thanks!

[Kelly2]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 2:49pm

Yeah, I didn't know that either re: the singing. How does that even work?

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 2:55pm

Oh.. and the company doesn't sing but maybe 2-3 numbers - the rest is pre-recorded music from the original artists (soundtrack of the movie + other recorded songs)

This better not make it to Broadway. I mean, realy. THIS is playing the Pantages?

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 2:59pm

There was a mom in Dirty Dancing?

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 3:04pm

Duh, Tony Award winning Carole/Kelly Bishop!!!!
Updated On: 7/2/08 at 03:04 PM

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 3:05pm

"Oh.. and the company doesn't sing but maybe 2-3 numbers - the rest is pre-recorded music from the original artists (soundtrack of the movie + other recorded songs)"

I don't believe that is correct. It is my understanding from a friend who saw the show (and enjoyed it) that a la "Movin Out", there is a band that is set above and behind the action that sings the soundtrack songs from the 60s while the action takes place. All the songs are sung live and there is no canned music. The main characters Baby, Johnny et al. do not sing but the band does.

[Craig]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 3:08pm

I saw it in toronto

There is a live band

But again, only a SMALL select # of songs are actually sung ( by two 'soloists'

The rest is all canned.

[acrocksyo]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 3:11pm

That just sounds tragic and not worth watching! Canned music is lame, especially in theater!

[Craig]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 3:12pm

From my article in November:

Next up is "Dirty Dancing" which has the subtitle "The Classic Story On Stage." With some minor exceptions, this is a direct transfer from movie to stage. The dialogue, the plot and the score (soundtrack). Soundtrack is an appropriate phrase as"Dirty Dancing" isn't truely billed as a musical despite it's over 50 songs used in the production. Of those 50+ songs only a few are sung live by cast members - the rest are recordings from the original artists - including many songs originally planned for the movie. As said above the show is, in short, watching the movie - but on stage thanks to its original screenplay author, Eleanor Bergstein. All your favorite lines are there including the infamous "nobody puts Baby in a corner." And the audience eats it up as if it were candy! The cast sells the show and embody their parts well - most notably Britta Lazenga. Vocally, Ben Mingay (Billy) and 2005 Canadian Idol winner Melissa O'Neil (Elizabeth/Ensemble) tear the house down as well. If you loved the movie and couldn't get enough - this show will entertain. For tickets to "Dirty Dancing", visit: http://www.dirtydancingtoronto.ca/

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 3:17pm

Thanks for the clarification Craig. I can understand how that qualifies as a musical. Hmmm...

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 3:34pm

Why don't they just do a ROCKY HORROR thing and project the film over a big screen and people from the audience could just act out their favorite parts on the floor below?

I imagine they'd feel kinda dorky, but not half as dorky as they'd feel paying $100 for this tripe.

Remember when musicals were an art form?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 3:38pm

I would call this a play.

[elphiesmagic]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 3:42pm

What a waste of Kaitlin Hopkins.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 4:05pm

It's previewing in Chicago this fall in preparation for a Broadway run.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 4:12pm

I would like to see it if the tickets were free.

[acrocksyo]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 4:15pm

Why don't they just do a ROCKY HORROR thing and project the film over a big screen and people from the audience could just act out their favorite parts on the floor below?

That sounds amazing, get the financing together and we can put it on. It will be a sell out smash and become the next midnight movie!

[myshikobit]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 5:38pm

When I got the soundtrack to (I think the Austalian cast) of Dirty Dancing onstage, here's what I likened it to. You give your friend a 20$ bill to "get me something cool" when he goes on a trip to NY... and he comes back with the same 20, except this time in the shape of an oragami swan. Ugh.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 6:00pm

Seen this show here in the UK and its dreadful, just dreadful

Its a play with songs in it, a few singers (in the background) sing most of the songs and some is on Click Track.

The dancing whilst good is not great and the acting was appalling

Its a straight translation from the film and adds nothing new

avoid avoid avoid

[timote316]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 6:04pm

Well, considering that it's a completely different production with a different cast than what you saw in the UK, songanddanceman2, I don't think "the acting was appalling" is an accurate reason to "avoid avoid avoid". Given that Kaitlin is involved, we know at least one of the actresses will be fantastic.

[scaryclowns223]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 7:27pm

This is a musical based on the precedent of CONTACT being considered a musical, correct?

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 7:47pm

Good for Kaitlin!

[crushgroove]

Posted: 7/3/08 at 12:14am

Kaitlin can do so much better. I saw her in The Great American Trailer Park Musical...which I loved. And she breaks my heart as Clair on both recordings of Bare. Dirty Dancing sounds like a waste of her great voice...which sounds like she doesn't get to use...cause honestly Kelly Bishop is barely in the original movie...