Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey, Kenny Ortega, and Sylvia Robinson:People Connected with Dirty Dancing in the News This Week

This week has been very newsworthy concerning people connected with Dirty Dancing.

It is reported on the internet that Ghost will be opening on Broadway on April 23, 2012 at Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. Casting has not been announced yet. The writer, Bruce Joel Rubin of the original screenplay of Ghost is on board. Ghost has been a huge success in England since the West End debut in July 2011. Will loyal US fans of the movie be on board with the stage show? One thing is for sure: There are a lot of remakes of movies, and movies turning into stage shows going on now with works of Patrick Swayze. Just think: Dirty Dancing, Point Break, Red Dawn, and Ghost!

Jennifer Grey has been speaking out about her experience with chronic pain and the importance of getting help for and managing chronic pain. She has affiliated herself with PartnersAgainstPain.com and urges people to seek out this organization. The above website reports per the Insitute of Medicine Report:  "over 100 million adults in the US suffer from common chronic pain conditions."

Kenny Ortega, Director of This Is It, was the first prosecution witness in the Michael Jackson involuntary manslaughter case against Conrad Murray on Spetember 27th.

Sylvia Robinson died September 27th of congestive heart failure at age 76. She sang the 1956 "Love is Strange" which was very popular in the Mickey and Sylvia Dirty Dancing scene. She produced hip hop's first commercially successful single, "Rapper's Delight" via she and her husband's company, Sugar Hill Records.

Dirty Dancing Trivia

True or False:
1. "She's Like The Wind"--written by Stacy Widelitz and Patrick Swayze--was originally composed for the movie, Grandview U.S.A. (1984).

2.  Kelly Bishop won a Tony Award in 1976 for her  performance in A Chorus Line.

3.  Dirty Dancing was filmed in the Catskills.

4.  There were only two film locations.

5.  Kenny Ortega and Cynthia Rhodes had never worked together before Dirty Dancing.

6.  Jerry Orbach's parents both worked in the entertainment industry.

7.  Jack Weston began acting at age 10.

8.  It was raining the day the scene was shot in which Johnny breaks the car window.

9.  Eleanor Bergstein was named for Eleanor Roosevelt.

10. Jennifer Grey's grandfather was a famous entertainer in the Catskills.

11. Shortly after Dirty Dancing was released, 25,000 posters of Patrick Swayze sold out instantly.

12.  The only award won by the song "(I've Had) The Time of My Life " was a Grammy.

Answers:
1. True, 2.True, 3. False, 4. False, 5. False, 6. True, 7. True, 8. False, 9. True, 10. True, 11. True, 12. False.

Fight Pancreatic Cancer PS

The number of new pancreatic cancer cases is expected to increase by 55% by 2030.

Fight Pancreatic Cancer: Purple Light Vigil

Don't know about the rest of you, but I still have September 14th on my mind.
Here is a way to honor and remember Patrick Swayze and the tens of thousands of people who have fought or who fight now. Check out The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Purple Light Vigil coming up in November--which is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. You can find a vigil happening in your area.
http://www.pancan.org/purplelight

Dirty Dancing News: Remake,Ireland Stage Show, Dirty Dancing Game on Facebook

Word has it that Kutsher's in the Catskills has been contacted by the Dirty Dancing remake people to discuss possible filming there. Kutsher's started out in 1907 as a farm, and over the years became one of the grand resorts in the Catskills, and is the only one of the legendary grand resorts left standing. There had been consideration given to film the original (one and only) Dirty Dancing at Grossinger's, but that closed in 1986.  Did you know there is a petition for the remake filming to be done in Sullivan County (Catskills area) in New York?

Ireland is preparing to host the Dirty Dancing stage show beginning on January 17, 2012 for six weeks. Tickets are on sale now. The cost of putting on the show there is 2.5 times the cost of the London show due to the cost of living in Dublin and shipping per The Independent.

Of course, most of you know by now that the new Dirty Dancing social game based on facebook is available. To sign up, go to: http://apps.facebook.com/dirtydancinggame.

Remember and Honor Patrick Swayze on the Second Anniversary of His Passing

September 14, 2011 marks the second anniversary of Patrick Swayze passing. Let us remember and honor Patrick Swayze by carrying on the fight against pancreatic cancer and by striving to make the world a better place by a focus on love and hope. Let us take a minute out of our day on September 14th to honor Patrick--to acknowledge his spirit which will be forever with us and to make a commitment as to how we can accomplish the above goals, ie pancreatic cancer and moving forward love and hope.

The Patrick Swayze Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund at Stanford Cancer Institute:
http://med.stanford.edu/cancer/features/research_news/Patrick_Swayze_Pancreas.html

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network: http://pancan.org/

My heart goes out to Lisa, Patsy, and all of the family and loved ones. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Patrick is sorely missed and will always be my hero.

Patrick Swayze: Still Inspiring

As we are coming around the corner from what would have been Patrick's 59th birthday on August 18th to the approaching anniversary of two years of his passing on September 14, I would say it is safe to say that Patrick is still inspiring millions of people and sorely missed by millions of people.

The 34 year marriage of Lisa Niemi and Patrick Swayze is a source of inspiration. For a poignant illustration of this, check out a video clip from the early 90s Entertainment Tonight of Lisa Niemi at her premiere in the Broadway, The Will Rogers Follies (posted on you tube by Majortenn):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nlw5AyoVzaw&feature=related

Patrick's work as an "Artist" is obviously inspiring and will always live on. Examples are:  Ghost has just become a stage production, and should I say the blasphemous words: "Dirty Dancing remake?" Let's face it, there would not be a DD remake happening if the original was a dud. Patrick was a huge part of the reason that the original will always live on in the hearts of millions.  No one as a Johnny Castle remake will ever fill Patrick's shoes.

Patrick's courageous and well-fought battle with pancreatic cancer is an inspiration to so many people to continue to fight and end this horrible disease.
The Patrick Swayze Pancreas Cancer Research Fund at Stanford Cancer Institute: http://med.stanford.edu/cancer/features/research_news/Patrick_Swayze_Pancreas.html
Lisa Niemi is the national spokeswoman for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network: http://pancan.org/

Patrick did leave his mark on the world and will be inspiring people in so many significant ways forever.