ABC’s ‘Dirty Dancing’ Remake Adds ‘Awkward’ Alum as Robbie (Exclusive)

Shane Harper will play the waiter who dates Baby's older sister, Lisa. Earl Gibson III/WireImage/Getty Images

Shane Harper will play the waiter who dates Baby's older sister, Lisa.

ABC's Dirty Dancing musical has filled another key role.

Shane Harper (Awkward) has signed on to play Robbie, a charming waiter at the resort who woos — and then cheats on — Baby's older sister, Lisa (Modern Family's Sarah Hyland), The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

The three-hour TV movie will be written and exec produced by Jessica Sharzer (American Horror Story, The L Word). Following in the footsteps of the 1987 hit film starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, the film is set in the early 1960s and centers on Baby (Abigail Breslin), an innocent young woman who vacations with her affluent parents at a Catskill Mountains resort and gets swept off her feet by Johnny (Colt Prattes), a handsome, working-class dance instructor. The role of Robbie was played by Max Cantor in the film.

Harper joins a cast that also includes Nicole Scherzinger and Debra Messing, as Baby and Lisa's mother.

The remake hails from Lionsgate TV and Allison Shearmur Productions (The Hunger Games), with the original film's screenwriter, Eleanor Bergstein, attached as an executive producer. Grammy nominee Adam Anders and Peer Astrom (Glee) serve as executive music producers for ABC's rendition, with Tony winner Andy Blankenbuehler (Hamilton, Bring It On) onboard as choreographer. Anders and Judy Cairo (Crazy Heart) will produce the movie, which will be directed by Wayne Blair (The Sapphires). Stephen Altman (Gosford Park) is set as production designer.

Harper is no stranger to the music world, having released his self-titled debut album in 2012. He more recently hit No. 21 on the Billboard Hot Christian chart in 2014 with "Hold You Up." His other acting credits include Good Luck Charlie and Happyland. He is repped by WME and Hertz Lichtenstein.

ABC has not yet set a premiere date for Dirty Dancing.

Kate Stanhope