Bryan Adams’ “Pretty Woman” Goes to Broadway

PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL  with Original Music and lyrics by Grammy Award Winner Bryan Adams

The hugely successful movie “Pretty Woman” is being adapted for Broadway. Bryan Adams, the Cuts Like a Knife grammy award winner rocker is partnering again with his longtime songwriting partner Jim Vallance, and the original film’s screenwriter J.F. Lawton. The book by Garry Marshall who directed the movie while Pretty Woman: The Musical is directed and choreographed by two-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell.

No Julia Robert in sight, it will star as ‘Vivian’ Samantha Barks in the female leading role. Barks is a British actress best known for the role of “Éponine” in “Les Misérables” and will play opposite Tony Award winner and Grammy Award winner Steve Kazee (Once) as ‘Edward Lewis, her love interest/client.  Other cast members are Tony Award nominee Orfeh (Legally Blond) as ‘Kit,’ Eric Anderson (Waitress) as ‘Mr. Thompson,’ Jason Danieley (The Full Monty) as ‘Philip Stuckey,’ and Kingsley Leggs (Sister Act) as ‘James Morse.’

Samantha barks steve kasee
Samantha Barks and Steve Kasee

The movie, Pretty Woman, about a love story between an escort and her rich client,  released on March 25, 1990, was directed by Garry Marshall who died age 81.  It introduced to the world with great success a tall and lippy Julia Robert in what has become her most iconic role, playing opposite heartthrob Richard Gere and Jason Alexander (Seinfeld).

The movie went on to gross $178,406,268 in the USA and$463,406,268 worldwide. 

Adams spoke to 105.7 WROR about working with Garry Marshall and had this to say:

“Garry Marshall wasn’t at the original audition that we did, but what a sweetheart he is. You wouldn’t believe it, just brilliant to work with him. Jim and I, we wrote three songs which we thought would be appropriate for the stage, and then we met with them (the producers) and it was like one of those classic scenarios where, ‘OK, you guys need to leave the room so we can talk about you and we’ll call you. Don’t call us.’ And then half an hour later I got a call.”

PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL  produced by veteran industry leader Paula Wagner will have its World Premiere stage production at Broadway In Chicago’s Oriental Theatre (24 West Randolph Street, Chicago, IL) beginning Tuesday, March 13, 2018, for a strictly limited five-week engagement, with its grand opening Broadway Friday, July 20, 2018 at The Nederlander Theatre (208 West 41st Street), with an official opening night of Thursday, August 16, 2018.

Kazee is represented by APA and D2 Management, and Barks by William Morris Endeavor (WME).

Bryan Adams is presently on a world tour promoting his latest album “The Ultimate.”


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