While much of the country continues to boycott North Carolina over the recent adoption of House Bill 2 (HB2), filming of ABC’s upcoming TV musical remake of Dirty Dancing started this week in the Asheville area, as production was already too far underway to consider relocating amid the ongoing Hollywood backlash aimed a Gov. McCrory, but one of the ABC movie’s stars, Debra Messing (Will & Grace), tweeted today about her displeasure that she has to work in the state in light of the current discrimination controversy.
Messing tweeted today, “Heading to NC. Joining filming of Dirty Dancing, a story about inclusion and tolerance. Let’s stand together against the Governor’s actions. Please support the ACLU’s petition to repeal anti-LBGT #HB2”.
Later she added: “Regarding my travelling to NC: I wish film production could have been stopped, but it was already in production and sadly it was determined to be too late. I signed a contract and I am obligated to fulfill it. I am happy, however, that this film is about tolerance and inclusion. I will continue to speak out to again this hateful discrimination.”
You can see the full tweets embedded below.
The new three-hour Dirty Dancing musical event will air on the ABC television network.
The original Dirty Dancing was filmed in Lake Lure, North Carolina and released in 1987, starring Jennifer Grey in the role of “Baby” and the late Patrick Swayze.
Abigail Breslin (Scream Queens, The Final Girl) takes over Grey’s role, with Colt Prattes dancing into the part of Swayze’s Johnny Castle.
The all star cast also includes Debra Messing as Baby’s mother Marjorie Houseman, Nicole Scherzinger (Pussycat Dolls) as Penny (originally played by Cynthia Rhodes), Sarah Hyland (Modern Family) as Baby’s sister Lisa, Billy Dee Williams (The Empire Strikes Back) as Tito, Katey Sagal (Sons of Anarchy) as Vivian Pressman, and Bruce Greenwood (The People v. O.J. Simpson) as Baby’s father Dr. Jake Houseman.
Heading to NC. Joining filming of Dirty Dancing, a story about inclusion and tolerance. Let’s stand together agains… https://t.co/X3neYCPywJ
— Debra Messing (@DebraMessing) April 14, 2016
A response to those who asked: pic.twitter.com/LnZR3BYElP
— Debra Messing (@DebraMessing) April 14, 2016
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