Dirty Dancing - Charlie Bruce joins cast
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
ON JULY 26, 2010, 19-year-old Charlie Bruce, winner of the hit TV show So You Think You Can Dance, will join Ray Quinn (as Billy), Johnny Wright (Johnny Castle) and Hannah Vassallo (‘Baby’) in the cast of Dirty Dancing.
As well as her role within the ensemble, Bruce will cover the lead role of Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman. It will be her first professional job since her triumph on the BBC’s primetime dance show earlier this year, where she won rave reviews from the public and the show’s judging panel.
Talking about her forthcoming role, Bruce said: “I am so excited to be joining the cast of Dirty Dancing and I really can’t wait to be involved in such a fabulous show!”
The cast will also include Nadia Coote (as Penny Johnson), Paul Gilmore (Jake Houseman), Hilary MacLean (Marjorie Houseman), James Leece (Robbie Gould), Maxine Gregory (Vivian Pressman), and Christopher Kenniston and Richard Hope (Neil and Max Kellerman).
Dirty Dancing is currently booking at the Aldwych Theatre until Saturday, April 9, 2011.
Previously Posted: For a limited season – from July 26 until November 27, 2010 – Ray Quinn will play Billy Kostecki, Johnny Castle’s cousin, in the hit musical Dirty Dancing, which is currently booking at the Aldwych Theatre until April 9, 2011.
In the show, he will be performing such iconic numbers as Do You Love Me? and the classic (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life.
Talking about the role, Quinn said: “I’m delighted to have been given this opportunity to join this iconic show. I have watched Dirty Dancing many times and can’t wait to take on this perfect role in such a great show.”
And Jacobsen Entertainment, the producers of Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story on Stage added: “We are so pleased that Ray will be joining us as part of this strong and talented new company, that will take the production into its triumphant fifth year in the West End.”
Ray Quinn, actor, singer, and dancer, was nine when he started acting and twelve when he appeared as Anthony Murray in Brookside. It was a role that earned him the award for Best Dramatic Performance at the British Soap Awards 2002.
In 2006, he took part in the third series of the UK talent show The X Factor and was runner-up to Leona Lewis. He was subsequently signed by Sony BMG and recorded his debut album, Ray Quinn: Doing It My Way. Released in 2007, it not only went straight to number one in the UK charts, it also went Gold in the first week.
In 2008, he starred as Doody in the West End musical Grease at the Piccadilly Theatre and a year later, returned to the production as Danny Zuko. Earlier in 2009, he won the fourth series of Dancing On Ice and has taken part in the 2009 and 2010 Dancing on Ice tours.
In Dirty Dancing, Quinn will be joining Canadian born and Royal Winnipeg Ballet dancer Johnny Wright, direct from the Toronto production, as Johnny Castle, and Matthew Bourne star Hannah Vassallo as Baby.
Tickets: £15 – £65.
Times: Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm, Friday at 5pm and 8:30pm, Saturday at 3pm and 7.30pm.