Hugh Jackman in THE RIVER on Broadway

[jo]

Hugh Jackman ‏@realhughjackman · 4h4 hours ago
Take me to the river ....@theriverplay

http://instagram.com/p/xZ8Z5ZihH2

Chris Shuttlesworth ‏@chrisshut · 52m52 minutes ago
@realhughjackman @theriverplay Let's see you gut and cook that one

Ha - Wolverine might get mad and use his many hand-knives instead

[jo]

This was from a previous interview of Laura Donnelly, but her thoughts on the play are very insightful --

“When I first read The River, I had theories on what it was about, but once we got into rehearsal, I realized it’s much simpler: It’s about how human beings try to connect. The play holds a mirror up to the audience, and they take from it what’s relevant to their lives.”

[jo]

www.facebook.com/brenebrown

Brené Brown

January 9 at 6:30am · Edited ·
.

If you're going to be in NYC next week, join me for a special night on Broadway! THE RIVER is a beautiful play about relationships and vulnerability written by Jez Butterworth, directed by Ian Rickson, and starring Hugh Jackman.

I'm going to do a Post-Show talk back with the cast, director, and writer after the January 13th performance. There are 100 specially priced seats available.Call 212-947-8844 and use code TRTLK113.

Lucky ones who already have tickets for the show on Tuesday!


Jo

[jo]

dujour.com/culture/laura-donnelly-the-river-outlander-interview/?utm_campaign=dujour&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social

The Lady in The River


Laura Donnelly on Outlander, the perks of stardom and her Broadway debut opposite Hugh Jackman


When The River came across the pond, most of the London production of playwright Jez Butterworth’s latest work—including leading man Dominic West—was left behind. That wasn’t the case for Laura Donnelly. The Irish-born actress has the distinction of being the only player to appear in the show in London and on Broadway, and audiences in both places are better for it.

Here, Donnelly, who has also appeared on The Fall and stars in the hit series Outlander, discusses taking her role on the road, working alongside Hugh Jackman and the special treatment that comes with being a Broadway star.

You appeared in both the London and New York productions of The River, but it wasn’t an easy journey.

It was something that always seemed to be ahead of me and not graspable, so I stressed for a couple of years bringing it over here. It began whenever I auditioned for the play in London, and I immediately got along really well with Anne, our director, and I loved every minute of doing the show over there. It was fantastic and when we finished that—we just did a three-week run at the Royal Court and I guess the plan—the plan was always to bring it somewhere else. There was always chat of that, but I certainly wasn’t turning down jobs to hold off for something that wasn’t happening yet. Then Hugh came and said he wanted to do it and it just made sense to bring it to Broadway, and then, because Hugh had casting approval, I knew I was going to have to re-audition for my part, and audition for him, and read with him, which of course was really nerve-racking.

Did you change what you’d previously done for him?

What I did was revisit it before I went in. I very briefly flipped through the text before and that was it. I just thought I’ve had all the work that I’ve done behind me—it’s in there somewhere—and if I just go in myself and just let things come in fresh, then it will hopefully feel that way for me. I think that did the trick.

How has performing it on Broadway been different than the first incarnation?

Well, for a start, we have a much bigger audience. We only played to about 85 people a night at the Royal Court, so I thought that that might have an effect on the intimacy of the play because it is a very small, intimate piece; a lot of people have described it as a piece of chamber music. I was curious how that might translate to a bigger audience, but what that has done is make it all the more intimate because of the configuration of the space.

Your run on Broadway ends the first week of February. Is it off to another city with the show then?

You know, I’d absolutely love to bring it back home again, do it back in the U.K., because so many people didn’t get to see it there. That would be something I’d be keen to do, but I also have episodes of Outlander. That comes back in April and will be running through the spring.

That’s a nice balance—something theatrical and dramatic and something with a sci-fi twist.

Outlander is so vastly different from what I’m doing right now, and that’s the kind of career I’ve always wanted. It’s the career I’ve always worked toward. I really want variation more than anything, and I’ve always liked changing between film, TV and theater. I’ve been quite lucky and have managed to do some really, really different projects, so the way it’s gone for me is perfect.

With only a few weeks left for The River, are you getting the full Broadway experience?

Definitely! And I love it. It feels like it really is the best version of what I could have because through Hugh we’re getting to meet a lot of interesting people who are coming to see the show and being invited to different events. The interest in the show has just been phenomenal, and there are things like going across to The Palm after for one of their famous martinis or going to Bar Centrale. I’m there a lot after work.

Those are tough places to get into. Is it easier when you’re in a show?

It is, yes. They’re very lovely to you. They’ll give you their number and then you can phone them to book a table. I think if you go at the start of the week it’s a lot better. From Wednesday on, it gets rather busy.


WRITTEN BY Adam Rathe

[jo]

Kim DelMonico ‏@kimdelmonico · 1h1 hour ago
Absolutely loved "The River" with @realhughjackman and @brenebrown speaking afterward! ❤️

Shelli Cline ‏@shellilynncline · 59s59 seconds ago
Chatting with Brene Brown and Hugh Jackman after The River!

http://instagram.com/p/x0e5iHxJaE

RJThompson ‏@rjthomps · 13m13 minutes ago
Great talkback tonight discussing @theriverplay w @brenebrown and @realhughjackman & cast, writer #jezbutterworth and director #ianrickson

[jo]

Frances Viviana ‏@franvram12 · 19m19 minutes ago
So yeah, next week Hugh Jackman doing a seminar at school. No big deal. *Dies*

Frances Viviana
@franvram12

Singer, actress & dancer (in the making). CITSTS


CITSTS must be Circle in the Square Theatre School.

[mamaleh]

Ian Rickson gave a little plug to Cush Jumbo's upcoming Josephine Baker piece, which she also put together. Would have liked to hear the audience's nitty-gritty questions about the play answered, but the tenor of the talkback was more about overall themes: those of living in the moment, and the "tragedy" (as per Brown) of The Man's inability to connect with fellow human beings. Interesting if limited discussion.

Ellen

[jo]

Thanks, Ellen.

and the "tragedy" (as per Brown) of The Man's inability to connect with fellow human beings

The Man was unable to connect reality with his dreams. He seems to be bound for a life in solitude. Sad, but it probably happens to some in real life


Jo

[foxie]

Wanted to go so much could have tickets but couldn't go darn it

[jo]

Hugh Jackman @realhughjackman
· 1h 1 hour ago
Can not believe there's only 3 weeks more. What an awesome time we have had. Savoring every moment!…

http://instagram.com/p/x_vxEmihKv

[jo]

Brings back memories -- wish I could teleport to NYC

[jo]

Circle in the Square has a related theatre school. Hugh was supposed to have a talk/seminar for students of the school.

Rachel Raeon ‏@ohheyyitsrach · 1h1 hour ago
Thanks so much @realhughjackman for talking with @circlebroadway students today ! We loved chatting with you today

Hope they share some photos and what the discussion was all about.

Jo

[jo]

Interesting comments on the appeal of Hugh Jackman to the theatre crowd, the public in general.

The comments were related to an article which says that Broadway is losing the middle ground ( in terms of audiences) because of the high cost of seeing a show.

www.talkinbroadway.com/allthatchat/d.php?id=2257645

Please follow through the succeeding posts.


I think they are forgetting that Hugh has a very large fanbase -- one would think that only more mature adults would come and see The River. Not so, based on all those stagedoor photos and tweets. I also think that part of the audience would come from overseas tourists ( like moi ) who know of Hugh's movie fame and would be interested to see him in person (although in my case, I had first "met" Hugh on stage in Oklahoma! before I ever knew he was in the movies).

Also, the democratized pricing ( the access tickets and rush policies and the riverbank seating) helped to attract a broader audience. I think if there had been more public discussions about the play by the creative team and the cast, and not phrased in ambiguous terms, people's expectations about the play would have been more grounded that it is a different kind of play.

Jo

[foxie]

Well I was shocked seeing the play all I heard was stuff on here about mystery and secrets etc. the play is funny,fun,mysterious wonderful!

[jo]

[jo]

Q&A with Cush Jumbo who will segue into an Off-Broadway self-written show on Josephine Baker --


www.broadwaybox.com/daily-scoop/the-rivers-cush-jumbo-talks-jackman-josephine-baker-fish/

4. What would be your desert island Hugh Jackman film?

Les Miz, I could watch it when I was feeling sorry for myself!

[jo]

The River Broadway retweeted


Laura Donnelly @donnellylaura1
· Jan 23
Cannot believe there are only 20 performances of @theriverplay left! Too few!

Even less by today!


Jo

[jo]

Posted a few minutes ago --

Jingjo ‏@j1ngj0 · 11m11 minutes ago
With @realhughjackman at #circleinthesquare before his amazing show #theriver !! Break a leg!!!!

http://instagram.com/p/yQX85vKtW4

[jo]

Curtain call! Many of us will be missing this


Jo

[jo]

Anthony Guidarelli ‏@anthonycreates · Jan 20  Manhattan, NY
Set of The River by Jez Butterworth. Hugh Jackman, Laura Donnelly, Cush Jumbo #nyc #theater…

http://instagram.com/p/yGV8kyybC0

In the comments section of the instagram --

carvivore
So cool. How was it?


anthonycreates
@carvivore incredible performances all around. Really compelling play and great production. Was very cool to see Jackman in such a small space. You should check it out before it finishes the run!



anthonycreates
And Bradley Cooper was sitting in the row in front of us, so that was neat

Anybody see that performance ? January 20 is a Tuesday - doesn't Bradley Cooper have a performance in THE ELEPHANT MAN on that day?

Jo

[mamaleh]

I believe ELEPHANT MAN does 2 shows on Sundays, so they're dark on Tuesdays.

Ellen

[jo]

I guess Bradley was checking the competition

Jo

[jo]

A lot of people finding that lobby poster photo fascinating

Vicki Hopton ‏@vickihopton · 2h2 hours ago  Manhattan, NY
Thanks for the hair wash @realhughjackman ! You were amazing in #theriver



 Hugh Jackman

[jo]

The set of THE RIVER leaves such a distinct impression of solitude and air of intimacy with its cabin lodge atmosphere that it may have inspired other settings in a cosmopolitan area like NYC!

www.wsj.com/articles/chelsea-rooftop-offers-toasty-winter-getaway-1422238486

Chelsea Rooftop Offers Toasty Winter Getaway

By
Marshall Heyman

Jan. 25, 2015 9:14 p.m. ET


Just when you thought the McKittrick Hotel on West 27th Street, the home of the immersive theater piece “Sleep No More,” didn’t have any new tricks up its sleeve, it goes ahead and surprises you again.

This month sees the opening of the newest space-within-the-space. The Lodge is the winter incarnation of Gallow Green, the outdoor garden that, during the summer months, has become one of the city’s best rooftop bars.

The outdoor smoking patio features a fire pit and view of Manhattan.



.
Now Gallow Green is almost unrecognizable. In its place is a cozy chalet, surrounded by pine trees, the latest venue where “Sleep No More” ticket holders, diners at the McKittrick Hotel’s restaurant, the Heath, and more important, in-the-know New Yorkers can settle in for a cocktail.

The Lodge was actually envisioned as a “bothy,” a structure usually found in the mountains of Scotland and used by hikers who are passing through.

“The point is it feels like it’s been here forever,” said Jonathan Hochwald, one of the producers of “Sleep No More.”

Besides the main lodge, there is a tiny old boathouse where guests can relax on a small canoe as well as an outdoor area with blankets and a fire pit.

The bothy itself—which actually evokes the cabin Hugh Jackman's character uses in the Broadway play “The River”—features various pockets for lounging, ...



the bedroom inside the lodge


“People really make themselves at home. It’s like being immersed in another timeless environment,” explained Mr. Hochwald. “It’s the dream country house but you don’t even have to really go anywhere outside the city.”

More...

[jo]

I missed this tweet and photo --

Victoria Farris ‏@vfarris27 · Jan 14
Saw The River last night followed by a talk back w writer, director, actors (Hugh Jackman!) & @brenebrown! So great! pic.twitter.com/wKmfjklDH4

What's Ian Rickson doing on the stage floor