Emily Padgett, Matthew Hydzik Lead ‘Flashdance’ Touring Cast

Emily Padgett and Matthew Hydzik will perform the lead roles in the upcoming tour of “Flashdance – The Musical.”

The tour will begin January 1, 2013 at Heinz Hall in Philadelphia and run there through January 6. After that, the tour will also visit cities including Atlanta, Baltimore, New Orleans, Nashville, Minneapolis, Seattle and San Antonio before the final scheduled run in at the Music Hall in Dallas June 25-July 7.

Padgett and Hydzik will play Alex and Nick, respectively, and the cast also will include Rachelle Rak as Tess. The adaptation is based on the 1983 film “Flashdance,” and a musical version was previously held in London. Producers say the U.S. touring version is “Completely re-envisioned” and includes “new songs, new book, new creative team and overall a different physical production,” according to Playbill.com.

The new production is directed and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo, who has previously worked with “Jersey Boys,” “Memphis” and “The Addams Family.”

“With electrifying dance at its core, ‘Flashdance – The Musical’ tells the inspiring and unforgettable story of Alex Owens, a Pittsburgh steel mill welder by day and bar dancer by night with dreams of one day becoming a professional performer,” said producers.

Trujillo recently told the Hollywood Reporter that the movie inspired him to pursue the theater professionally.

“I went to the University of Toronto for science, and I did study to be a biochemist, I did get a degree in sciences,” he said. “But I decided to be a dancer because of the movie, and here I am today.”

He also revealed how he cast Padgett in the lead role.

“We worked together for four hours, and many bumps and bruises later, I knew I had my Alex,” he said.

In honor of the opening, Pittsburgh mayor Luke Ravenstahl declared January 1, 2013 “Flashdance Day” in Pittsburgh. Both Rachelle Rak and Matthew Hydzik are natives of Pittsburg.