How about a night on Broadway?
If your mom (or any special lady in your life that you are gifting for Mother's Day) loves the theater like mine does or loves the movie Pretty Woman, she will definitely love Pretty Woman: The Musical playing at Nederlander Theater, 208 West 41st Street in New York City!
ABOUT:
Pretty Woman: The Musical combines the beloved romance movie you already know and love with an original score with music and lyrics by Grammy Award Winner Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance, and choreography by two-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell.
How did it come together?
Check out this neat video:
Above: Left to Right, Samantha Barks and Julia Roberts (this was for the Gary Marshall Tribute Performance, the producers announced that a seat in the back row of the theater will include a plaque in his honor)
Did you know originally (for the movie version) Vivian was slated to die of a drug overdose? I had no idea, but I am glad that was changed!
Both the movie and broadway production are based on George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion, and in the iconic Opera Scene - both the play and the movie - the couple watch the Opera 'La Traviata' by Verdi, which tells the story of a Parisian Courtesan who falls in love with an older, wealthy man.
True to the movie is the signature red dress, and presentation of a 'borrowed' Diamond Necklace complete with Edward snapping the box playfully and Vivian's Booming laugh! I give Samantha so much credit for making the role her own without it being an exact copy of the original.
The shopping scene is still there, and watching those snooty, bougie, department store assistants get theirs just never gets old.
The entire cast definitely deliver a high energy performance, but I will admit Orfeh who portrays Vivian's friend Kit (played by Laura San Giacomo in the movie) and Eric Anderson as concierge Mr. Thompson (played by Hector Elizondo in the film) are truly standouts! Eric plays multiple roles in the production and literally gives you *EVERYTHING* in each scene where he appears. Another scene stealer is Tommy Braco as the bellhop "Giulio" who brings a great deal of comic relief.
There are some changes, Vivian does not sing along to Prince's "Kiss" in the bath tub scene, Edward does not have a mane of sexy gray hair, and another more major change, 'Stuckey' is the one that gets slapped first! You guys have no idea how much I hated Jason Alexander after seeing the film, in the musical, Stuckey is portrayed by Jason Daniely. Edward and Stuckey are both noticeably younger in this stage version, but Stuckey is still as greedy and slimy as ever.
Above: This amazing blogger night on Broadway included a talk back and Q&A with the cast.
Center: Check out Orfeh's super cute furbaby curled up on her lap!
DISCOUNT:
Want to save up to $40 on your tickets? of course you do! Use Code: MOM1
You can nab your discount tickets, easy as '1,2,3'
1. Online at TicketMaster.com using code MOM1
2. By phone at: 877.250.2929 and mention code: MOM1
3. In Person at the Box Office, Nederlander Theatre, 208 W. 41st Street and reference code: MOM1
Note: This code is valid through 09/01/19 - TicketMaster includes an additional $2 Facility Fee per ticket. The Discount Code is NOT applicable to Facility Fee or TicketMaster Service Fees. Offer is not valid on tickets that have already been purchased, new tickets only. Blackout Dates May Apply. Limit of 8 tickets per order.
Above: The empowering posters in the lobby were a hit for post play photos - you know for the gram! Red Coat is from Wallis Fashion US, top is by Calvin Klein, Jeans: Silver Jeans, Handbag from DSW and the Boots: Earth Shoes Raleigh - these 100% waterproof tall boots with lacing details up the back (allowing you to widen them or tighten them so you have a custom fit calf) a full length side zipper, are sadly now out of stock! (I have them in the Bridle Brown which I love - I wish I had nabbed them in black as well)
My Take:
Age 13 and up is recommended for Pretty Woman: The Musical and with good reason, world's oldest profession, dead prostitute scene, and a sexy scene with Vivian and Edward, I would go a bit more conservative and restrict this to older teens and leave the younger teens and defintely the littles with a sitter!
I would have liked Edward to have the silver fox hair like Richard Gere and definitely for them to have left Prince's 'Kiss' as the song in the bubble bath scene, but understandably with Bryan Adams doing the original score for the production, the music is a bit different from the movie.
And while I love the creativity and how many stage productions are going more high tech to tell their stories, I appreciated that this production was not relying solely on tech to immerse you into the story. I found it pretty upbeat considering the subject matter, it pays homage to the film without being too much of a copycat of it, and the actors bring so much energy to their performances, you definitely want to be sure to catch this one before it leaves in 2020!
Online/Get Social:
READERS: Have you seen Pretty Woman - The Movie or The Musical? What did you think of it?