One of Australia’s favourite performers, Samantha Jade, will star as Vivian, in the upcoming Broadway and West End smash hit musical PRETTY WOMAN: The Musical, which makes its debut at Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) in Brisbane in October before playing at Theatre Royal Sydney from November. Based on the iconic film, Samantha will play the role made famous worldwide by the much loved Julia Roberts.
“We knew from the first time Samantha auditioned that not offering her the role of Vivian would be a big mistake. Big. Huge! Her voice perfectly suits Bryan Adams’ iconic score and I know Australian audiences will fall in love with her when she makes her debut at QPAC in October,” said Suzanne Jones of JONES Theatrical Group.
“This is a dream role for me. Such a beloved film that is a favourite of so many worldwide and I’m delighted to be able to originate the role for Australian audiences,” said Samantha Jade.
Samantha Jade has been a household name in Australia for many years since winning Channel 7’s X Factor in 2012. She has amassed a collective 91 million streams and 2.3 million sales worldwide, released a single with Pitbull (Shake That) and released her album NINE in 2015 which hit #2 on the ARIA charts.
The multi-talented Samantha has been a regular fixture on Australian television, starring as Kylie Minogue in the TV Miniseries INXS: Never Tear Us Apart, as well as an ongoing guest starring role in Home & Away. She has also toured with One Direction and Westlife and has headlined the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras twice.
In 2023, Samantha toured nationally with the Backstreet Boys and joined the cast of the second season of Celebrity Apprentice. Most recently, Samantha danced her way to the top as the runner-up of Channel 7’s 2024 Dancing With The Stars and released her infectious single Peachy.
The Broadway and West End smash hit musical PRETTY WOMAN: The Musical features music and lyrics by singer-songwriter Bryan Adams, alongside Jim Vallance. The musical broke box office records at the Nederlander Theatre when making its Broadway debut in 2018 and has also wowed audiences in Spain, Italy, Poland and Germany as well as an extended West End season.
Once upon a time in the late ’80s, Vivian met Edward and her life changed forever. Be swept up in their romance in this dazzlingly theatrical take on a love story for the ages – and get to know these iconic characters in a whole new way – in a sensational show that took London’s West End by storm, guaranteed to lift your spirits and light up your heart.
With a blazing rock score from GRAMMY® winners Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance (Summer of ’69, Heaven), direction and choreography by Tony Award® winner Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots, Hairspray) and a book by the original movie’s director Garry Marshall & screenwriter J.F. Lawton, a powerhouse creative team representing the best of music, Hollywood and Broadway ensures you’ll have a pretty magical time at PRETTY WOMAN: The Musical.
Further casting announcements will be made in the coming weeks.
PRETTY WOMAN: The Musical will play the Lyric Theatre – QPAC, Brisbane, from 5 October, before heading to Theatre Royal Sydney from November 2025. For more information, visit: www.prettywomanthemusical.com.au for details.
Image: Samantha Jade to star in PRETTY WOMAN: The Musical (supplied)