Samantha Barks and Steve Kazee to star in ‘Pretty Woman: The Musical’

Sept. 26 (UPI) — Samantha Barks and Steve Kazee are to play Vivian and Edward in the stage musical version of the romantic comedy, Pretty Woman.

The show will begin performances on Broadway in the fall of 2018 at a Nederlander Theater to be announced. It will first have its world premiere at the Oriental Theatre in Chicago this spring.
 
“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,” producer Paula Wagner said in a statement Tuesday.

“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,” added 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 as he is the true heart of this story.”

Marshall — who died last year at the age of 81 — directed the 1990 movie about a Los Angeles prostitute whose life is transformed by a millionaire client. It starred Julia Roberts and Richard Gere.

Barks is best known for playing Eponine in the movie musical Les Miserables. Kazee, who won a Tony Award for his portrayal of Guy in Broadway’s Once, also plays a recurring role on Showtime’s Shameless.