Samantha Jade has been announced as the star of the upcoming Australian production of “Pretty Woman: The Musical,” taking on the iconic role of Vivian made famous by Julia Roberts in the beloved film.
The musical will premiere at QPAC in Brisbane this October before moving to Theatre Royal Sydney in November.
Suzanne Jones of Jones Theatrical Group confirmed the casting, stating: “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.”
For Jade, this represents a significant milestone in her already impressive career. “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,” she said.
Since winning Channel 7’s “X Factor” in 2012, Jade has established herself as a formidable presence in Australian entertainment. Her musical accomplishments include amassing 91 million streams and 2.3 million sales worldwide, collaborating with Pitbull on the single “Shake That,” and releasing her album “NINE,” which reached #2 on the ARIA charts.
Beyond music, Jade has made her mark in television, portraying Kylie Minogue in the TV miniseries “INXS: Never Tear Us Apart” and securing a recurring role in “Home & Away.” Her performance credentials include touring with One Direction and Westlife, headlining Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras twice and most recently touring nationally with the Backstreet Boys in 2023.
Jade’s recent achievements include finishing as runner-up on Channel 7’s 2024 “Dancing with the Stars” and releasing her single “Peachy.”
“Pretty Woman: The Musical” features music and lyrics by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance, with direction and choreography by Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell. The production has already enjoyed successful runs on Broadway, in London’s West End and across Europe, breaking box office records at the Nederlander Theatre during its 2018 Broadway debut.
The musical adaptation of the 1990 romantic comedy tells the story of Vivian and Edward’s unexpected romance, promising to bring the beloved characters to life in a fresh, theatrical experience. With its rock score featuring the talents of Adams and Vallance, and a book by the original film’s director Garry Marshall and screenwriter J.F. Lawton, the production combines the best of music, Hollywood and Broadway.
Additional casting announcements for the Australian production are expected in the coming weeks.