Bryan Adams Pens Songs For Pretty Woman Musical

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Bryan Adams, 2007, via his Facebook page

Classic rock musicians from Elton John to Billy Joel to Pete Townshend to Carole King and more have had their hand in highly successful Broadway musicals. Others, notably Sting (The Last Ship) and U2’s Bono and The Edge (Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark) did not fare well. Now it’s Bryan Adams‘ turn. The Grammy Award-winner is providing the music and lyrics, with his longtime songwriting partner Jim Vallance, for one of the most beloved romantic comedies of all-time, Pretty Woman. Producer Paula Wagner is bringing Garry Marshall’s Pretty Woman to Broadway following its world premiere stage production in Chicago in the spring of 2018.

The 1990 film made a star of Julia Roberts, who appeared opposite Richard Gere

Pretty Woman: The Musical stars stage, television and film actress Samantha Barks (2012’s Les Miserables) as Vivian opposite Tony- and Grammy Award-winner Steve Kazee as Edward. The 1990 film made a star of Julia Roberts, playing a “hooker with a heart of gold” opposite Richard Gere.

Adams and Vallance provide original music and lyrics, the book is by Marshall and the film’s screenwriter J.F. Lawton. The show is directed and choreographed by two-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell (Broadway’s Once). It begins performances in Chicago on March 13, 2018, for a five-week engagement at the Oriental Theatre. It comes to Broadway in the fall of 2018 at a Nederlander Theater.

Adams has been nominated for 15 Grammy Awards, winning once for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media for the #1 single “(Everything I Do) I Do it For You” from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. He has released 13 studio albums including his 1984 #1 album, Reckless. He has earned 11 Top 10 singles on the Hot 100 including “Summer of ’69,” “Run to You” and “Heaven.”

Adams posted an update on Instagram on Oct. 6

The end of a brilliant week of presentations of @prettywoman the musical! My thanks to everyone involved for such a wonderful experience and look forward to our adventures in 2018 when we head to Broadway! @stevekazee #jimvallance @egroove @samanthabarks @jammyprod @wvdmusic #prettywomanthemusical

A post shared by Bryan Adams (@bryanadams) on Oct 6, 2017 at 3:49pm PDT

“Pretty Woman 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. “Jerry Mitchell has expanded the narrative and storytelling of this acclaimed romantic comedy, and we found two amazing, charismatic actors with incredible chemistry to play ‘Vivian’ and ‘Edward’ – the gorgeous, triple-threat, Samantha Barks, and one of Broadway’s most dashing and talented leading men, Steve Kazee.”

“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.” said director/choreographer Jerry Mitchell.

Marshall created many of television’s all-time favorite sitcoms including The Odd Couple, Happy Days, and Laverne & Shirley. where he helped launch the careers of Henry Winkler, Robin Williams and his sister, Penny Marshall. He transitioned smoothly to the big screen as the director of the 1990 rom-com Pretty Woman film. He died on July 19, 2016.