According to The Hollywood Reporter, Pussycat Dolls lead singer and “Dancing With the Stars” winner Nicole Scherzinger has been cast in the role of Penny, Johnny’s dance partner at the resort (as originally played by Cynthia Rhodes), in ABC’s upcoming remake of 1987’s Dirty Dancing.
Scherzinger, who was last seen onscreen in Men in Black 3, will co-star opposite Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine, “Scream Queens”) playing the Jennifer Grey part of Baby Houseman, with Debra Messing (“The Mysteries of Laura,” “Will & Grace”) as her mother Marjorie and actor/dancer Colt Prattes (“Mercy”) in the Patrick Swayze role of Johnny Castle. Like the original film, it will take place at an early 1960s Catskill Mountains resort, where a charismatic dance instructor falls for a young woman.
The three-hour TV event is executive produced by Allison Shearmur and Eleanor Bergstein, the latter of whom wrote the screenplay for the original Dirty Dancing, with music from Adam Anders and Peer Astrom. Judy Cairo will also serve as producer. Jessica Sharzer adapted the film for television for Wayne Blair to direct and “Hamilton’s” Andy Blankenbuehler to choreograph.
