Pretty Woman Hits Chicago (and Broadway)!

[asmith0307]

http://www.broadway.com/buzz/189759/samantha-barks-steve-kazee-to-headline-broadway-bound-pretty-woman-the-musical/

 

Samantha Barks will be playing Vivian, and Steve Kazee will be playing Edward.

The show will premiere at Chicago's Oriental Theatre in March and open on Broadway in the fall at a Nederlander house. 

[BroadwayConcierge]

Could have thought of a thousand other actresses for Vivian.

Steve Kazee is an interesting pick, though.

[SomethingPeculiar]

Did this come out of nowhere or has this been in the works for a while? I don't remember reading any rumors or news about workshops, etc. Either way - could be great!

[TheGingerBreadMan]

I can pass on Barks, but I'll take Kazee any day. 

Though didn't Kazee sustain some pretty severe vocal damage during Once? I was under the impression that he could no longer sing, though I assume from this announcement that he has healed. (I do not keep up with him much - if he's been singing since Once, I've missed it.)

[Tag]

Probably should change the name from Pretty Woman: The Musical to Pretty Woman: Miscast

[broadwayboy223]

What happened to Annaleigh Ashford? 

[CindersGolightly]

Yikes. Annaleigh has been doing the readings of this musical. A shame they went from charismatic and funny to very, very plain.

[CindersGolightly]

broadwayboy223 said: "What happened to Annaleigh Ashford?"

She's doing a lot of film and television work right now. My guess is it couldn't fit into her schedule. But...maybe we'll have another "Amélie" situation....

[broadwayboy223]

Don't get me wrong I love Samantha Barks and I can't imagine how it must how felt when she was replaced in Amelie, but I just her remember her horrible wobble in the Les Mis movie. I can't imagine her voice in a contemporary musical theatre score. I'd rather see Annaleigh :/

[LesWickedly]

Samantha is fine but nothing special and seems terribly miscast. No names jump out at me to play the role, but still.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Of all the potential screen-to-stage roles, Annaleigh Ashford was made to play Vivian.

Hoping for another Amélie situation indeed.

[Tag]

This would be a perfect role for Jessica Keenan Wynn (although maybe I'm just thinking that because of her hair colour?).

[broadwayboy223]

I feel bad for saying Samantha is miscast. I'm sure she worked really hard and stuff I just don't see her in this part at all.

[Valentina3]

Isn't Kazee a bit young for the part? Maybe in my mind Richard Gere has never been anything less than 50 years old, but I remember the character being a fully realized sugar daddy (that's a thing). I do think he's significantly more attractive than Barks, as beautiful as she might be. I'll be going to Chicago to see her. Don't want to judge the casting prematurely. It's dumb to dream-recast a show without even knowing what the material is going to be like.

[JBroadway]

broadwayboy223 said: "I can't imagine her voice in a contemporary musical theatre score."

 

For what it's worth, I saw her in both Amelie and The Last Five Years, and I thought she sounded excellent in both. Her acting...up for debate (I actually don't mind her so much, but I agree with some of the criticisms). But she sang the crap out of both those contemporary scores, IMO.

 

[CindersGolightly]

Valentina3 said: "t's dumb to dream-recast a show without even knowing what the material is going to be like."

This is true, although for those of us speaking regarding Ashford, I believe it is solely because she was attached to every reading, with the exception of the most recent, in which Taylor Louderman was Vivian. So it has a certain merit to it, although I look forward to seeing what Barks will do with the role. I will admit, I am....less than enthused with her acting in everything I've seen her in, but her voice is gorgeous, and so is she.

[ohhiccup 2]

I don't think even Ashford (who I love!) could get me excited for this, but I will be happy to be proven wrong. I just can't see it as a musical. 

[VintageSnarker]

Um... what? This casting is bananapants. I guess they're really trying to avoid comparisons to the movie. But it seems like it will disappoint the people going to see the movie on stage. 

[Marlothom]

Is Orfeh involved in this too? 

[Call_me_jorge]

Alison Luff would have been absolutely perfect(although, she is in E2M), but I’m actually really excited for Samantha.

the creative team, on the other hand, it’s not really exciting me.

[steven22]

I saw Samantha in The Last Five Years in London last year and thought she was stunning. Can’t wait to see her on broadway! 

[Auggie27]

The script is by Marshall, and if you haven't seen the movie lately, take a peek.  It's not an easy musical book (it's just not that funny), and the sex worker Cinderella aspect, already questionable in the 90s, is -- you should excuse the expression -- harder to swallow in 2017.  Maybe it'll be wonderful.  But having watched it this summer, I can at least say: it needs a lot of revisiting.  If "Goodbye Girl" was a challenge, this is a bigger one.   

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Interesting enough, Samantha Barks was my choice to play Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, and here she is set to play the American version of that.

I really hope this doesn't end up being another Amelie situation, because Barks really deserves to make her Broadway debut.

In response to Annaleigh Ashford, she's been involved with a lot of workshops of musicals that she didn't go on to be a part of when they made it to Broadway. When she was interviewed by Richard Ridge during her time in Sylvia, she said that she was happy enough to help shape the material to the way it becomes.

[David10086]

LesWickedly said: "Samantha is fine but nothing special and seems terribly miscast. No names jump out at me to play the role, but still."

I'm surprised no one said Chenowith yet!!!! (Kidding) Maybe paired up with Patinkin? (Still kididng!!!)

This will be on my "must not see list" for Broadway. 

[little_sally]

Sorry but Samantha Barks is such a disappointing choice for this.