PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — The classic movie “Flashdance” starred Jennifer Beals as a dancing steel worker. The film was shot on Pittsburgh’s South Side, 30 years ago.

On Jan. 1, Heinz Hall will host the Broadway premiere of “Flashdance – The Musical.” Three of the stars performed at a Heinz Hall news conference Friday.

Emily Padgett has the lead role of “Alex,” while her boyfriend “Nick” is played by Matthew Hydzik, who was born in Hopewell and raised in Sewickley.

The Quaker Valley High School grad got his inspiration close to home. His dad performed with the Duquesne University Tamburitzins.

Hydzik was 8-years-old when he saw his first Broadway show at Heinz Hall.

“We’re definitely going to go down to the South Side,” he says. “My brother lives in Lawrenceville, so we’re going to go get some family dinners. And I’m going to teach ‘Alex’ how to speak with a Yinzer accent.”

“I want to get the accent down,” Emily Padgett responds. “I want to say ‘dahntahn.’”

Another Pittsburgh connection: Bishop Canevin High School grad Rachelle Rak learned to dance in her mother’s studio in Bridgeville.

“Having a mother as my teacher sometimes is a difficult role to play, and she did it perfectly,” Rachelle says. “She was inspiring. She never told me I was the best, or the prettiest, or I should have won. She always told me I should work harder.”

The hard work paid off.

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