Reading of Book chapter about Hugh in THE BOY FROM OZ

[albert]

Hello!  I'm Albert Poland.  I was honored to be the General Manager of the Broadway production of THE BOY FROM OZ starring Hugh in his historic Tony Award winning role as Peter Allen. 

THE PLAYERS CLUB, as part of their TONY WEEK CELEBRATION, have invited me to do a sneak preview reading from STAGES, my forthcoming theater memoir on June 8 at 7PM. I’m planning to include excerpts from chapters about the early days of The Judy Garland Fan Club, the original Off Broadway production of "Little Shop of Horrors" and Hugh Jackman’s Tony winning performance in "The Boy From Oz."

Open to the public. Admission is free but reservations are suggested. Email your request to [e-mail] Mark it Re: Albert Poland. The Players Club is located at 16 Grammercy Park South, Manhattan.  Would love to see you there.  - Albert

[jo]

Hi Albert

I do remember your name as part of the historic run of THE BOY FROM OZ on Broadway! I was a fan of the show ( and saw it for the first time in November 2003, even if I had earlier been an original member of the official TBFO Board run by David.  So, I was part of the group which happily monitored how the show took shape and eventually opened on Broadway... I did see the show 13 times ( in 3 trips to NYC), including the pandemonium-like closing show ( such energy and joy!). I was also able to take advantage of the BC/EFA photo opportunity early in the run, so I was wondering if theatre fans ran into you backstage as we waited for our cue to be introduced by Mark Caine to Hugh and have those few moments onstage after the show?

I would love to be there for your reading but since I do not live in NYC ( I live halfway across the world), it would not be possible for me to join the group. But will your theatre memoir STAGES be available in outlets like AMAZON.com or other book outlets that will accept international orders?

Thanks and wishing you success for the reading and the launching of the memoir!

Jo

[mamaleh]

Hello, Mr. Poland--

Like Jo above, I am a holdover from David's original Not the Fans Next Door/Ozalot fan board, where members posted reports on the performances we'd seen of THE BOY FROM OZ. I have such fond memories of the two dozen performances --including the fabled Actors Fund and final shows--I was privileged to see during that magical season, beginning in the fall of 2003. Each visit to the Imperial was an experience. Besides being ardent fans of Hugh Jackman, many of us looked forward to chatting not only with Hugh at the stage door but with the one-and-only (sadly, late) Kevin Kennedy. What a memorable character! I also enjoyed exchanging pleasantries with Hugh's dresser Mark and the security people, who did a great job as the stage door crowds began increasing from a relative handful to immense numbers as the season progressed. I was thrilled to be a part of the April 18, 2004, performance dedicated to the Ozalots and the group photo taken right after the show. Were you at the party at O'Flaherty's afterwards, where cast, crew and fans mingled? That was great fun as well.

I also fondly remember my husband's and my trip downtown to the tiny Orpheum Theater, where we first saw LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS in late 1982. I was nearly ready to give birth at the time but wanted to make sure to catch a performance beforehand. It's no wonder that enjoyable show has enjoyed such a storied history.

I have sent a reservation request for your reading and am very much looking forward to hearing what you have to say about your experiences backstage. Wishing you success on your book launch. Hope there'll be a next stop at the Drama Book Shop or Barnes & Noble.

Ellen

[alma]

Lucky you, Ellen!
I can only imagine the sort of inside tidbits Mr. Poland will share. What a treat. So glad "one of us" can be there. I'm sure you'll keep us well informed, won't you, Ellen?
Alma

[mamaleh]

I'm confident that any of us who are able to attend will gladly share interesting tidbits.

Ellen

[jo]

It seems there was a thread on Albert Poland himself among the threads on the TBFO section of this board.

And I eventually found this upload of a conversation about the theatre --

There are two parts --







The interviewer, William Hoffman, couldn't have been more accurate in calling this piece as "luminescent"!

I never realized that Albert Poland is really the Behind the Scenes Mr. Broadway (& Off-Broadway). His real-life work is true passion and commitment to the theatre.

Such a remarkable stage management career in the theatre, such a memorable account of people and creative work he admired most in his theatre work, such a span of experiences!

It's interesting to note that the only musical he has stage-managed is THE BOY FROM OZ - he said that it was as early as 1998 when he was first attached to the project ( maybe when the show first debuted in Australia?). He shares his pragmatic view about staging a musical.

I was chuckling at some of the humorous incidents he recounted. I wonder - did he invent the SRO places without chairs but with height requirement

His views on the future of the theatre are also well-grounded and passionate - and I agree that the way performing arts entertainment ( film, included) is becoming more and more money-oriented and increasingly more attached to "bloodless technology" is a sad commentary on what's happening to popular culture. Like Hugh, he also believes that new work is the way forward!

Belated Congratulations to Mr. Poland for his contributions to the theatre community!


Jo

[jo]

There are several references to Hugh Jackman --

At 18'15", he talks about his experiences working with Hugh :

I have to say that one of my biggest thrills was working with Hugh Jackman in The Boy from Oz. I thought Hugh was right up there with Judy Garland, a generous audience performer...a genius performer. I saw the show 35 times and I never saw him give one down performance. I told his mother that she had created one of the most exemplary human beings that I have ever encountered in my life - he just couldn't have been kinder and more thoughtful. And everytime I saw Hugh I just had to go back and tell him....because you feel a kind of gratitude that you must express! And you don't often feel it. That was a very, very high point for me!

Re the other works that he has enjoyed being involved in --

*Long Days Journey into Night -- I wanted to see that for Vanessa Redgrave.

*Grapes of Wrath -- once called by an enthusiastic ticket buyer as " Angry Raisins" -- of course the box office could not understand at first what he meant

*Glengarry Glen Ross -- can you believe that I stood in line at the queue for the 2005 TONYs ( it was the other line -- not the red carpet line at Radio City Music Hall) with some older people who were very formally dressed like most of us because it was a requirement for attendance -- black tie, please!... and chatted with the daughter of one of the couples, who said her folks/friends were there because they were involved in a small play? One of the first awards ( Hugh was hosting that show) -- was for the revival of Glengarry Glen Ross -- guess who came up onstage because they were the show producers -- my "friends" at the queue

Jo

[mamaleh]

The very amiable Albert Poland told fascinating anecdotes of his decades as a theater general manager and read from his forthcoming memoir, "Stages," at the Players Club tonight. He described being a teenager wanting desperately to get out of Indiana and head for New York. At 14 he cajoled a willing telephone operator into somehow finding a phone number for Judy Garland, whom he and his friends called to ask for permission to start a fan club for her. What an enterprising youngster.

As to Hugh, I got a laugh out of Poland's story about the crew from the Lincoln Center archives coming to tape a performance of THE BOY FROM OZ. The head guy was watching part of the "Bi-Coastal Victim" segment and, misunderstanding what he was seeing, complained to Poland that Hugh was "so full of himself," chastising people for coming in late and ruining the taping. Of course this was all done in Peter Allen style, but the crew didn't realize that. Another time, during BC/EFA collections, Hugh auctioned off dinner with him, which he instantly regretted. He went to Poland in a somewhat anxious state asking him to get him out of it. But he, and some audience members tonight, related how impressed they were that Hugh raised much more money for the charity than anybody else. Poland remembered being at one show where Hugh raised $37,000. Some of those funds, incidentally, went to an Australian charity or two that Hugh supported, he said. (Perhaps that added to his zeal at auctions?)

Poland also recalled a conversation with Hugh's mother in which he congratulated her on producing such a wonderful human being. He chuckled at the memory of Hugh's peeking out from the curtain one evening and saying excitedly, "Angela Frigging Lansbury is here!"--he couldn't get over the fact that she was there to see his show. "Angela Frigging Lansbury!" he marveled again. He reminisced (and I remembered this) about Barbara Cook's being so enamored of Hugh that when she visited the show and Hugh called her up on stage with a resulting standing ovation, she never even noticed that because she kept looking at and was so taken with Hugh. (I think we can all understand that.). : )

Poland cited how Hugh made everything work on stage, including pulling up a shocked Sarah Jessica Parker at the '04 Tonys. He emphasized how super-talented he is and what a remarkable person he is. But for the really "juicy stuff" about Hugh, he said, "you have to buy the book."

He's trying to nail down a publisher. Hope he finds one soon. I'd like to read it.

Michael Riedel was in the audience.

Ellen

[jo]

Thanks, thanks, Ellen!

That must have been an enjoyable evening!



Talking about auctions with Hugh -- may I share ( again, maybe?) one that I never forgot :

Michael Mulheren was such a great auctioneer -- fast on his feet, always, humor-wise. One time, a lady from the mezzanine called out that she would like to bid for " breakfast with Hugh" ( haha - and all that implies about what precedes it).

Michael says : "Sorry, not included in the choices!"

The lady shot back : " Okay, one hour will do!"

Michael : "He cannot last that long!"

We were all hysterical!

Hugh : "Huh...huh??" ( he wasn't paying attention during the banter...and did not know that Michael was maligning his reputation...and attacking his prowess )



Maybe Michael Riedel might make enough noise for Albert Poland's anecdotes ( in his column)...and be able to help him with a publisher... I wonder if he might consider inviting Albert to THEATRE TALK and maybe recount some of those humorous anecdotes on air?


Thanks again


Jo

[mamaleh]

LOL, I can picture Michael Mulheren saying stuff like that. He was consistently clever and funny at the stage door. He should write a book, too.

Ellen