Post by jo on Feb 5, 2015 20:38:04 GMT -5
BREAKING NEWS!!
nypost.com/2015/02/05/hugh-jackman-reveals-his-next-broadway-plans/
Exclusive
Hugh Jackman reveals his next Broadway plans
By Michael Riedel
February 5, 2015 | 8:30pm
Hugh Jackman (left, with Laura Donnelly) is exiting Broadway when "The River" closes, but he's already planning his return in a one-man show that will highlight his dancing feet.
Photo: AP Photo/Boneau/Bryan-Brown, Richard Termine
Hugh Jackman bids farewell to Broadway on Sunday, wrapping up his understated turn in Jez Butterworth’s mysterious play “The River” at Circle-in-the-Square.
But fret not, theater owners, who make a pile whenever Jackman’s in residence. He’s a Broadway baby down to his tap shoes (or, in the case of “The River,” his waders). He’s already planning his next stage venture — a new one-man show guaranteed to turn Broadway into the happiest place on the planet.
Jackman smashed box offices records in 2011 at the Broadhurst Theatre in “Hugh Jackman Back on Broadway.” It was an infectious evening of song, dance, jokes and a little Peter Allen in a gold lamé pantsuit (a nod to “The Boy From Oz,” the musical that made Jackman a star).
The new show is going to emphasize dance.
“Hugh Jackman: Dancing Back to Broadway,” shall we call it?
“I want to do something that’s going to challenge me in a different way,” he tells me. “And, as a 46-year-old guy, I realize there are limited years left for the kind of dancing I want to do, to push myself as far as I can go.”
Jackman’s working with Warren Carlyle, who staged “Back on Broadway.” The two men met on a revival of “Oklahoma!” in London in 1988. Jackman played Curly, Carlyle assisted choreographer Susan Stroman.
In a way, that’s where the idea for the new show was planted.
A chorus boy in the show had a dance solo that ended in a split. As a prank at the final matinee Jackman thought he’d tap the guy on shoulder, tell him to “sit this one out, mate,” and do the split himself. He told Carlyle about his idea early in the run of the show.
“Fine,” said Carlyle. “Then you’ll need to rehearse with me for three months.”
“Warren got me to a level of I didn’t think possible,” says Jackman. “And I’ll never forget the look on the guy’s face when I did his split. I want to do that eight times a week in a show.”
Jackman’s worked out a nice Broadway schedule. He does a light show one year, then comes back a couple of years later with a serious play like “The River” or “A Steady Rain” to show off his acting skills.
There is no pigeonholing this guy.
Hugh Jackman in his star-making turn as “The Boy From Oz” in 2003.
Photo: Joan Marcus
He leaves Broadway Sunday night having set yet another record. Jackman raised more money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS during its fall fund-raiser than anyone or any show.
Auctioning off his sweaty T-shirts after the play for $5,000 and up, he raised $550,000 of the $5.2 million total.
“I haul myself out, Michael, for a good cause,” he says. “I’ve got my patter down, we do a small set, they’ve had a few drinks, then I hit them up for the dough. I’ll do pretty much anything. Can you emphasize the ‘pretty much’?”
With a laugh, he adds: “I think I might be able to find work as an auctioneer when my career is in the toilet.”
WHEN?? WHERE??
OMG -- he told someone at the stagedoor, when asked whether he was returning to Broadway in a musical in the next few years -- and his response was " Shorter than that!!"
I can't believe his plans are as set as this
Jo
nypost.com/2015/02/05/hugh-jackman-reveals-his-next-broadway-plans/
Exclusive
Hugh Jackman reveals his next Broadway plans
By Michael Riedel
February 5, 2015 | 8:30pm
Hugh Jackman (left, with Laura Donnelly) is exiting Broadway when "The River" closes, but he's already planning his return in a one-man show that will highlight his dancing feet.
Photo: AP Photo/Boneau/Bryan-Brown, Richard Termine
Hugh Jackman bids farewell to Broadway on Sunday, wrapping up his understated turn in Jez Butterworth’s mysterious play “The River” at Circle-in-the-Square.
But fret not, theater owners, who make a pile whenever Jackman’s in residence. He’s a Broadway baby down to his tap shoes (or, in the case of “The River,” his waders). He’s already planning his next stage venture — a new one-man show guaranteed to turn Broadway into the happiest place on the planet.
Jackman smashed box offices records in 2011 at the Broadhurst Theatre in “Hugh Jackman Back on Broadway.” It was an infectious evening of song, dance, jokes and a little Peter Allen in a gold lamé pantsuit (a nod to “The Boy From Oz,” the musical that made Jackman a star).
The new show is going to emphasize dance.
“Hugh Jackman: Dancing Back to Broadway,” shall we call it?
“I want to do something that’s going to challenge me in a different way,” he tells me. “And, as a 46-year-old guy, I realize there are limited years left for the kind of dancing I want to do, to push myself as far as I can go.”
Jackman’s working with Warren Carlyle, who staged “Back on Broadway.” The two men met on a revival of “Oklahoma!” in London in 1988. Jackman played Curly, Carlyle assisted choreographer Susan Stroman.
In a way, that’s where the idea for the new show was planted.
A chorus boy in the show had a dance solo that ended in a split. As a prank at the final matinee Jackman thought he’d tap the guy on shoulder, tell him to “sit this one out, mate,” and do the split himself. He told Carlyle about his idea early in the run of the show.
“Fine,” said Carlyle. “Then you’ll need to rehearse with me for three months.”
“Warren got me to a level of I didn’t think possible,” says Jackman. “And I’ll never forget the look on the guy’s face when I did his split. I want to do that eight times a week in a show.”
Jackman’s worked out a nice Broadway schedule. He does a light show one year, then comes back a couple of years later with a serious play like “The River” or “A Steady Rain” to show off his acting skills.
There is no pigeonholing this guy.
Hugh Jackman in his star-making turn as “The Boy From Oz” in 2003.
Photo: Joan Marcus
He leaves Broadway Sunday night having set yet another record. Jackman raised more money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS during its fall fund-raiser than anyone or any show.
Auctioning off his sweaty T-shirts after the play for $5,000 and up, he raised $550,000 of the $5.2 million total.
“I haul myself out, Michael, for a good cause,” he says. “I’ve got my patter down, we do a small set, they’ve had a few drinks, then I hit them up for the dough. I’ll do pretty much anything. Can you emphasize the ‘pretty much’?”
With a laugh, he adds: “I think I might be able to find work as an auctioneer when my career is in the toilet.”
WHEN?? WHERE??
OMG -- he told someone at the stagedoor, when asked whether he was returning to Broadway in a musical in the next few years -- and his response was " Shorter than that!!"
I can't believe his plans are as set as this
Jo
