Annalese Starzec & Blake Zelesnikar Talk Dirty Dancing: The Musical as the National Tour Heads to Detroit!

Nobody puts Baby in a corner! This week on The Roundtable with Robert Bannon, we're having the time of our lives with Annalese Starzec and Blake Zelesnikar, the stars of the new North American tour of Dirty Dancing: The Musical! Annalese takes on the beloved role of Frances “Baby” Houseman, while Blake steps into the iconic shoes of Johnny Castle, bringing one of the most unforgettable love stories in movie history to the stage for a whole new generation. Based on the beloved 1987 film starring Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze, Dirty Dancing: The Musical transports audiences back to the summer of 1963 at Kellerman's resort, where a young woman's life changes forever through music, dancing, romance, and self-discovery. And now, Detroit is getting ready to have the time of its life! The national tour arrives at the historic Fisher Theatre October 13–18, 2026, bringing the unforgettable story and its legendary soundtrack to Motor City audiences. Robert sits down with Annalese and Blake to talk about stepping into two of cinema's most recognizable roles, finding their own chemistry as Baby and Johnny, the physical demands of the show's spectacular dancing, and what it means to introduce this timeless story to audiences who have loved it for nearly four decades. Annalese, a Georgia native making her national touring debut, brings a fresh perspective to Baby's journey of growing up and finding her voice. Blake, whose impressive theatrical credits include Mean Girls, The Phantom of the Opera, An American in Paris, and Flashdance, brings his extensive dance and stage experience to the legendary role of Johnny Castle. The production is directed by Lonny Price, who appeared as Neil Kellerman in the original film, with choreography by Darrell Grand Moultrie and a book by the film's original screenwriter, Eleanor Bergstein. And there's even more to celebrate! Annalese and Blake are set to make their Broadway debuts in Dirty Dancing: The Musical when the production begins performances at the Lena Horne Theatre in New York on February 12, 2027! From the unforgettable lift to the music that defined a generation, we're celebrating the magic of Dirty Dancing, the excitement of the national tour, and the incredible journey ahead for these two rising Broadway stars. Get ready for romance, nostalgia, laughter, and plenty of behind-the-scenes stories! Because when it comes to Dirty Dancing... We've had the time of our lives! 🎭 DIRTY DANCING: THE MUSICAL — DETROIT October 13–18, 2026Fisher Theatre — Detroit, Michigan Tickets and information: https://us.atgtickets.com/events/dirty-dancing-the-musical/fisher-theatre/ 🎙️ WATCH & LISTEN TO THE ROUNDTABLE Catch The Roundtable with Robert Bannon on YouTube, BroadwayWorld, Broadway Podcast Network, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and wherever you enjoy great conversations! 📲 FOLLOW THE CONVERSATION Instagram: @RobertMBannonInstagram: @TheRoundtableWithRobertBannon 🌐 www.RobertBannon.com Great guests. Great conversations. Great entertainment. The best is yet to come! #DirtyDancing #DirtyDancingTheMusical #AnnaleseStarzec #BlakeZelesnikar #TheRoundtableWithRobertBannon #BroadwayInDetroit #FisherTheatre #Broadway #RobertBannon #TheTimeOfMyLife Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices