Jill Winternitz, Paul-Michael Jones and Charlotte Gooch to star in West End return of Dirty Dancing

Paul Michael Jones & Charlotte Gooch

The producers of Dirty Dancing have announced details of the principal cast who will take to the stage in the West End return of the record-breaking smash hit show from Saturday 13th July at London’s Piccadilly Theatre.

American actress Jill Winternitz, from the current touring cast of Dirty Dancing, will continue in the iconic leading role of ‘Baby Houseman’, the innocent teenager who goes on a voyage of discovery during her summer at Kellerman’s. Manchester born Paul-Michael Jones will reprise his role as the much-loved ‘Johnny Castle’, he has been part of the Dirty Dancing national tour cast since 2011. Finally, Charlotte Gooch will take on the role of dancer ‘Penny Johnson’, having played the part in the 2011-2012 Dirty Dancing touring cast as well as in the Berlin production, and understudying the role in the original London show. 

Dirty Dancing opened at the Aldwych Theatre in 2006 with a record- breaking advance of £15 million - making it the fastest ever selling show in West End theatre history. The production became the longest running show in the history of the famous Aldwych Theatre and played to over 2 million people during its triumphant 5 year run.

Cast Bios

Jill Winternitz trained at RADA and her theatre credits include ‘Ophelia’ in Hamlet and ‘The Prioress’ in The Canterbury Tales (Queen Mary 2); Wounded (Los Angeles Theatre Ensemble); ‘Nina’ in The Seagull (MXAT) and Sunday in the Park with George (Interlochen Center for the Arts).

Paul-Michael Jones trained at Laine Theatre Arts, graduating in 2007. His theatre credits include ‘Eddie’ in Mamma Mia! (Prince of Wales); understudying and performing the roles of ‘Jake’ and ‘Adrian’ in Never Forget (UK tour); ‘Jack’ in Jack & The Beanstalk (Victoria Theatre, Halifax); We Will Rock You (Cologne) and dance captain in Fame – the Musical (European tour). He has also represented England as a Latin American and Ballroom Dancer, as one of the top two English couples, at The World Championships in Singapore.

Charlotte Gooch's recently starred as ‘Dale Tremont’ in Top Hat at the Aldwych in London and as Patty Simcox on the UK tour of Grease. Dancing since the age of 3 under the tutelage of her aunt at the Godalming School of Dance, Charlotte trained at Laine Theatre Arts and her theatre credits include ‘Bombalurina’ in Cats (European Tour), dance partner to Anton du Beke in the workshop of Swing Time: The Dance Musical (Sadler’s Wells); Fly with the Stars (Palladium); the title role in Cinderella (De La Ware Pavillion, Bexhill); ‘Genie of the Ring’ in Aladdin (North Wales Theatre, Llandudno) and ‘Annabel Glick’ in Lucky Stiff! directed by Tudor Davies (LTA Studio Theatre).

Photo Credit:  Alastair Muir

Follow @West_End_Frame