What If ? Wish list for HJ stage roles

[jo]

Quite a few fans who have seen EDDIE THE EAGLE and followed the promo tour worldwide ... and who have seen Taron show off his musical theatre chops in the Jonathan Ross Show ... are now thinking of casting them again, probably in another movie together.


But I have just thought of an excellent pairing for Broadway!


How about Man of La Mancha?


Hugh could be Don Quixote and Taron could be Sancho! It is a revival, but it is an excellent dramatic role for Hugh. And he gets to sing some great songs ( including The Impossible Dream).


There have been other suggestions for a movie musical from fans -- Guys and Dolls?? That could also work on stage!



Of course Hugh will have to work first on his new movie musical ( GREATEST SHOWMAN ON EARTH) after WOLVERINE 3, where it seems his male co-star might be Zac Efron ( from High School Musical and Hairspray).


Do you have other wishful thoughts?


Jo

[jo]

This is reverse news, but there is buzz that a musicalized version of ROMAN HOLIDAY is coming to Broadway soon?

The movie ROMAN HOLIDAY is a favorite of mine and while it is not likely going to happen, I would like Hugh to reprise the role of Gregory Peck ( they do look similar, at times) and maybe team up with Keira Knightley?

If not a stage musical adaptation, how about a film remake with Hugh and Keira


Jo

[klenotka]

I don´t care what it is, as long as he makes it in London or somewhere in Europe

[jo]

Didn't you have a chance to see him in Turkey? Although he did have to come back for the rest of the concert series (Back on Broadway in Istanbul) because it was interrupted by a serious health issue ( vocal hemorrhage).

I think this year, his schedule will be filled with film-making( Wolverine 3 and Greatest Showman) -- maybe next year, there might be some opportunities for the stage?


Jo

[klenotka]

Unfortunately no. It is not as close to Prague as it may seem and it was announced a bit late for me to get tickets, and days off at work. I think with London, it would be possible to get tickets in the usual places (websites) and it is certainly easier for me to get to (even with just a weekend trip). And he was not in Europe since Oklahoma I know it sounds selfish but reading comments from people who have seen him hundred times on Broadway is a bit frustrating.
However, I think fans in Australia are probably frustrated even more, because he got there last year the first time after The Boy from Oz tour. And he is Australian, after all, returning home regularly

[jo]

He has mentioned wanting to take the one-man show to London ( as early as when he was being cast for Les Miserables) and it sounded likely because the producer is Robert Fox who is British. Maybe it will find its spot sometime in the future?

I guess all of us fans, especially of his musical theatre talent, will have to wait until GREATEST SHOWMAN ON EARTH is released. Hopefully, its schedule of filming after WOLVERINE 3 happens so it can be ready for its Christmas Day release in 2017. It seems, as of now, that Zac Efron may be his co-star and hopefully other names will be cast for the female support leads ( his wife and soprano Jenny Lind). There seems to be progress here as the photo of the reading on Broadway earlier this year was posted. We have also seen an unofficial video clip of him performing THIS IS ME ( featured in Broadway to Oz) which is one of the anthemic songs in the movie ( albeit it is not to be sung by Barnum, but by one of the circus characters...even if I hope Barnum reprises the song in some form in the movie).

Jo

[klenotka]

I would prefer him doing a regular show, a musical or a play, than just to take his one man show to the stage for a few nights. His show is definitely easier to move around and prepare anywhere but with him being in one place for two or three months, it would give a chance to us, who have no chance to catch him on Broadway, to get a ticket and make a schedule around it. I am not much of a planning type, but when it comes to going abroad, I prefer to have at least some plan then just go, order tickets, yell "tickets!" and then go ask my boss if she gives me a few days off

[jo]

Do you remember when he was first offered the co-star role in the play A STEADY RAIN? He turned it down because the producers ( also known as the James Bond franchise producers) and probably Daniel Craig wanted to stage it in London, presumably for a few months. He only agreed to do it later when the play's staging was moved to Broadway. His main reason was his family -- he did not want to stay away that long from his family. Unlike movie filming in Europe/England where he can take extended weekend breaks to fly back to NYC every now and then, being in a play will not allow that as he can only take the one-day break for theatrical actors.

A musical to make money, if it is new, will need to be staged for more than a few months. Sometimes, it can take at least a year or even more for a new musical to break even. Hugh has always stated his preference for new work, although he may occasionally favor revivals ( He did a reading of ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY with K. Chenoweth) and even said he might consider replacing the lead in FUN HOME. But he has not said anything about doing revivals of straight plays.

So, maybe the best bet would be his one-man show which he can stage in a venue like The Royal Albert Hall ( sits between 4500-5000) for maybe two weeks or so. The Australian venues were averaging at 10,000 or more. That will assure the event's profitability.

Jo

[klenotka]

I remember that, yes.

His kids are a bit older now so he could make it. Also, he has a family in England so why not use it as a visit at his mom´s family?
We´ll see. He won´t be doing any theater in a while anyway since his filming schedule seems to be (thanksfully) full

[JH4HJ]

Rob Reiner Says He Still Wants to See a Princess Bride Stage Musical

Playbill article here

I love Mandy Patinkin. Fabulous voice! But let's be honest, he's too old for this role now.



Yup, I could see Hugh doing this one! (The dueling scene would be fabulous!)

[mamaleh]

Yes, I definitely could see Hugh as Inigo, too.

Some years ago I saw several Mandy concerts. Towards the end of every one, he'd sigh, face the audience and say "I know you've been waiting for it, so here it is:" Then he'd turn to his side, pretend to brandish a sword and utter that immortal "My name is..." line. The audience would explode in cheers and thunderous applause every time.

Ellen

[mamaleh]

And speaking of Mandy roles, I read today that Jake Gyllenhaal will do a one-night-only concert version of SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE to benefit City Center. Jake was fine in CC's LITTLE SHOP mini-revival, but I've long wished HJ would do a production. (We already know he's great at growing the necessary beard, LOL.) He's a better fit, I think, for Georges Seurat, anyway.

I'm sure he would sell the place out just as quickly as JG. Oh, well.

Ellen

[jo]

This is not a theatre fan wish list, but a producer's wish to cast Hugh Jackman in a forthcoming musical adaptation of the classic film A FACE IN THE CROWD --

nypost.com/2016/06/14/elvis-costello-wants-hugh-jackman-to-star-in-a-face-in-the-crowd-revival/

Elvis Costello wants Hugh Jackman to star in ‘A Face in the Crowd’ revival


By Michael Riedel

June 14, 2016 | 8:11pm


Modal Trigger Elvis Costello wants Hugh Jackman to star in ‘A Face in the Crowd’ revival
Andy Griffith in the 1957 film 'A Face in the Crowd.'



Elvis Costello was in town last weekend for a reading of his musical adaptation of Elia Kazan’s great movie “A Face in the Crowd.”

This show has been flying under the radar for a while, but Costello’s lately been slipping a few of the songs into his concerts. Critics’ darling Sarah Ruhl (“Dead Man’s Cell Phone”) is doing the book, which a source tells me “needs more work.”

“A Face in the Crowd” is in the early stages, but Costello and his backers have a leading man in mind: Hugh Jackman.

Who doesn’t want Hugh? But good luck getting him, Elvis. The most bankable star in musical theater today, he’s fielding, oh, about a dozen offers an hour.

“A Face in the Crowd” ranks with “Sweet Smell of Success” and “Network” as one of the best movies ever produced about the power of the media. Let me also put in a good word for “Deadline — U.S.A.” with Humphrey Bogart. Not as famous as the others, but worth seeking out.

Released in 1957, “A Face in the Crowd” stars Andy Griffith as Lonesome Rhodes, a guitar-strumming drifter who winds up with his own radio show in a small market in Arkansas. He comes to the attention of some big shots in New York, and pretty soon he’s a nationwide television sensation, reaching every home in America with his plain-spoken wisdom. He can even swing presidential elections. Why, he may even run for president himself. Naturally, the power goes to his head, and he becomes a monster who deserves his comeuppance.

The inspiration for Lonesome Rhodes was radio and television personality Arthur Godfrey, who was gentle on air but a tyrant backstage. But you don’t have to be the sharpest knife in the drawer to see a parallel with certain media and political personalities today.

This isn’t the first musical adaptation of “A Face in the Crowd.” Walter Bobbie, who directed the revival of “Chicago” and the Tony-nominated “Bright Star,” worked on one years ago that, if memory serves, had a score by Charles Strouse and lyricist Lee Adams. A veteran agent remembers Bobbie’s version being “half-good” — but nothing came of it.

Costello, sources say, has always loved the movie and acquired the rights to it a few years ago. Among the songs he’s written for it so far are “Blood and Hot Sauce,” “Burn the Paper Down to Ash” and “Vitajex.”

Costello was inducted Thursday night into the Songwriters Hall of Fame at the Marriott Marquis, where he performed his old standby, “Alison.” Though he mentioned “A Face in the Crowd” in passing, he seemed excited about the project and optimistic about the reading.

It sounds like musical theatre combined with drama!

Maybe now that people know Hugh will no longer be tied up with Wolverine commitments in the future, they are more optimistic about asking him about future projects?

But given that Hugh is likely going to be filming GREATEST SHOWMAN ON EARTH fairly soon ( to catch the December 25, 2017 release date), will he even consider another dramatic musical soon? After almost 7 years waiting for HOUDINI to evolve as a full-fledged Broadway musical, he had to uncommit himself from the role. Would he want to commit himself to another future project and to a long run ( it takes a stage musical a much longer period to break even)?

Jo

[mamaleh]

Yes, all the news indicates that the show is still in the "early stages." That draws a big uh-oh for me. I'm sure HJ doesn't want to tie himself up for a protracted period the way he did with HOUDINI. Also, Jo, have you ever seen the movie A FACE IN THE CROWD? It's about a relatively young hillbilly singer from the backwoods. Right off the bat I see a couple of reasons why HJ might want to bypass this. The movie starred Andy Griffith, who was terrific as the outwardly sweet, friendly good ol' boy but inwardly a despicable human being. But we'll see.

Ellen

[jo]

I cannot remember anymore if I had seen it...but I do remember Andy Griffith and the persona he presented in his roles. I agree with you that Hugh may not want to portray a young hillbilly singer who eventually turned into the exact opposite of his outwardly sweet personality. For one, they would have to de-age the actor for the first part ( can only be done with XMen movies...but not for Wolverine ).

I think the producers and composers only wanted to draw attention to their project by saying that their target stage actor for the role is Hugh Jackman! They probably have not even approached him. Free publicity *rolleyes*

Jo