Beauty and the Beast

[njr]

^ Could he BE any cuter?! 😍🥰❤️

[jo]

Part of BygoneBroadway Instagram photo gallery --

http://instagram.com/p/CITf2Ptj7qg

[jo]

Retelling how it all started on stage for Hugh Jackman --

Hugh Jackman in Beauty and the Beast (1996)
September 9, 201290's Flashback, Aussie icons, Movies
Variety Today 1996


April wedding for mischievous Gaston - Hugh Jackman
(VT- 1996)

AUSTRALIA's premiere production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast has done more than delight audiences with its magic and pure entertainment appeal. It has also `discovered' a dynamic new talent in 27-year-old Hugh Jackman who is setting hearts a-fluttering in every performance.

Hugh himself is taking it all in his stride. It seems everything he does in life is an exciting challenge and as a graduate from the Western Australian Academy of performing Arts in 1994, he wasn't expecting a major role to come his way for quite some time.

"When I returned to Sydney from Perth, I managed to get a role in an ABC series, Corelli, playing a criminal - an armed robber with tattoo, etc," said Hugh. "I thought my career would take some time to get off the ground. I was ready to struggle for work - you know, take time to be `discovered', and it was my plan to get into a professional show like Beauty and the Beast within two years."

But, instead, Hugh received a call from his agent telling him she had put him up for the role of `Gaston' in Beauty and the Beast. "I was such a fresh graduate, but I didn't feel the pressure of the audition because I didn't think I had a chance of getting the role. Gaston is rather arrogant, yet comical at the same time, so I played it to the fullest in my audition - you have to love to hate him."

Hugh never dreamt that just a few months after graduating from the academy, he would be playing his first long-term major role. "The longest season I had before that was seven days," he said.

As Gaston, who is determined to wed sweet Belle (Rachael Beck), Hugh produces an energetic performance both physically and vocally. "Gaston is such an emotional character and is physically demanding. I often feel like Peter Garrett from Midnight Oil ... dripping sweat throughout each performance."


Together with his understudy, Scott Irwan, Hugh trains at the gym five times a week as well as two or three sessions with a personal trainer to keep in shape. But there are no complaints. "I am living my boyhood dream as a member of the Beauty and the Beast cast. I just love it and have fun on stage in every show," the handsome young actor said. "I love being cheeky and Gaston is a great fun part."


This month, Hugh will wed the love of his life, actress Deborra-Lee Furness, currently being seen in the television series, Fire. As for a honeymoon, that may have to wait until later in the year when Gaston finally gets a break from pursuing the stage love of his life, Belle.

[jo]

[ruby]

Jul 27, 2022 14:55:54 GMT -5 jo said:

I thought this story was amazing serendipity when Hugh posted it. But my friend was just speaking to another NYC bartender pal of ours and he relayed that at work the other day he heard a distinctive accent and his ears perked up ( we’ve trained him over the years and HJ does frequent his current watering hole) and it turned out to be this beastly gentleman. He told him the story of seeing a friend from old theatre days, etc. Insert Small World cliché!

[njr]

Who is the other man and what is his connection to Beauty and the Beast?

[ruby]

Jul 28, 2022 16:04:53 GMT -5 njr said:

Who is the other man and what is his connection to Beauty and the Beast?

Hugh’s caption

Had the best catch up with
Michael Cormick…aka the
Beast, when I was Gaston! I
literally was saying to a friend
last week how I missed him and
wanted to catch up and next day
Iran into him on the streets of
NYC!! Whaaaaaat? Thanks
universe for listening!!

[njr]

Jul 28, 2022 19:10:09 GMT -5 ruby said:

Jul 28, 2022 16:04:53 GMT -5 njr said:

Who is the other man and what is his connection to Beauty and the Beast?

Hugh’s caption

Had the best catch up with
Michael Cormick…aka the
Beast, when I was Gaston! I
literally was saying to a friend
last week how I missed him and
wanted to catch up and next day
Iran into him on the streets of
NYC!! Whaaaaaat? Thanks
universe for listening!!

Thanks Ruby! (Sorry, I realize now I should have clicked on the pic!)

[jo]

[jo]

Time Trip
@timetriping
·
Apr 25
Hugh Jackman in his career-making role as Gaston in Disney's "Beauty and the Beast," 1996

JoAB
@joab46466753

His career-defining role is that of Wolverine. B&TBeast was 1st pro job offer after graduating a degree in dramatic theatre. But over the years, HJ has shown his wide range in most any genre in movies as well as a strong presence on Broadway. Only an Oscar short towards an EGOT.



Douglas
@grantwa31218967
No wonder why Wolverine hates The Beast



JoAB
@joab46466753

LOL!

He was referring to Beast among the XMen ( Kelsey Grammer)

[jo]