Pretty Woman: The Musical Opens Next Week
The waiting is almost over: Pretty Woman: The Musical opens at Artscape, Cape Town on 18 March! The classic ‘90s story (who can forget the famous film starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere) that premiered as a stage musical on Broadway in 2018 and has also enjoyed acclaimed runs in the West End and tours across North America and Europe. Now it’s South Africa’s turn, with the national premiere almost here and tickets selling fast for the Cape Town run, which ends on April 19. Get your tickets now at showtime.co.za or ticketmaster.co.za.
Pretty Woman: The Musical’s remarkable all-South African cast as well as the show’s producer and promoter Showtime Management are well represented in the recently released nominations for the Naledi Theatre Awards. Three of the show’s leads are nominated for their work in other productions, with Leah Mari, who stars as the vivacious Vivian Ward, receiving a nod in the Best Lead Performance In A Musical Theatre Production: Female category for her role in My Fair Lady; Christopher Jaftha, who plays the dashing Edward Lewis, is on the shortlist for Best Supporting Performance in a Musical Theatre Production and Daniel Conradie who plays the sleezy Philip Stuckey is nominated in the Best Breakthrough Performance in a Musical Theatre Production. Showtime’s most recent two musicals, also did spectacularly well. Dear Evan Hansen (another South African stage debut), received eight nominations in total, among them Best Production of A Musical and Best Theatre Set And AV Design; while the revival of the popular CHICAGO The Musical was rewarded with five nominations, among them Best Production of a Musical and Best Ensemble in a Musical Theatre Production.
All this local excellence is supplemented and supported by Pretty Woman: The Musical’s international creatives: Direction and Choreography Re-creator, Rusty Mowery and Music Supervisor, Arranger and Orchestrations, Will van Dyke. Mowery, who danced in Broadway productions of Hairspray, Cats, Legally Blonde and others, worked as production dance supervisor and associate choreographer on several Broadway and touring shows and recently served as director and choreographer for the Australian premiere of Pretty Woman. Van Dyke is a Grammy nominee who was music director for Pretty Woman on Broadway and most recently served as the music director for the 25th Anniversary revival of MAMMA MIA!, also on Broadway.
Pretty Woman: The Musical is the story of the unlikely romance of the rough-edged Vivian and refined businessman Edward. It is uplifting and full of joy, combining love, laughter, nostalgia and toe-tapping songs to make each performance a fun experience down memory lane.
Of course, the show’s music, including powerful solos like “Freedom” and “I Can’t Go Back” and showstopping ensemble pieces like “Welcome to Hollywood” and “Together Forever” is another star of the piece, written by rock superstar Bryan Adams and his longtime songwriting partner Jim Vallance. Pretty Woman: The Musical’s book is by Garry Marshall and J.F. Lawton, the creators of the original Pretty Woman film; songs by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance and direction and choreography by Tony Award® winner Jerry Mitchell.
The ensemble is packed with talent. Look out for Bo Molefe (Showtime Australia’s The Michael Jackson HIStory Show, Peter Pan, Beauty and the Beast); Bradley Smith (MAMMA MIA!, Beauty and the Beast, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat); Stuart Brown (We Will Rock You, MAMMA MIA!, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) and Bella Smith (Meatloaf: The Rebel Ride, Once Upon A Time); Sandi Dlangalala (Hlakanyana TheMusical, My Fair Lady, Peter Pan); Dylan Du Plessis (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Adventures in Pantoland, Beauty and the Beast), Liyabuya Gongo (Thirst, Workers Chant, Swan Lake); Michelle Juncker (Noises Off, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Beyond); Virtuous Kandemiri (The Buddy Holly Story, 1999: The Ultimate Prince Experience, The Jungle Book); Yethu Kibi (Heathers, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Pippin); James Mc Phail (A Chorus Line, Fiddler on the Roof, Love! Valour! Compassion!); Danny Meaker (Hamlet, Othello, Alice in Wonderland); Chichi Nwoha (Cinderella Jr, Sarafina!, Chicago The Musical); Jordan Rogers (Beauty and the Beast, Pinocchio); Lesego van Niekerk (African Footprint, West Side Story, CHICAGO the Musical); Gugu Dhlamini (Jack and The Beanstalk, Alice in Wonderland, Disney’s The Magic Box), Yahto Kraft (Meat Loaf: The Rebel Ride, The Addams Family: The Musical, Malo and The Moon Maiden); Jonathan Raath (West Side Story, Matilda The Musical, CHICAGO The Musical) and Ashley Scott (The Sound of Music, Disney’s The Magic Box, CHICAGO The Musical).
The over 50 all-South African company includes the 24-member cast, 6-piece band, crew and creative team. Pretty Woman: The Musical is produced by Showtime Management in association with Crossroads Live North America. The combined South African and international creative team includes Rusty Mowery (Associate Director and Associate Choreographer) and Will van Dyke (Musical Supervisor) from New York, working with South African’s Resident Director and Choreographer, Darren Greeff supported by Assistant Resident Director, Brett De Groot and Assistant Resident Choreographer, Alexandra Girard. Musical Director, Daniel Geddes will lead the band, assisted by Assistant Musical Director, Luigia Cassaleggio. Alistair Kilbee of GearhouseSplitbeam is Pretty Woman: The Musical’s Technical Director and Peter Taylor is the Company Manager.
Pretty Woman: The Musical premiered on Broadway in 2018 and has also enjoyed acclaimed runs in the West End and tours across North America and Europe. The show and its story of the unlikely romance of the rough-edged Vivian and refined businessman Edward is uplifting and fully of joy, combining love, laughter, nostalgia and chart-topping songs to make each performance an enjoyable trip down memory lane.
Hazel Feldman of Showtime Management, says:
“We’re so proud to be able to produce the debut South African run of this wonderful modern musical, and to do so with an all-South African cast, crew and band. The story will take audiences back to the classic film, and they’ll also fall in love with the fantastic music and the incredible performances of our actors, singers and dancers.”
Pretty Woman: The Musical features a book by Garry Marshall and J. F. Lawton, the original creators of the movie; songs by Bryan Adams & Jim Vallance; and direction & choreography by Tony Award® winner Jerry Mitchell, and is produced by leading local producer and promoter, Showtime Management, in association with Crossroads Live North America.
To miss Pretty Woman: The Musical would be a big mistake. Big. Huge.
Show Information:
Cape Town: Artscape Theatre Centre
18 March to 19 April 2026
Johannesburg: Teatro, Montecasino
24 April to 31 May 2026
Performances:
Weekdays:
Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays, Fridays at 19h30
Weekends:
Saturdays 15h00 & 19h30; Sundays 14h00 & 18h00
Special Public Holiday (Cape Town):
Easter Weekend: NO shows on 3 April and 6 April 2026
Ticket Prices:
Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday 6pm: R480, R380, R280 & R250 (including VAT)
Friday, Saturday both shows & Sunday 2pm: R580, R480, R380 & R280 (including VAT)
Terrific Tuesdays:
(Only valid for Tuesday performances)
R400, R300, R250 & R200 (including VAT)
Not valid with any other discount offer.
Bookings:
On sale exclusively via Ticketmaster
Group Bookings:
20% Discount on groups of 20 and more
Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday 6pm performances only valid for the top two prices.
Contact Jill Somers office hours only, 9am to 5pm on 079 218 1658, sales@showtime.co.za
Age Restriction:
Parental guidance advised due to mature themes, language, and some sexual content.
Recommended for children 12 years and over.
Connect with Showtime Management on social media:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Website
Connect with Artscape on social media:
Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Website
Connect with Montecasino on social media:
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
