When Jerry Mitchell first saw the film “Pretty Woman” in 1990, he thought to himself: “That would make a perfect Broadway musical.”
It took a while — 28 years, to be exact — but the Tony Award-winning Mitchell eventually would direct and choreograph the stage adaptation of the movie.
“Pretty Woman: The Musical,” which opened on Broadway in 2018, is now touring the nation, and it’s coming to the Peace Center, Feb. 8-13. The musical, with a score by Canadian rocker Bryan Adams, follows a down-on-her-luck prostitute, Vivian Ward, who meets a wealthy businessman, Edward Lewis. The two live in vastly different worlds, but romance blossoms.
Mitchell, speaking by phone from his New York City home, recalled why the film seemed an ideal vehicle for a musical.
“It’s the perfect Cinderella story,” Mitchell said. “Vivian is in the ashes, and she finds her way out, and meets her prince. What gives it a modern twist is that in the film, she doesn’t let him rescue her. She rescues herself.”
Taking charge
The musical, with a cast of about two dozen, closely follows the film but places a greater emphasis on female empowerment, Mitchell said.
“Our Vivian is a lot more aggressive and powerful than the Vivian in the film,” Mitchell said. “She’s a take-charge kind of gal.”
It was Mitchell’s idea to ask Adams to write the music along with the singer’s longtime songwriting collaborator Jim Vallance.
It turns out that Adams, too, had long thought that “Pretty Woman” would make a good musical, and he jumped at the chance to write the songs.
“Bryan is steeped in the romanticism of rock ballads, which we needed to tell the story,” Mitchell said. “Bryan and Jim have written some of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll tunes ever, and they just got the story and the style that I wanted to capture.”
Tony Award-winner
In addition to “Pretty Woman,” Mitchell has directed or choreographed more than a dozen Broadway musicals, winning Tony Awards for his choreography for “La Cage aux Folles” (2005) and “Kinky Boots” (2013).
Mitchell has also been closely involved with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, directing benefit performances that have raised more than $24 million over three decades to help fund services for people with AIDS, HIV and other critical illnesses.
Patrons should note: Peace Center will require one of the following for entry accompanied by a photo ID:
- proof of full vaccination against COVID-19
- negative COVID-19 test administered within 72 hours of the performance
- positive COVID-19 antibody test
In addition, the general management and producers of the “Pretty Woman” tour have asked that any patron who is not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 wear a face mask. Free masks will be available by request at the Peace Center.
See the show
What: “Pretty Woman: The Musical”
When: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8-10; 8 p.m. Feb. 11; 2 and 8 p.m. Feb. 12; 1 and 6:30 p.m. Feb. 13
Where: Peace Center
Tickets: $35-$95
Info: 864-467-3000 or www.peacecenter.org
