Jessie Hart, originally from Wall Heath near Dudley, will appear as Baby Houseman at Birmingham Hippodrome in the tour of Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story on Stage.
Hart graduated from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. She played Agnes in the ITV drama Arthur and George and Gerda in The Snow Queen at the Nuffield Theatre, Southampton.
She said, “Birmingham Hippodrome was where I saw the first show I can remember. I saw Miss Saigon with all my family when I was about 11. It was my favourite ever show and I'll never forget it. It's crazy to think that I’ll open my run of the tour playing the leading role, Baby, on the same stage.”
The cast also includes Lewis Kirk as Johnny Castle, Lori Haley Fox as Marjorie Houseman, Georgina Castle as Lisa Houseman, Kane Verrall as Neil Kellerman and Matthew Colthart as Billy Kostecki.
Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story on Stage is at Birmingham Hippodrome from Thursday 30 April until Saturday 23 May.