Cranford Native Dan Klimko Makes Broadway Debut in Dirty Dancing February 2027

Dan Klimko, a Cranford native and recent college graduate, is about to make his Broadway debut. Klimko will play Neil Kellerman in Dirty Dancing: The Musical when the show opens on Broadway in February 2027. Union County Life is reporting on the local talent’s upcoming milestone.

Klimko is currently touring North America with the production. The tour opened in St. Paul, Minnesota, in August 2026 and has played Chicago, Richmond, and Washington, D.C. An extended stop in Toronto is planned before the Broadway run.

The Broadway production begins previews on February 12, 2027, at the Lena Horne Theatre. The engagement is scheduled to run through September 5, 2027. A special gala celebration is planned for March 14, 2027.

Klimko’s path to Broadway has been swift. He graduated in 2025 from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), where he studied musical theater. A showcase performance in New York in May 2025 introduced him to casting directors and agents. By June 2025, he had signed with an agent and began auditioning. The Dirty Dancing audition came in February 2026.

At his initial audition, director Lonny Price asked him to read for the role of Neil Kellerman, which Price himself played in the original Dirty Dancing film. Klimko made it to the final callbacks but did not initially get the part. About six weeks later, his agents called with unexpected news: the actor who had been cast had a scheduling conflict related to his wedding, and the role was now Klimko’s.

“So it’s all been a crazy fast journey,” Klimko told TAPinto Cranford in October 2026. “I mean, February of this year, I was auditioning, and now it is October, and I’m aware I’m going to be on Broadway as soon as next February.”

Klimko grew up in Cranford, attending Bloomingdale Avenue School, Orange Avenue School, and Cranford High School. At the high school, he sang in choir, participated in the acting academy, and performed with the Cranford Dramatic Club.

“Cranford has been my entire life,” Klimko said.

During rehearsals in New York, Klimko worked directly with director Lonny Price, learning the character from the source material.

“I was getting the information right from the source,” Klimko said. “And so, it was fascinating having such a solid foundation with what he did in the movie to then expand upon and get to do something that put my little touch on it.”

Performing for live audiences on tour has been a learning experience. “People can anticipate certain lines or start laughing before the punchline of a joke because they know what’s coming,” Klimko said. “And so you sort of get to understand the pacing and you understand what works and what doesn’t.”

The musical follows Frances “Baby” Houseman and dance instructor Johnny Castle through a summer romance at a Catskills resort. Tickets and production information are available through Broadway Direct.

Find more Cranford events, theater news, and local talent updates on Union County Life.

Q: Who is Dan Klimko?
A: Dan Klimko is a Cranford native and recent graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). He studied musical theater and is making his Broadway debut as Neil Kellerman in Dirty Dancing: The Musical.

Q: When does Dirty Dancing open on Broadway?
A: The show begins previews on February 12, 2027, at the Lena Horne Theatre. It is scheduled to run through September 5, 2027.

Q: What is Dan Klimko’s role in the musical?
A: Klimko plays Neil Kellerman, the same character that director Lonny Price played in the original 1987 Dirty Dancing film.

Q: Where is the tour currently?
A: The tour opened in St. Paul, Minnesota, in August 2026 and has performed in Chicago, Richmond, and Washington D.C. An extended stop in Toronto is planned before the Broadway run.

Q: What is Klimko’s Cranford connection?
A: Klimko grew up in Cranford, attending local schools including Bloomingdale Avenue School, Orange Avenue School, and Cranford High School, where he participated in choir, the acting academy, and the Cranford Dramatic Club.

Q: How did Klimko get the role?
A: Klimko auditioned in February 2026 and initially didn’t get the part. About six weeks later, the actor who was cast had a scheduling conflict related to his wedding and withdrew. The role then became Klimko’s.

Q: Where can I buy tickets?
A: Tickets and production information are available through Broadway Direct.

Q: Is there a special celebration planned?
A: Yes, a special gala celebration is scheduled for March 14, 2027.