Even adding the famous song it was named for has not saved Broadway’s “Pretty Woman.” The tepidly reviewed musical will close on August 18th after a rocky year on the Great White Way. The show received no Tony nominations.
“Pretty Woman” has great stars– Andy Karl, Samantha Barks, Orfeh– but it was yet another ill conceived show based on a movie. They come, they go. The songs by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance were not memorable. It was only last week that producers got the rights to the Roy Orbison song for which it was named. But it’s too late.
“Pretty Woman” joins a raft of shows closing this summer or already closed. They include three Scott Rudin productions (“Gary,” “Hillary and Clinton,” and “King Lear”), as well as “Be More Chill,” “King Kong,” “The Cher Show,” “The Ferryman,” “The Prom,” as well as limited runs like “All My Sons” and “Burn This.”
In their place, “Moulin Rouge” has arrived in previews. New shows will start trickling in after Labor Day. But Broadway is going to be a little quiet this August, that’s for sure. The Carole King musical “Beautiful” may be the next to go based on recent receipts. Last night, Carole, star Vanessa Carlton, and some upbeat performers appeared on PBS’s “Capitol Fourth” to promote the show. Let’s hope that works.
