Pretty Woman Hits Chicago (and Broadway)!- Page 3

[smidge]

Posted: 10/3/17 at 3:13pm

Not strange at all. It’s not like Kit is an iconic character that can’t be tampered with. It’ll be fine.

[JennH]

Posted: 10/3/17 at 4:24pm

Sunny11 said: "Well shesmost famous for playing Eponine, a spunky street girl. That kind of character is her wheelhouse now."

Except, she played (I use that term loosely) that role with no spunk or grit whatsoever. It was liked we backtracked to having it played as a uninteresting Disney princess. I've seen more interesting Cosettes, and we all know how thankless and "Disney princess" that role can be.

Now on to Orfeh...HELL YES. She needed to come back YESTERDAY. 

[Valentina3]

Posted: 10/3/17 at 4:46pm

Hasn't that been one of the chief complaints on this board re: movie to stage adaptations? About they just don't go the distance of actually adapting a show for the sake of keeping major plot points from movie, pandering to that audience? I'm super open to a reconcieved production, which is closer both in sensibilities and humor to a 2017 theater-going audience.

 

Also, funny how Orfeh is likely going to be Chicago for this show around the same time Cher musical is there 

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 10/3/17 at 4:49pm

If you ask me, the main goal for any adaptation in general should be to honor the source material while at the same time, take advantage of the medium it's entering into.

Updated On: 10/3/17 at 04:49 PM

[Margo319]

Posted: 10/3/17 at 4:56pm

All three are amazing, talented, gorgeous and just plain awesome actors.  Looking forward to this so much!

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 10/3/17 at 5:22pm

Valentina3 said: "Hasn't that been one of the chief complaints on this board re: movie to stage adaptations? About they just don't go the distance of actually adapting a show for the sake of keeping major plot points from movie, pandering to that audience? I'm super open to a reconcieved production, which is closer both in sensibilities and humor to a 2017 theater-going audience.

Sure, but this board can only buy so many tickets. Presumably the reason most of these movie to stage adaptations are produced is not because the rich and vibrant source material is crying out to be musicalized but because there's a movie audience there to be pandered to. Tourists and fans of more commercial theater are a sizeable part of that 2017 theater-going audience. 

[Marlothom]

Posted: 10/3/17 at 6:51pm

If you follow Orfeh on IG you'll get a glimpse of other actors likely involved - exciting! 

[kade.ivy]

Posted: 10/3/17 at 10:14pm

Marlothom said: "If you follow Orfeh on IG you'll get a glimpse of other actors likely involved - exciting!"

To what are you referring? Or has the post been removed? 

[Marlothom]

Posted: 10/3/17 at 11:11pm

Her stories on IG - there have been videos of what I can only imagine are rehearsals, it included Steve Kazee and others (not sure if i can post names).   If you go back a few pages, you'll see I thought she'd be in this because I had seen a short IG story of her and Steve (and others) at some rehearsal space a week ago or so.  

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/3/17 at 11:24pm

Obviously they're going a slightly different route with this given Barks. They didn't go for a "Julia Roberts" type. I'm just curious to hear the music. 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 10/6/17 at 12:09pm

Jason Danieley is just announced to play the sleazy lawyer role --- the supporting cast is getting really interesting!

 

http://www.playbill.com/article/jason-danieley-joins-broadway-bound-pretty-woman-musical

Updated On: 10/6/17 at 12:09 PM

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 10/6/17 at 1:39pm

OK, now I'm really confused. Danieley would make much more sense in the lead male role of Edward. Not that Steve Kazee is a perfect fit for this role but it would make more sense if they swapped. At the very least, Danieley would work better as the hotel concierge, though I hope they keep that part for a POC. 

[CindersGolightly]

Posted: 10/18/17 at 2:18am

I guess we know why Annaleigh is no longer with the project, now. Still not really understanding Barks' involvement. It went from Ashford, to Louderman, to.....Barks. It just doesn't make sense. I really hope she surprises me.

[asmith0307]

Posted: 10/18/17 at 2:32am

There have been a number of actresses in that role, before and after AA. Don't know why everyone is so fixated on it being "her" role. 

[CindersGolightly]

Posted: 10/18/17 at 3:45am

Not true. She was the first person to do the first reading, and she’s done every single reading up until the most recent. Her and Louderman are the only two actresses who have done it before Barks was cast.

[broadwayboy223]

Posted: 10/18/17 at 12:44pm

Though i'm not a big fan of AA, I'd much rather see her then Samantha Barks. Is it possible she auditioned for the actual production and lost out to Samantha? IDK. The change is just weird. 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 10/18/17 at 3:13pm

CindersGolightly said: "Not true. She was the first person to do the first reading, and she’s done every single reading up until the most recent. Her and Louderman are the only two actresses who have done it before Barks was cast."

 

How can Annaleigh have done "every single reading up until the most recent" if her and Taylor Louderman have BOTH done it?  In any event, you're incorrect on both counts.

 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 10/18/17 at 3:17pm

^ I think they meant as has done everyone besides the last one which Taylor did and now Samantha is doing the out of town tryout.

[ddenoff2]

Posted: 10/18/17 at 4:18pm

Having known Garry Marshall my entire life, I too was skeptical...until I attended the presentation this month. Samantha Barks is STUNNING as Vivian - charming, empowered, confident, appropriately goofy.  Great voice in some killer songs.  She's going to surprise those skeptics, and charm the pants off the audience. Steve Kazee is also a perfect Edward - steely to the world until Vivian's charm warms him from the inside out.  Jason is a terrific Stucky and Orfeh knocks it out of the park as Kit.  Rounding out the roles Eric Anderson is brilliantly charming and silly in his multiple roles.  The score is a winner...and I think SO is this show.  Jerry Mitchell has brilliantly transitioned some iconic scenes in the movie (the opera) to the stage. It's got heart galore.

Yes I love Annaleigh but I never saw any of the previous iterations of the show. The one I saw was a joy.

Just see it in Chicago and form your own opinions, but the audience stood and cheered at the presentations.  For theatre folk, that's rare indeed.

Updated On: 10/18/17 at 04:18 PM

[CindersGolightly]

Posted: 10/18/17 at 6:13pm

Annaleigh did every single reading and workshop EXCEPT for the most recent presentation, which featured Taylor Louderman in her place. (Of course, when I say most recent, I mean the most recent pre-Barks' involvement. So, second most recent? You know what I mean.)

They were all held in Los Angeles to accommodate Ashford's schedule for "Masters of Sex" and she appeared opposite Patrick Wilson. Once her show ended and she returned to the city, the readings were moved to New York for her. But, because of "Sunday," Louderman filled in for her. Having a very new child and doing a mega Sondheim musical eight times a week while also doing a workshop as a lead who basically carries the show would have been challenging, to say the least.

Trust me, JSquared. I'm not just assuming this. They even announced that Ashford would be taking the show to Broadway. It was always Ashford's role.

However, ddenoff2, I am ecstatic to hear that you loved her. This gives me so much hope for the production. I know she has what it takes to be a spectacular leading lady, I just don't think she's found a role that lets her shine yet. But this sounds like it could be the one!!! Yay!

[broadwayboy223]

Posted: 10/18/17 at 6:53pm

Is it possible Barks is just filling in for Annaleigh pre Broadway a la Jeremy Jordon in FN

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 10/18/17 at 7:07pm

I would feel terrible for Samantha if that were true, since she was also placeholder for amelie.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/18/17 at 7:14pm

Ashford doesn't come off as "sexy" to me. She's pretty, yes, but I don't think audiences would find her sexy? 

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 10/18/17 at 7:16pm

Ashford is quirky sexy.

Also, can anyone who has seen the workshop elaborate on what kind of score it is?

[CindersGolightly]

Posted: 10/18/17 at 7:43pm

broadwayboy223 said: "Is it possible Barks is just filling in for Annaleigh pre Broadway a la Jeremy Jordon in FN"

Possible, yes! She has been very good about returning to the stage whenever her Hollywood career gives her a chance to. In fact, she has appeared on Broadway every single calendar year since 2013. Now that she is no longer tied up with a television schedule, I could definitely see her wanting to come back in this. I'm assuming Annie has first right of refusal, as Phillipa Soo and Matthew Morrison had with their respective shows. I guess it just depends on her schedule. She's filming two movies right now, but by fall 2018, when the Broadway run is scheduled, she'd surely be done with both films. I'm thinking that the Jennifer Lopez film will finish up in late spring, which is why she can't do the Chicago run. It's no secret that I'm a big fan of Ashford, and I've been dying for her to do a new musical again since "Kinky Boots" - so that would be thrilling for me, especially with this supporting cast. I would also feel bad for Barks, though, she must know going into these projects that it is a possibility. Either way, whatever happens, I'm optimistic about this show.