By March 29, the production will have played to more than 800,000 people in Toronto and will have generated in excess of $500,000,000 in economic spin-off to the city, according to the producers.

"We are delighted with the success of Dirty Dancing," said producer David Mirvish. "It's remarkable for a show to find an audience as large and loyal as the one this show has found in Toronto. For any show to run as long as this one has is reason to celebrate, and we are certainly grateful to Eleanor Bergstein, Jacobsen Entertainment, Lionsgate and Magic Hour Productions for choosing Toronto in which to launch Dirty Dancing in North America."

The Toronto production began performances on Oct. 31, 2007, and had its official opening night on Nov. 15, 2007. It is staged by the same creative team as the London production, including writer and creator Eleanor Bergstein, director James Powell, choreographer Kate Champion, musical supervisor Conrad Helfrich, set designer Stephen Brimson Lewis, lighting designer Tim Mitchell, sound designer Bobby Aitken, video and projection designer Jon Driscoll, costume designer Jennifer Irwin and Latin and ballroom choreographer Craig Wilson.

The U.S. tour opened in Boston recently, and will continue on to Los Angeles later in 2009. The record-breaking London production continues to play its third year in the West End. Dirty Dancing is also playing in Holland, and another production will open in Berlin this April.

Toronto tickets are on sale through March 29. Ticket prices are $26 to $120. Tickets can be purchased by phone through TicketKing at (416) 872-1212 or (800) 461-3333, or online through www.mirvish.com. The Royal Alexandra Theatre box office is at 260 King Street West.