Olivia Valli – Courtesy of Broadway in Indianapolis. Used with permission.
Many fans want to see it because they saw the beloved romantic 1990 film version starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, but the show’s lead, Olivia Valli, is excited for you to experience all the bonuses the musical version provides. You’ll have your chance when “Pretty Woman: The Musical,” presented by Broadway in Indianapolis, comes the Murat Theatre at Old National Centre February 15-20.
“Pretty Woman: The Musical” stars Broadway superstar and Tony Award-nominee Adam Pascal as Edward Lewis and rising star Valli as the charming and charismatic Vivian Ward. The show’s powerhouse creative team is led by two-time Tony Award-winning director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell (“Hairspray, “Kinky Boots,” “Legally Blonde”). Brought to the stage by lead producer Paula Wagner, the musical features an original score by Grammy-winner Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance (“Summer of ’69,” “Heaven”), and a book by the movie’s legendary director Garry Marshall and screenwriter J. F. Lawton.
“Pretty Woman: The Musical” has scenic design by David Rockwell, costume design by Gregg Barnes, lighting design by Kenneth Posner and Philip S. Rosenberg, sound design by John Shivers, hair design by Josh Marquette, makeup design by Fiona Mifsud, and music supervision, arrangements and orchestrations by Will Van Dyke. Featured in the musical is Roy Orbison and Bill Dee’s international smash hit song “Oh, Pretty Woman,” which inspired one of the most beloved romantic comedy films of all time.
Several ago, I had the pleasure of chatting with Valli, who happens to be granddaughter of Frankie Valli, frontman of the Four Seasons, and even played her own grandmother, Mary Delgado, in a touring production of “Jersey Boys.” More on her famous family later. Below is an edited transcript of our Zoom conversation.
Where are you calling from?
We are currently in Greenville, South Carolina. We launched in Providence in October and have toured to ten cities.
Big or small markets, or both?
A combination of both. We are sold out everywhere.
Are they sit-down runs?
Yes, a week to three weeks.
Olivia Valli – Courtesy of Matt Murphy. Used with permission.
Do you enjoy touring?
I like touring a lot. Sometimes, it is very hard. Luckily, now we are in an incredible hotel, where we have kitchens and it’s beautiful. Greenville is lovely. I am lucky I have had the experience of touring with “Wicked” for three years. But I miss home and I miss my dog. I feel like a mom, in a way, because my child is at home. She is so cute. Her name is Siena, like the Italian city because I am Jersey Italian, right on brand (laughs). She’ll be three years old in a week. She is part Shiba Inu and part Jack Russell Terrier.
How many in the cast?
In the company, we have 52 and that includes crew. I think what’s special about launching a tour is we all quickly became family because we all saw the work that we were putting in. The mutual respect and admiration for one another were evident from the start. I think that’s what makes the show so special. When people come to see it, they say it looks like everyone is having the time of their life. That is the goal because we are, and a lot of it comes from this love we have for one another and the work we have done together.
What is it like to move from supporting roles to leading lady?
You know, it’s interesting when you think of leading the show, you just think of being the face, in the press being in the B-roll, but to lead it means you have to lead on and off stage. That means my first instinct when I got this job was “How am I going to be a leader for this company? How am I going to conduct myself in a way that is true to me, while maintaining my own boundaries.” I have been in an ensemble. I have been in supporting roles. I know what it’s like being pushed to the side because you are just in the ensemble. I decided to lead with kindness and patience and understanding for everyone. I genuinely want to support everyone. Not just for the sake of being the lead, but because it is much easier to do that than being a diva. I have always reminded myself there is no one better than anyone else in this show, no matter what your title is. We all need one another. I can’t get dressed without my dresser. We cannot have a show without sound or props or anybody in the crew, so I really wanted to lead with a community. Being a diva is so boring.
What resonates with people about the show?
There is something so special about watching two people fall in love and it really is about the phrase “Love conquers all.” And while that may seem cheesy, it should never be. It is the most powerful thing in the world…a love for people…and for what we do…a love for our community. So, I think people want to watch two people from two opposite sides of the spectrum fall in love. You want to root for someone like Vivian because while it is her Cinderella story, she is the underdog. She is treated differently because of her position, her job, her education or lack thereof, just basically brushed to the side and also because of her gender. I feel like, at one point, we have all felt like the underdog, whether it be socially, or in our jobs, or just in the world around us It’s a story that resonates with people because we all want to root for somebody who is the underdog to win.
L- R Adam Pascal & Olivia Valli – Courtesy of Matt Murphy. Used with permission.
What do your fans say about the show?
They love that it is so authentic. It is not exactly like Julia Roberts, because if you want to see Julia Roberts, see the movie, but I am going to give you the line deliveries and all of that, but I am also going to give you my Jersey flair (laughs).
What does your grandpa think of your success in the show?
He loves it and is very proud of me. I went into theatre school with zero training and he said you have to work harder than everybody else because you have to catch up. He has been supportive and so kind and so good to me. He has always been. And I like to make this clear, just in case anybody has any questions about it, I did this all by myself. He hasn’t seen the show yet, but will when we are in L.A. We’ll probably both cry afterwards.
What’s it like with working with Adam Pascal?
I was so nervous because he is Adam Pascal. In my opinion, he is the blueprint for male rockers in musical theatre. He revolutionized what rock tenors now do. And while he is a Tony nominee and Adam Pascal from “Rent,” “Aida,” “Something Rotten,” and “Memphis,” he is just Adam. He’s kind and so supportive to me and all we do is play on stage and have so much fun every day. And he is so wise and knowledgeable and generally cares about the people around him. What impressed me the most was that he could have been a jerk, but is anything but. He does not understand sometimes the magnitude of who he is and I find it charming that he is just a dad with two kids and so happy to be working. He loves the road and likes to try new food all the time. I couldn’t ask for a better partner in this show and I am lucky that its someone like Adam.
What can people expect?
I always say if you love the movie and always wanted more, come see the show because you get even more than you get in the movie.
Tickets for “Pretty Woman: The Musical” are on sale now at ticketmaster.com. The performance schedule will be Tuesday-Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday matinee at 2:00 p.m., Sunday matinee at 1:00 p.m., and Sunday at 6:30 p.m.
