On May 24 at 8 p.m. on ABC Television Network, a historic piece of Western North Carolina will appear on TV screens across the nation due in part to Lionsgate Television’s adaptation of the classic film, “Dirty Dancing.” Kanuga, located in Hendersonville, N.C., served as the set location for half of the television event.

Filmed last spring, Kanuga’s secluded setting and rustic surroundings provided a lush backdrop for the storyline set in the 1960s. Several iconic scenes were filmed there, including the conga line from the beginning of the movie and Baby’s famous watermelon scene. Johnny’s cabin scenes were filmed at the Fox Pavilion at Camp Kanuga, while the Fox Cottage on the main campus was repurposed as the Kellerman’s cabin.

The three-hour filmed musical event features the story from the beloved 1987 romantic drama and instant movie classic told from a fresh perspective. “Dirty Dancing” stars Abigail Breslin (“Little Miss Sunshine”) as Baby, Debra Messing (“Will & Grace”) as Marjorie Houseman, Bruce Greenwood (“American Crime Story: The People vs. OJ Simpson”) as Dr. Jake Houseman, Nicole Scherzinger (“Dancing with the Stars”) as Penny, Colt Prattes (“Rock of Ages,” Pink’s music video “Try”) as Johnny, Sarah Hyland (“Modern Family”) as Lisa Houseman, Tony Roberts (“Annie Hall”) as Max Kellerman, Trevor Einhorn (“Mad Men”) as Neil, Shane Harper (“The Passion”) as Robbie Gould, J. Quinton Johnson (“Everybody Wants Some”) as Marco, Beau “Casper” Smart (“Perfect Match”) as Billy, Katey Sagal (“Sons of Anarchy”) as Vivian Pressman and Billy Dee Williams (“Star Wars”) as Tito.

Spending the summer at a Catskills resort with her family, Frances “Baby” Houseman falls in love with the camp’s dance instructor, Johnny Castle, and nothing is ever the same for anyone in the Houseman family. Modernized, updated versions of the memorable, favorite songs from the original film, including “Time of My Life,” “Love Man,” “Do You Love Me,” “Hungry Eyes,” “She’s Like the Wind,” teamed with well-known songs that are new to Dirty Dancing, such as “Fever” and “They Can’t Take That Away From Me,” are woven into the storytelling and performed by the talented and versatile cast.

Article submitted by Leslie Hartley