Danny Mac, Aimie Atkinson and the company in Pretty Woman: The Musical. Picture: Helen Maybanks
After breaking advance box office records at the Piccadilly Theatre last year, the London production of Pretty Woman: The Musical will take up residence in its new home, the Savoy Theatre this summer.
Announcing the change and location and reopening dates for the show which had only just arrived in the West End when theatres were forced to close in March 2020, producer Paula Wagner said: “Our London production of Pretty Woman: The Musical had just opened when the world changed and our cherished theatres were forced to close due to the pandemic. When we opened in the West End a year ago we had broken advance box-office records at the Piccadilly and were playing to sold out houses.
“With so many ticket holders eager to see this show about love and resilience, we knew we would bring back Pretty Woman when the time was safe and right. With the move to our new home, the Savoy Theatre, we are able to return to share our joy with many more people. We look forward to everyone being together soon and giving our audiences the chance to come and enjoy the ultimate fun night out we all deserve right now.”
Pretty Woman: The Musical will begin performances at the Savoy Theatre from 8 July, subject to the Government allowing indoor performances to begin and with enough notice with reference to any social distancing regulations and audience-size restrictions.
Six’s Aimie Atkinson (In the Heights, King’s Cross Theatre) and Danny Mac (Sunset Boulevard UK tour, White Christmas, Dominion Theatre) will walk back into the central roles of Vivian Ward and Edward Lewis, with Rachael Wooding (We Will Rock You, Dominion Theatre, Hairspray, Shaftesbury Avenue) returning as Kit De Luca; along with Bob Harms (Come From Away, Phoenix Theatre, Footloose, Novello Theatre) as Happy Man/Mr Thompson; Neil McDermott (Shrek The Musical, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Follies, London Palladium) as Philip Stuckey; and Mark Holden (The Bodyguard, Dominion Theatre and UK tour, Fame UK tour) as James Morse. Further casting will be announced soon.
Following a Broadway run that ended in August 2019, the musical based on the much-loved 1990 romantic comedy Pretty Woman was originally due to play a strictly limited 46-week run from 13 February 2020.
Directed and choreographed by double Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell, Pretty Woman The Musical features music by multi-award-winning rock star Bryan Adams and his song writing partner Jim Vallance. The stage musical version of the modern Cinderella story also boasts a book co-written by the original film’s director, the late Garry Marshall and screenwriter J.F. Lawton.
The production features scenic design by David Rockwell, and costumes by Tom Rogers from the original Broadway designs by Gregg Barnes with lighting design by Kenneth Posner and Philip S. Rosenberg, sound design by John Shivers, hair design by Josh Marquette, and music supervision, arrangements and orchestrations by Will Van Dyke.
Pretty Woman: The Musical received its world premiere in Chicago in March 2018 ahead of its Broadway debut in August 2018. Samantha Barks (Les Misérables) made her Broadway debut in the coveted title role alongside US TV star Steve Kazee (Shameless, Nashville) whose last appearance on Broadway in Once had earned him a Tony award.
The original movie version of the unlikely love story of the vibrant street-walker and the bored businessman who hires her as an escort and falls in love featured a career-launching performance from Julia Roberts. A relative unknown when she won the role, Roberts had co-starred in the low budget cult favourite Mystic Pizza and completed a supporting role in the, at the time, unreleased Steel Magnolias. She was nominated for both an Oscar and a Golden Globe for her performance in the film. As well as turning Roberts into Hollywood’s newest leading lady the film helped revitalise Richard Gere’s career which had stalled somewhat following the critical and audience success of American Gigolo and An Officer and a Gentleman.
Angela Thomas
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