Back in May 2015, I covered my very first major stage production, Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story On Stage. Adapted from the 1987 romantic dance drama film, this most recent Australian production was brought to audiences by producer The Gordon Frost Organisation. This production, while having musical elements to it, was more a stage performance than anything else. That said, audiences were treated to a rather fun stage adaptation of iconic song (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life, in addition to other songs including Hungry Eyes, Baby, Do You Love Me and more. You can read my 2015 review of the production HERE.
Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story On Stage’s Australian season featured Kirby Burgess in the lead role of Frances “Baby” Houseman”, with Kurt Phelan as Johnny Castle, Mark Vincent as Billy Kostecki and Adam Murphy and Penny Martin as Baby’s father and mother.
It’s the summer of 1963, and 17-year-old Frances “Baby” Houseman is about to learn some major lessons in life as well as a thing or two about dancing. On holiday in New York’s Catskill Mountains with her older sister and parents, Baby shows little interest in the resort activities and instead discovers her own entertainment when she stumbles upon the staff quarters when an all-night dance party is in full swing. Mesmerised by the raunchy dance moves and the pounding rhythms, Baby can’t wait to be part of the scene, especially when she catches sight of Johnny Castle, the resort dance instructor. Baby’s life is about to change forever as she is thrown in at the deep end as Johnny’s leading lady both on-stage and off with breathtaking consequences.
I was in attendance at the show’s Brisbane media call at QPAC, and equipped with my camera, took a number of photos of this production. This was the first time I had photographed a stage production, so I hope these show not only a retrospective of a show from many years ago but also how my own theatre photography style has improved.
