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!.. Read More
From the show: The Roundtable with Robert Bannon
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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, 2026
Fisher Theatre — Detroit, Michigan
Tickets and information: https://us.atgtickets.com/events/dirty-dancing-the-musical/fisher-theatre/
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Transcript
This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.
[0:00] Robert Bannon: Welcome to The Roundtable! Today, we have the incredible Annalese Starzec and Blake Zelesnikar here to talk about Dirty Dancing: The Musical as the national tour heads to Detroit!
[0:30] Annalese Starzec: Thank you for having us! I'm so excited to be here.
[0:50] Blake Zelesnikar: Yes, thank you! It's great to be on the show.
[1:10] Robert Bannon: So, Annalese, you're taking on the iconic role of Frances “Baby” Houseman. What does it feel like to step into such a beloved character?
[1:30] Annalese Starzec: It's honestly a dream come true! Baby is such a relatable character, and I love being able to bring her journey of self-discovery to life on stage.
[1:50] Robert Bannon: And Blake, you're stepping into the shoes of Johnny Castle. How do you approach such an iconic role?
[2:10] Blake Zelesnikar: It's definitely a challenge, but I try to bring my own interpretation to Johnny while still honoring what Patrick Swayze created in the film.
[2:30] Robert Bannon: That's a great approach! The chemistry between Baby and Johnny is so important. How do you two find that chemistry on stage?
[2:50] Annalese Starzec: We spend a lot of time rehearsing together and getting to know each other. It’s all about trust and being open with one another.
[3:10] Blake Zelesnikar: Absolutely! Plus, the physicality of the show really helps us connect. The dancing brings us closer together as performers.
[3:30] Robert Bannon: Speaking of dancing, this show has some spectacular choreography. What has been the most challenging part for you both?
[3:50] Annalese Starzec: For me, it’s definitely the lift! It requires so much strength and timing, but it’s also incredibly rewarding when we nail it.
[4:10] Blake Zelesnikar: I agree! The choreography is demanding, but it’s so much fun to perform. It really captures the spirit of the original film.
[4:30] Robert Bannon: And you both are making your Broadway debuts in this production when it opens at the Lena Horne Theatre! How does that feel?
[4:50] Annalese Starzec: It’s surreal! I can’t believe we’ll be on Broadway. It’s something I’ve dreamed about for so long.
[5:10] Blake Zelesnikar: It’s an incredible opportunity, and we’re both so grateful to be part of this journey together.
[5:30] Robert Bannon: Detroit is getting ready for the national tour. What can audiences expect from the show?
[5:50] Annalese Starzec: They can expect a lot of heart, nostalgia, and of course, the iconic music that everyone knows and loves.
[6:10] Blake Zelesnikar: And the energy of the cast is electric! We’re all so passionate about telling this story.
[6:30] Robert Bannon: It sounds like it’s going to be an unforgettable experience! Thank you both for joining me today.
[6:50] Annalese Starzec: Thank you for having us!
[7:10] Blake Zelesnikar: Yes, thank you! We can’t wait for everyone to see the show.
[7:30] Robert Bannon: And to our listeners, make sure to catch Dirty Dancing: The Musical when it hits Detroit!
[7:50] Annalese Starzec: We’ll see you there!
[8:10] Blake Zelesnikar: Get ready for the time of your life!
[8:52] Annalese Starzec: Talk Dirty Dancing.
[9:52] Blake Zelesnikar: Annalese Starzec & Blake Zelesnikar Talk Dirty Dancing.
[10:07] Annalese Starzec: Starzec & Blake Zelesnikar Talk Dirty Dancing.
[10:29] Blake Zelesnikar: Starzec & Blake Zelesnikar Talk Dirty Dancing.
[10:59] Annalese Starzec: Starzec & Blake Zelesnikar Talk Dirty Dancing.
[11:29] Blake Zelesnikar: Starzec & Blake Zelesnikar Talk Dirty Dancing.
[11:49] Annalese Starzec: Starzec & Blake Zelesnikar Talk Dirty Dancing.
[12:09] Blake Zelesnikar: Starzec & Blake Zelesnikar Talk Dirty Dancing.
[12:29] Annalese Starzec: Starzec & Blake Zelesnikar Talk Dirty Dancing.
[12:49] Blake Zelesnikar: Starzec & Blake Zelesnikar Talk Dirty Dancing.
[13:09] Annalese Starzec: Starzec & Blake Zelesnikar Talk Dirty Dancing.
[13:29] Blake Zelesnikar: Starzec & Blake Zelesnikar Talk Dirty Dancing.
[13:49] Annalese Starzec: Starzec & Blake Zelesnikar Talk Dirty Dancing.
[14:09] Blake Zelesnikar: Starzec & Blake Zelesnikar Talk Dirty Dancing.
[14:29] Annalese Starzec: Starzec & Blake Zelesnikar Talk Dirty Dancing.
[14:49] Blake Zelesnikar: Starzec & Blake Zelesnikar Talk Dirty Dancing.
[15:09] Annalese Starzec: Starzec & Blake Zelesnikar Talk Dirty Dancing.
[15:29] Blake Zelesnikar: Starzec & Blake Zelesnikar Talk Dirty Dancing.
[15:49] Annalese Starzec: Starzec & Blake Zelesnikar Talk Dirty Dancing.
[16:09] Blake Zelesnikar: Starzec & Blake Zelesnikar Talk Dirty Dancing.
[16:29] Annalese Starzec: Starzec & Blake Zelesnikar Talk Dirty Dancing.
[16:49] Blake Zelesnikar: Starzec & Blake Zelesnikar Talk Dirty Dancing.
[17:09] Annalese Starzec: Starzec & Blake Zelesnikar Talk Dirty Dancing.
[17:39] Blake Zelesnikar: Starzec & Blake Zelesnikar Talk Dirty Dancing.
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