Pretty Woman Hits Chicago (and Broadway)!

Could have thought of a thousand other actresses for Vivian.

Steve Kazee is an interesting pick, though.

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.)

What happened to Annaleigh Ashford?

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....

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Updated On: 9/26/17 at 08:42 AM

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.