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Post by jo on Apr 20, 2014 18:51:25 GMT -5
Thanks, Valerie  When Hugh sings " The wind they call Maria...", somehow I have a faint recollection of reading that he once performed in a musical called "PAINT YOUR WAGON" when he was in high school. I am not sure if that really happened - anyone remember that faint snippet of Jackman trivia ? Jo |
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Post by njr on Apr 21, 2014 2:06:11 GMT -5
Thanks, Valerie When Hugh sings " The wind they call Maria...", somehow I have a faint recollection of reading that he once performed in a musical called "PAINT YOUR WAGON" when he was in high school. I am not sure if that really happened - anyone remember that faint snippet of Jackman trivia ? Jo Can't remember, but the song is "They Call The Wind Maria" (pronounced Mariah, as in Carey)LOL! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/They_Call_the_Wind_Mariah (spelled wrong in this link) The guy who taught me how to play guitar used to play it for me. Nancy |
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Post by jo on Apr 21, 2014 3:22:49 GMT -5
If he did, that would be a link to supposed lookalike Clint Eastwood ( although I find the similarity not too close) who was in the movie version. Re "Maria" -- the more famous one is the song dedicated to the heroine of WEST SIDE STORY who sang " I Feel Pretty"  Jo |
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Post by mamaleh on Apr 21, 2014 7:51:34 GMT -5
Actually, "M-a-r-i-a" is exactly how Alan Jay Lerner spelled "Ma-rye-uh" in "They Call the Wind Maria." Granted, people naturally want to add an "h" as a pronunciation guide, but the h-less spelling is the original and correct--albeit confusing--one.
Jo, I do remember PAINT YOUR WAGON among the shows Hugh did at Knox Grammar, including MY FAIR LADY and HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING. In early grade school, of course, he was King Arthur in CAMELOT, which I still don't see how very young children could adequately perform!
Ellen
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Post by jo on Apr 21, 2014 8:21:26 GMT -5
Thanks, Ellen - for jogging our collective memories of Hugh, the young performer. When he sang the song from Paint Your Wagon, somehow it rang a bell with me that he must have sang that before  Hey, in my fantasy theatre, Hugh would be perfect as King Arthur now As well as the Man of La Mancha! He has already played Jean Valjean, so I have only two more dream casting to fill - LOL! Jo |
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alma
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Post by alma on Apr 27, 2014 13:43:24 GMT -5
For some reason I missed this when it came out, so it's new to me. It's Hugh being interviewed in Toronto when his one-man-show had just opened. It's a great way to spend half an hour on a Sunday, but what makes it particularly interesting is that we can listen to his thoughts and plans BEFORE Back on Broadway, and how that ultimately 'worked out'. Enjoy! www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy862OBprwkAlma |
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Post by jo on Apr 27, 2014 15:59:28 GMT -5
Thanks for resurrecting that interview, Alma It was a plesaure to watch it again. I remember that one in particular because I thought the host, Jian Gomeshi, was very good at steering the interview. Hugh did a series of interviews for the Toronto show and I thought that was the best and most insightful one! *Hugh did mention at the start that he was about to do 3 films soon. At that time, BACK ON BROADWAY was not yet in the cards because THE WOLVERINE was supposed to start filming shortly. *Hugh did not mention that one of the 3 films would be the much awaited one -- maybe because the announcement for LES MISERABLES was not yet official. But at the stagedoor in Toronto was the first time he confirmed that he was going to be Valjean and sang "24601!" for the first time in public. www.youtube.com/watch?v=T98Mjv2_ts8He followed that up by admitting at the ComicCon ( he went there for Real Steel) during the same month that he was going to be in Les Miserables. *I think we were in a frenzy because he had finally confirmed that the Valjean role ( which he had spoken about during the San Francisco tryout of the one-man show -- that he was going to try his best to get the role) was going to be his! *Due to further delay in the filming of The Wolverine, a vacumm was created in his schedule and thanks to the support of the Shubert Organization, he was able to organize BACK ON BROADWAY readily. *After BOB ended its short run, came the long road to Les Mis - singing lessons, very long rehearsal period in England ( about 7-9 weeks), then the start of filming in March. *I guess he already knew at the time of the Gomeshi interview that in addition to The Wolverine and Les Miserables (which was not officially announced until about September or so), that he would also be working on Prisoners. *Back to Jian Gomeshi -- what an interesting fact that he was a musician before he became a journalist, which was the reverse career direction for Hugh -- from journalism to becoming a music man! *Hugh is very consistent with what he shares with his public. And disarmingly candid! Jo |
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alma
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Post by alma on Apr 27, 2014 20:20:40 GMT -5
Jo, thanks for the link. THAT video was new to me too! Always a joy to watch something "new" no matter how "old"... in fact, sometimes the older the better!
smiley-signs101
Alma
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Post by jo on Apr 27, 2014 20:37:58 GMT -5
In case you missed this particular interview, Alma Fast forward 5 months from the Toronto interview, here's the TV appearance on the Michael Riedel THEATRE TALK show, filmed before Christmas 20111 -- www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JeYtWEeF68*It is mostly theatre talk and how he enjoys performing on stage. *He did mention that the several delays in the filming of The Wolverine ( inferred) had disrupted his schedule...and voila -- he was on Broadway, to make up for the slack and joyous over such an opportunity! *At this point, he was on the cusp of preparing for his most grueling role ( physically, mentally, emotionally) as Jean Valjean. I hope Michael Riedel invites him again ( if the show is still on, by that time) when he comes back to Broadway in a straight play. He has never talked much about his experience with doing such kind of stage material ( except maybe when he was in A STEADY RAIN). It is usually as a triple-threat that theatre discussions with him revolve around. Jo |
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Post by jo on May 27, 2014 19:06:37 GMT -5
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Post by birchie on May 27, 2014 20:18:39 GMT -5
It's always good news when an old theater gets revitalized instead of torn down. A couple of you may be familiar with The Academy of Music theater in Northampton, MA. It's a 122 yr old historic theater. It's not only undergoing restoration but to celebrate the grand reopening in October a new play was commissioned and will be the opening show. The play is based on some material that was discovered when they started the restoration project and it's based on events surrounding the tenure of the first female manager and the uproar that "uppity" woman caused  I've contributed to both the restoration and the development of the play. It's a fascinating story if anyone wants more info or to contribute here are links for you... About the creation & production of the play...the page also includes info on the history of the theater: www.razoo.com/story/Nobody-S-GirlAbout the restoration fundraising campaign: www.academyofmusictheatre.com/go/donation-page/I'm a big fan of preserving old theaters etc. If any of you know of historic buildings running fundraising campaigns I'm always happy to make a small donation when I can. Anyway, glad to hear that the Princess of Wales has a new lease on life! Sue |
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Post by chessie on May 27, 2014 21:36:28 GMT -5
That's great news! The thought of that theater being demolished was pretty depressing. Thanks, Jo. Carol |
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Post by mamaleh on May 27, 2014 21:48:25 GMT -5
I was just about to post this good news. So glad that gorgeous theater will be spared.
Ellen
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Post by mamaleh on Jul 6, 2014 19:48:53 GMT -5
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jo
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Post by jo on Jul 6, 2014 23:50:45 GMT -5
Ellen,
LOL - I stayed at Hotel Diva on Currant ( where the theatre where Hugh performed was located across the hotel)...and walked east and west ( or did they go north and south?) many times but never noticed the concrete impressions. Thanks for sharing.
Jo
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Post by mamaleh on Nov 10, 2015 1:12:07 GMT -5
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jo
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Post by jo on Nov 10, 2015 2:27:51 GMT -5
He needs to go back to Broadway in another musical, preferably a book musical. Maybe revivals do not interest him too much, but waiting for new work that can sparkle on Broadway may be somewhat uncertain ( look at what happened to HOUDINI, despite the support of the producers - getting the right creative team is not that easy to do). Hopefully, GREATEST SHOWMAN, whose music is mostly penned by two Broadway composers with pop leanings ( Pasek and Paul) is ready to start filming after WOLVERINE 3. In which case, I wouldn't mind if he comes back in another play. I think he loves doing straight plays as much because he is first and foremost an actor ( who simply fell into singing...but loves dancing, too)!
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Post by foxie on Nov 10, 2015 7:50:46 GMT -5
4 yrs ago seems like yesterday!
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Post by mamaleh on Jun 18, 2016 21:21:13 GMT -5
A postscript to BACK ON BROADWAY in the form of a tribute, perhaps inadvertent. I'd never seen the 2015 movie TED 2 but happened to watch the beginning of it on HBO tonight. The first several minutes feature a live-animation melange of a sumptuous production number with men in tailcoats, fronted by teddy bear Ted carrying a cane, to the tune of "Steppin' Out With My Baby." At the end, Ted takes his cane and alternates swinging it to the ground on either side of him. That really reminded me of the tribute to movie musicals Hugh did in BACK ON BROADWAY. I noticed in the credits that Rob Ashford, the well-known choreographer who we know has seen Hugh perform put that sequence together, including choreography. I have a hunch where he got his inspiration. To the purists: Yes, Astaire danced with a cane to that song in EASTER PARADE. But he didn't swing the cane back and forth, nor did he dress in formal black. That's my take, and I'm sticking to it. Ellen |
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Post by jo on Jul 12, 2016 9:53:32 GMT -5
I came across the Michael Riedel THEATRE TALK interview again -- Seen today, after he has done Les Miserables and been back on Broadway in a straight play ( THE RIVER), one thinks of what happened years after, which one can relate to what he was discussing with Michael and Susan. *Re theatre pricing -- he did do something about the suggestion of Michael to make sure that theatre does not become a completely elitist entertainment and cultural immersion. He must have been in full agreement with Sonia Friedman ( who produced a number of plays with subsidized theatre in England) when the ticket pricing policy was put together for THE RIVER - hence the $35 per ticket pricing for RUSH tickets ( they did allocate a much larger amount of tickets compared to the number RUSH tickets usually available for Broadway shows) and the added bonus of the Monday Rush for the rest of the week. *He recreated the one-man show ( as he mentioned in THEATRE TALK) not just in his native Australia ( Broadway to Oz) but also in Istanbul! He did introduce a few new numbers ( including the Les Miserables section and the new song from GREATEST SHOWMAN), which he said he intended to do as the show travels with him over the years. *Les Miserables completely changed perception that he was just an action movie star. It showed off his versatility and acting chops ...and gave him his first Oscar nomination. *Re his Dad -- there were a number of references to his Dad as being " English" -- I have not fully realized that part of Hugh's upbringing must have been influenced by his Dad's English cultural traits! In a sense, being Leopold was probably not completely strange for Hugh *The film project that was being postponed a number of times which allowed the Broadway slot for the one-man show was The Wolverine. It actually got filmed not afer BOB but after he completed LES MISERABLES. Now he is filming his last movie as Wolverine  *He does love the theatre -- he came back with a completely different kind of material -- an enigmatic and reflective work which had audiences nodding their heads in full appreciation as well as scratching their heads in a state of perplexity. Yet Hugh said that he fell in love with the material and had enjoyed bringing it to a New York audience. He also learned how to gut and cook fish Jo |
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alma
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Post by alma on Mar 26, 2017 13:12:19 GMT -5
Oh, the kicks you get from being part of this Forum!
I just read a message from SARATOGA, whom I met when we were both doing the pre-show Stagedoor thing during Back on Broadway.
Nice to hear from you, Deb!!! <hug>
Alma
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Post by mamaleh on Apr 7, 2017 7:26:42 GMT -5
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jo
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Post by jo on Apr 7, 2017 9:01:25 GMT -5
It means Wolverine is famous worldwide and is a superhero as far as young boys are concerned It was meant as a joke Jo |
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Post by jo on Mar 22, 2018 21:00:44 GMT -5
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Post by mamaleh on Mar 23, 2018 11:49:43 GMT -5
She seems more interested in dramatic TV these days than singing & dancing on Broadway. I guess you can't blame performers for taking advantage of better offers. But I do hope she hasn't left her musical talents entirely in the past.
Ellen
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