A new Pretty Woman musical, based on the beloved 1990 romantic comedy, will have its world premiere at Chicago’s Oriental Theatre in spring 2018. The new musical will feature a book co-written by the film’s director Garry Marshall and screenwriter J.F. Lawton, and music and lyrics by Grammy winner Bryan Adams and his longtime songwriting partner Jim Vallance.
Bringing Julia Roberts’ character to life, the lovable sex worker Vivian, will be Samantha Barks (the Academy Award-winning film of Les Misérables). Barks will star alongside Tony winner Steve Kazee as Edward, the businessman who unexpectedly falls for Vivian after hiring her as an escort—played by Richard Gere in the film.
Pretty Woman: The Musical will be directed and choreographed by two-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell and will begin performances March 13, 2018. The production is scheduled to play a strictly limited five-week engagement at the Oriental Theatre before transferring to a Nederlander Theater on Broadway in the fall of 2018.
The Broadway house will be announced at a later date, with Paula Wagner attached as a producer.
“With a book by the legendary Garry Marshall and J.F. Lawton, Pretty Woman: The Musical will have the heart, humor, warmth and joy of the film, with a stunning original score by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance,” said Wagner in a press statement. “Our director Jerry Mitchell has expanded the narrative and storytelling of this acclaimed romantic comedy. He brings his unique perspective to the story which illuminates the characters and provides a new and satisfying emotional resonance. And finally we found our ‘Vivian’ and ‘Edward’ in the gorgeous, triple-threat, Samantha Barks, and one of Broadway’s most dashing and talented leading men, Tony and Grammy Award winner Steve Kazee. ‘Vivian’ and ‘Edward’ meet under unlikely circumstances and go on a journey that allows them to discover their own self-worth. Self-empowerment is integral to the reason why these two lost souls are able to fall in love and we now have two amazing, charismatic actors with incredible chemistry to take audiences on that journey.”
“From the first time I saw this magical movie I felt it cried out to be a musical,” adds director and choreographer Mitchell. “Pretty Woman is a classic story with a very contemporary message. I think we all want to fall deeply in love with someone—it is something you never stop hoping for. I got to work with Garry for over a year on this musical adaptation and experienced firsthand his sense of humor, his joy, his uplifting attitude in life, and mostly his love for these characters…I want that to infuse what I am doing with Pretty Woman: The Musical as he is the true heart of this story.”
“Pretty Woman is an iconic title, and after attending an early workshop, I was passionate for the Nederlander Organization to host this new musical, not only in Chicago but also on Broadway,” said theatre producer and operator James L. Nederlander. “This adaptation has all the heart of the film wrapped in a big, musical comedy.”
Pretty Woman: The Musical is produced by Wagner, Nice Productions, LPO, New Regency Productions, Roy Furman, James L. Nederlander, Caiola Productions, Hunter Arnold, Stage Entertainment, and The John Gore Organization.
The production will feature scenic design by David Rockwell, costume design by Gregg Barnes, lighting design by Kenneth Posner & Philip S. Rosenberg, sound design by John Shivers, hair design by Josh Marquette, music supervision, arrangements and orchestrations by Will Van Dyke, and casting by Telsey + Company. 101 Productions, Ltd will be the Executive Producer and General Manager.
For more information visit PrettyWomanMusical.com.
