Pretty Women The Musical comes to Chicago
Broadway In Chicago and Producer Paula Wagner are thrilled to announce a new musical based on one of the most beloved romantic comedies of all time, Garry Marshall's PRETTY WOMAN, will have its pre-Broadway World Premiere stage production in Chicago in the spring of 2018 at Broadway In Chicago's Oriental Theatre (24 W. Randolph) for a strictly limited 5-week engagement beginning March 13 through April 15, 2018.
PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL will star rising stage, television and film actress Samantha Barks as 'Vivian' opposite Tony Award winner and Grammy Award winner Steve Kazee as 'Edward'.
PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL has original music and lyrics by Grammy Award winner Bryan Adams and his longtime songwriting partner Jim Vallance, book by Garry Marshall and the film's screenwriter J.F. Lawton, is directed and choreographed by two-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell.
PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL will begin performances on Broadway in the fall of 2018 at a Nederlander Theater to be announced.
PRETTY WOMAN reinvented and redefined the romantic comedy genre by making the world believe in happily-ever-after.
PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL has 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.
"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 producer Paula Wagner. "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. 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," said director/choreographer Jerry Mitchell. "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."