Dirty Dancing – Ordway Theater – St. Paul MN – August 20th 2026

Ordway presents Dirty Dancing

Review by Tracy Hansen

As a longtime fan of the Dirty Dancing movie—and someone who considers it a true comfort film—I went into the musical at the Ordway in Saint Paul, Minnesota with high expectations. I was very much pleased with what I saw.

To begin, the Ordway had a lot of fun connections going on that night.  The staff were dressed in Kellerman’s shirts and hats.  The drinks were based around the story.  Upstairs, people were dancing.  It was a really fun way to walk into the building before even starting the show.

For anyone who loves the film, this musical is an especially enjoyable experience. The production stays wonderfully connected to the movie, with sets and costumes that capture its look and atmosphere so well. There was something particularly satisfying about seeing those familiar details recreated on stage.  They really paid attention.

But the real standout for me was the dancing. It was incredible. Seeing the choreography performed live gave the musical an energy that simply can’t be replicated on screen. The dancing was exciting, polished, and one of the biggest reasons the production was so much fun to watch.

The audience clearly felt the same way. There was an infectious sense of enjoyment throughout the theater, and it was easy to see how much people were connecting with this familiar story. For fans of the movie, there was the added pleasure of recognizing the moments, music, and visual touches that have made Dirty Dancing such a beloved classic.

There were a few additions to the show that I personally didn’t care for.  I’m not a fan of when an already beloved story is adapted, only to have additions made to it.  It makes me feel like they think the original wasn’t good enough, which isn’t the case.

Ultimately, this production is a wonderful choice for anyone who already loves the original story. It honors the movie that so many of us know and love while giving the story a lively new home on the stage. For me, it was a chance to revisit a comfort movie in a completely different way—and to experience some truly incredible dancing along the way.

Okay, another standout moment – when Johnny came in and said, “Nobody puts Baby in a corner”, the whole audience cheered. Like, to the point where it was tough to hear the next thing said. And we were all fine with that.