Broadway Across America Reimagines Rom-Com Classic Pretty Woman: The Musical at the Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City

Pretty Woman is a landmark film of the nineties rom-com era, jumpstarting Julia Robert’s career as the spunky “it-girl” of the day. Pretty Woman: The Musical’s Broadway Across America tour has landed here in Salt Lake City, Utah, showing for one week only and bringing us to the City of Angels at the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater. With music and lyrics by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance and book by Garry Marshall and J. F. Lawton (the original writing/directing team from the film), Pretty Woman: The Musical brings the audience into the famous film turned life-sized spectacular, with catchy songs that showcase the glitz, glam and grit of Hollywood as well as the storyline everyone knows and loves. This show takes the nostalgia of three decades ago and brings it rocking and jiving into the 21st Century, making it something new you won’t want to miss. Pretty Woman tells the story of a free-spirited Hollywood sex worker, Vivian (Ellie Baker– played in the movie by Roberts), who meets uptight, absurdly wealthy New York businessman Edward (Chris Wolfe–played in the movie by Richard Gere) by happenstance. After Vivian hustles him out of twenty bucks, Edward spontaneously decides to hire her for the week as his escort to various business and social events. Over their week, Vivian turns Edward’s world upside down, helping him see the world through new eyes and live life enthusiastically. Edward slowly woos hyper-independent Vivian, showing her that knights in shining armor aren’t just a fairytale. Can two people from such vastly different worlds really find lasting love or is it a Hollywood fantasy? Find out in this heartwarming comedy turned Broadway hit musical.

Baker brings a fresh twist to the iconic character of Vivian Ward, showcasing her vocal range while adding depth to Vivian that brings her into 2024. Wolfe as Edward Lewis is both a reserved hunk and boyish dreamer without losing an ounce of charm or charisma. Wolfe’s vocals in Edward’s rock ballads frame more of the character’s inner turmoil, allowing the audience to better connect with the somewhat aloof façade seen in the first half of the show and cheer on the transformation into the passionate, caring man at the end of it.

The musical deals with the somewhat wide cast of male catalysts from the film by turning them into an everyman narrator known as Happy Man (Adam Du Plessis). Du Plessis is an audience favorite, keeping everyone entertained while also moving the plot along, endearing the show’s other characters the audience. Rae Davenport is a powerhouse as supportive best friend Kit De Luca. Davenport sandwiches her fantastic vocal performance between the grit and Amazonian loyalty she brings to De Luca’s character and friendship with Vivian. The tour’s fantastic ensemble rounds out this show, with standout performances by Connor Kabat as Giulio and Sarah Wang as Violetta.

With a touring show, it can be tricky to create a scenic design that is adaptable and easy to transport while still being spectacular and riveting; however, Christine Peters makes this seem effortless. Using silhouette cutouts and bold lighting (design by Kenneth Posner and Philip S. Rosenberg), Peters, Posner and Rosenberg create an exciting visual feast that is a perfect backdrop to the actors’ performances. Greg Barnes’ costume design is the perfect blend of flashy, sexy, and stunningly gorgeous, with textures, colors and body that makes each actor distinct without detracting from the main scenic focus. Similarly, the hair design by Josh Marquette and makeup design by Fiona Mifsud really pop. Marquette and Mifsud create looks that truly feel of the late eighties and early 90s, with big hair and bolder makeup. Jerry Mitchell is a name well known on Broadway, and his directing and choreography (recreated by Rusty Mowery and DB Bonds) are iconic, winning Tony Awards for some of his other productions. In Pretty Woman: the Musical, Mitchell creates a sensational splash showing the over-the-top lifestyle of LA and Hollywood people love while also creating moments of refreshing comedy and touching sincerity that leave the audience craving more.

Pretty Woman: The Musical is a fun and funky show about love, business, and honest connections that makes for a fun date night. While there are sexual elements central to the plot (as the main character and her friends are sex workers), teens may enjoy jamming out to this fresh take on a film classic right along with their older family members. In Salt Lake City for just under a week, don’t miss the opportunity to dream along in Hollywood at the Broadway Across America tour of Pretty Woman: The Musical.

Broadway Across America, Zion Bank Broadway at the Eccles and Crossroads Live presents Pretty Woman: The Musical with book by Garry Marshall and J. F. Lawton, music and lyrics by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance.
The George S and Dolores Doré Eccles Theater, 131 S Main St, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
April 2-4, 2024 7:30 PM, April 5-6 8:00 PM, April 7 6:30 PM, matinees April 6 2:00 PM, April 7 1:00 PM
Tickets: $53-149
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