Ben Hall to join Samantha Jade in cast of PRETTY WOMAN

Star of stage and screen Ben Hall will be joining Samantha Jade in the cast of the upcoming Broadway and West End smash hit musical PRETTY WOMAN: The Musical, which makes its debut at QPAC Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) in Brisbane in October before debuting at Theatre Royal Sydney from November.

Based on the iconic film, Ben will play the role of Edward Lewis, famously played by Richard Gere and is joining Samantha Jade, who will play the role made famous across the globe by the much-loved Julia Roberts.

“Ben certainly has the charm, charisma and talent to step into the role that made Richard Gere so recognisable around the world. When we first heard him sing at the auditions though, we knew that Australian audiences would instantly be besotted by him,” said Producer Suzanne Jones of JONES Theatrical Group.

Born and raised in Perth, Ben is best known for his series regular role as Ned Willis on Neighbours and his leading role in the Robbie Williams biopic Better Man, directed by Michael Gracey. He is a graduate of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and most recently toured on stage as Sam Phillips in Elvis: A Musical Revolution. His other musical theatre credits include Boublil & Schönberg’s Les Misérables and the beloved Australian production Only Heaven Knows.

On screen, Ben has appeared in acclaimed dramas including the role of Mark Waugh in Warnie, Alan Fitzgerald in Love Child and Phillip ‘Pin’ Brock in Brock, as well as roles in Total Control (Season 3), ANZAC Girls and Devil’s Playgroundalongside Toni Collette. Ben will also feature in the upcoming Liam Neeson film, The Mongoose.

Ben joins Samantha Jade in leading the cast of the highly anticipated production of PRETTY WOMAN: The Musical.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.
Book your tickets for a trip to Rodeo Drive and get ready for a big night out. Big. Huge!

Further casting announcements will be made in the coming weeks.