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Can Pretty Woman nab the fairytale ending and make it on stage in Australia?

After the worrying early closures of Beetlejuice and Back to the Future, the movie-to-musical path is no longer a guarantee of success, but Pretty Woman: the Musical is giving it a shot.
21 Jul 2026 16:20
Stephen A Russell
Pretty Woman The Musical. Photo: Daniel Boud.

Performing Arts

Pretty Woman: the Musical. Photo: Daniel Boud.

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When fans of the spicy Julia Roberts and Richard Gere-led 1990 rom-com Pretty Woman rocked up to the Melbourne premiere of the movie-turned-stage-musical at the glittering Regent Theatre, they were rewarded with an exciting surprise appearance.

‘You’re late.’

Debuting at the Oriental Theatre in Chicago in 2018, it transferred to Broadway later that year and then London’s West End in 2020. Samantha Barks played Vivian in all three, opposite Steve Kazee, Andy Karl and Danny Mac as her Edwards.

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Stephen A Russell

Stephen A Russell is a Melbourne-based arts writer. His writing regularly appears in Fairfax publications, SBS online, Flicks, Time Out, The Saturday Paper, The Big Issue and Metro magazine. You can hear him on Joy FM.

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