The Waterfront Playhouse continues its smash 73^rd season with the charming and touching comedy, “Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks,” by Richard Alfieri.

This hugely popular play has had sellout productions all over the world and is now coming to the Waterfront, starring two of Key West’s most popular performers, Joy Hawkins and Denis Hyland. Daily Variety called the play, “Thrilling!” while the Hollywood Reporter raved, “Thoughtful, razor sharp, charming, funny and genuinely moving.”

“Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks” will run Jan. 31 to Feb. 16, with low-priced previews Jan. 29 and 31. All performances are at 8 p.m. The opening night of Jan. 31 will include an after-party sponsored by Nikki McCausland. The production is sponsored by KEY TV, and the 2012/13 season sponsors are Digital Island Media, Royal Furniture and Wodu Media.

Directing “Six Dance Lessons” is guest director Stuart Meltzer, who is the artistic director of Zoetic Stage based at the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami. Meltzer is just coming off several critically- acclaimed hits from the South Florida theater scene, including “I Am My Own Wife” and the recent, “All New People.”

“Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks” is about a formidable widow living in a Florida condo who decides to hire a dance instructor to give her six weeks of private lessons. Unfortunately, it’s hate at first sight. What begins as an antagonistic relationship blossoms into an intimate friendship as these two people from very different backgrounds reveal their secrets, fears and joys while dancing the swing, tango, waltz, foxtrot, cha-cha, and contemporary dance. Michael and Lily learn to overcome their outward differences and discover an unlikely but profound connection. The New York Post called the play “A joy to watch!”

Joy Hawkins plays Lily, a retired school teacher who is attempting to move beyond the loss of her husband and reconnect with life. Hawkins is the artistic director of the Red Barn Theatre, where she recently directed “Oil City Symphony.” She scored an acting triumph last season as Violet in the Waterfront’s acclaimed “August: Osage County.” Also at the Waterfront, she has appeared to rave reviews as Sister Aloysius in “Doubt” and Amanda in “The Glass Menagerie.”

Denis Hyland plays Michael, a former Broadway chorus boy who has moved back to Florida for family reasons and is barely keeping his head above water. Hyland is well known as a brilliant dancer having performed with major ballet companies. At the Waterfront he has appeared as Nugget in “Equus” as well as the villainous Jack in “ReeferMadness.” Last season he performed with the Key West Contemporary Dance Company in their smash presentation, “1969.”

“Six Dance Lessons” premiered at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles with the renowned actress and acting teacher Uta Hagen and “Frasier’s” David Hyde Pierce. That production had a soldout run and was extended six times. On Broadway, the two performers were Polly Bergen and Mark Hamill (from “Star Wars” fame.) Subsequent productions include runs in Berlin, Tel Aviv, Helsinki, Tokyo, Paris, Madrid, London, as well as all over the U.S. The Miami Herald called the show “a huge crowd pleaser!”

Michael Boyer will create the Florida condo setting. David Bird will do the moodsetting lighting. Carmen

Rodriguez is in charge of costumes and props. Luigi Ritarossi choreographed the ballroom dance routines. Annie Miners acts as stage manager.

For tickets call 305-294-5015 or go to WaterfrontPlayhouse. org for the online ticketing service. You may also call or go to the website to request a season brochure or to buy season subscriptions, memberships or individual tickets.

Be aware that “The 39 Steps” sold out well in advance, so book soon to avoid disappointment.