The Music Man : Show Development and Promotion

[jo]

Interesting that no mention has been made about the forthcoming GLOBAL CITIZEN concert in September.

If you remember -- in one of the past concerts, the Global Citizen concert opened with Stephen Colbert ( as host) entering the stage in Central Park physically hoisted on Hugh Jackman's strong shoulders


Jo

[jo]

Jul 16, 2021 20:21:58 GMT -5 jo said:

I had a chance to respond on the topic of Hugh's appearance on the Colbert show at ATC -- as reply to previous comments.


www.talkinbroadway.com/allthatchat_new/d.php?id=2515208

re: Hugh Jackman taps into his inner Harold Hill
Last Edit: jo 03:15 pm EDT 07/16/21
Posted by: jo 03:12 pm EDT 07/16/21
In reply to: Hugh Jackman taps into his inner Harold Hill - WaymanWong 02:36 pm EDT 07/16/21
Presumably we'll see some new fantastic choreography with Warren Carlyle in charge of the dance numbers. Hugh and Sutton tap dancing - why not? Hugh posted the entire rehearsal tap dance number ( see link) - and someone suggested that it seems like he was tap dancing to the beat of the Rock Island Overture. He even hooted the train whistle at the end. Could be a change intended for the revival?

Hugh was trained in dramatic theatre ( including classical theatre) at WAAPA in Australia and performed the role of Romeo in one production. He used to say that he was keen on Henry V...but I guess with him aging up, he is now turning to LEAR. He has also always acknowledged Trevor Nunn as his mentor and has said that he would someday want to do some classical theatre with him.

Link:

http://instagr.am/p/CQa4K5Fjd8d

And put in a good word for REMINISCENCE, including its full trailer --

ATC MAIN NEWEST POSTS FLAT MODESHOPPIN' ON THE BOARDS

re: Hugh Jackman taps into his inner Harold Hill and also promotes new movie REMINISCENCE

Posted by: jo 03:29 pm EDT 07/16/21
In reply to: re: Hugh Jackman taps into his inner Harold Hill - jo 03:12 pm EDT 07/16/21

He was primarily at the Colbert show promoting his new movie REMINISCENCE. The film is a romantic sci-fi thriller written and directed by WESTWORLD'S Lisa Joy Nolan ( wife of Jonathan Nolan who co-writes scripts with brother Chris Nolan). In one media interview, Lisa said that the storyline is partly inspired by the Greek mythology story of Orpheus and Eurydice as he tried to search for his wife in Hades's underworld. I had wondered if there is some similarity to the story inspiration for the current show HADESTOWN? In the film, the lead character is obsessed with finding a woman he fell in love with when she availed of his tech-based memory-recall service. That brings him to the underworld of a near-future Miami affected by climate change to look for her. It looks noir!

Quite a departure from The Music Man.

Link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BggT--yxf0

[jo]

There's an article in the NYTimes which talks of a major aspect of the revitalization of NYC in the near future due to the arts and entertainment business that is gingerly trying to open in the fall. Surprisingly, the COMMENTS section has been closed ( one has to do the tedious aspect of writing directly to the Editors if one wants one's comments published) - maybe because there were quite a number of negative comments.

But among the comments from someone whom I recall is a frequent contributor especially on Entertainment aspects --

[Note: of course, musicals will need to catch up for there to be path to equality of opportunity, since that's where the real money and clout for Broadway creatives is - but such a quick, promising start]

Even a commercial show like "Waitress" is a financial risk with capacity-allowed feeling in flux week by week. and made possible by that SBA grant - but while we wait for

- Patti LuPone in "Company"

-the return of "Wicked" and "Hamilton" (and the feel-not-good but powerful "Dear Evan Hansen" just as its movie also opens, in a day where movies somehow send audiences to the show)

- and then the mother lode of thunderbolts to Broadway as a tourism destination that that Hugh Jackman in "Music Man" will be for NYC restaurants, hotels

Sara Bareilles in her own "Waitress" is enough of a "name" event to get chat and buzz going for book shows, even if not a box office stampede.

*Giggle* - "the mother lode of thunderbolts to Broadway as a tourism destination that that Hugh Jackman in 'Music Man' will be for NYC restaurants, hotels"

It implies that the major influx for The Music Man will not be mostly tri-state residents ... but from domestic and overseas tourists ( restaurants, hotels...and airlines, too)

In a sense, it is implying that this is the kind of show ( a Hugh Jackman attraction) that will provide the most beneficial economic impact to NYC!


Jo (Music Man tourist here )

[jo]

[jo]

Given some resurgence of the pandemic due to the Delta variant --

what next for Broadway -- due to reopen in the fall?


www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/broadway-reopening-fears-1234985374-1234985374/

[jo]

It looks like ANYTHING GOES is now underway in London.

Excerpts from a post on BWW ( posted by Binau) --

So I caught the show, Sutton Foster is in great voice and sounds just as good to me, if not better than she was 10 years ago. I actually am less concerned about her voice for "The Music Man" than I was previously.

There were some reservations from theatre purists that Sutton's soprano may not be suitable for the role of Marian ( originally voiced by Barbara Cook in the original Broadway show and by Shirley Jones in the film version... with other Broadway sopranos like Kristin Chenoweth and Rebecca Luker in other revivals).


Jo

[jo]

Fingers crossed that this is the worst that can happen!


Jo

[mamaleh]

Well, I don’t think a gas mask or a hazmat suit will be necessary, but the Broadway League announced that the entire Broadway workforce must be vaccinated and have a weekly COVID test. I’m thinking that audiences will at least have to show proof of vaccination.

Ellen

[mamaleh]

deadline.com/2021/07/broadway-covid-vaccines-mandated-workforce-actors-equity-1234802572/

Ellen

[jo]

Excerpts from Email sent to Telecharge customers --

Dear :

Broadway is all about gathering together and sharing in the experience of live theatre. The theatre industry is committed to the health and safety of all members of the Broadway community—theatre employees, production staff, cast, and audience members.

To ensure the safety of everyone in the theatre, the following policies will be in place for your performance:

Order #:
Performance Date:



MASKS REQUIRED

For performances through October 31, 2021:

Everyone in the theatre must wear acceptable face coverings at all times, including during the show, except while eating or drinking in designated locations. All face coverings must cover the nose and mouth and comply with the CDC guidelines for acceptable face coverings.


VACCINATIONS REQUIRED

For performances through October 31, 2021:

Guests will need to be fully vaccinated with an FDA or WHO authorized vaccine in order to attend a show and must show proof of vaccination at their time of entry into the theatre with their valid ticket. “Fully vaccinated” means the performance date you are attending must be:
at least 14 days after your second dose of an FDA or WHO authorized two dose COVID-19 vaccine, or
at least 14 days after your single dose of an FDA or WHO authorized single dose COVID-19 vaccine.

The only exception to the above will be for guests under the age of 12, or those who need reasonable accommodations due to a medical condition or sincerely held religious belief. Guests requesting an exemption must provide proof of at least one of the following, in addition to properly wearing a mask inside the building:
negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of the performance, or
negative COVID-19 rapid antigen test taken within 6 hours of the performance.

Guests may present proof of vaccination or a negative test on paper or a smartphone. For example, New York State residents, or anyone who received a COVID-19 vaccine in New York State, may present proof through the use of the Excelsior Pass.

In addition to proof of vaccination, all guests 18 years or older must also present a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license or passport. Guests under 18 may also use a school photo ID. Guests under 12 must be accompanied by an adult who meets the above requirements.

Guests who do not comply with these policies will be denied entry or asked to leave the theatre. If you feel you cannot follow these guidelines, visit your ORDER STATUS page and exchange to a later date or request a refund.

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[jo]

[JH4HJ]

Catch me up on this one. Has Sutton Foster's contract for The Music Man lapsed?

Sutton Foster has said making her London debut in musical Anything Goes has been a “dream” - but admitted being back on stage has been “emotional.”

The multi-award-winning Broadway star, 42, plays nightclub singer Reno Sweeney in the show - the biggest new musical to open since the lifting of social distancing curbs on July 19.

Taking place at the Barbican Theatre, Anything Goes - which has now extended its run for a further two weeks until the end of October - also stars Robert Lindsay, Felicity Kendal and Gary Wilmot.

Kathleen Marshall is directing the new production of the Cole Porter musical classic.

Speaking to the Standard last night, Foster - who first played the role of Sweeney on Broadway more than ten years ago - said she felt grateful to be back on stage.

Is she "squeezing this in" before she returns to NYC to open in December???

More here, with photos

[jo]

Don't worry -- she will be our Marian

Anything Goes director Susan Stroman requested her to take over at the last minute when the original lead ( Megan Mullally-sp?) could not go on ( not sure what the actual reason was - injury or as some speculate finding the dancing aspect difficult?) and Sutton came to the rescue. However because of her commitment to The Music Man, she is actually cutting her participation in the London a week before its limited engagement finishes because she will be needed in NYC for the start of the Music Man rehearsals.

Hugh is also doing something else during the summer - the filming of The Son. But they will both be back for the long awaited run of this revival of The Music Man


Jo

[jo]

A ticket for December 22, 2021 ( which performance, per Telecharge, is SOLD OUT) is being offered by Stubhub for $ 11,777+




www.showbiz411.com/2021/06/22/broadway-hugh-jackmans-music-man-revival-sets-a-possible-record-for-one-seat-at-11777-49

Broadway: Hugh Jackman’s “Music Man” Revival Sets A Possible Record for One Seat at $11,777.49
■Theater

by Roger Friedman - June 22, 2021 11:42 pm


“The Music Man” sold out whatever seats it had left on telecharge.com Tuesday.

The musical revival starring Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster had already sold most of its seats to ticket brokers. They’re listing them on various resale sites for up to $4,000 a ticket or more.

But StubHub might have the highest price ticket yet: one seat on the night of December 22nd, for a total of $11,777.49. It’s in the fourth row center at the St. James Theater.

There’s only one of these as far as I can tell. Your plus-one or date might have to settle for something in the $4,0000 range.

You’d really have to want to see Jackman as Harold Hill in a big way. Of the total $11,777.49, $2000 of it is a service charge. You still have to pay also for a drink, a snack, merchandise, and so on. So that could run another 100 clams.

For that much money, you could take a group of friends to any other excellent show like “Hamilton” or the “Company” revival, not to mention dinner at Broadway watering hole like Joe Allen or Orso and still have money left for a limo.

StubHub for December 22nd, 2021:


Same night, on telecharge:

*Show is at the Winter Garden, not at St. James!

*I checked Dec 22 and that is SOLD OUT, per Telecharge. Holiday dates are usually extremely-marked up with secondary sellers, not Telecharge.

*Brokers buy a lot of premium tickets early on to resell at very high markups. Not necessarily that Telecharge has a deal with them - because the seats were available to everyone when they were first offered. I am getting the feeling that a central distributor in the secondary market has cornered many excellent premium seats and the secondary market sellers are drawing from it to resell to the public.

*Many tickets are still available on other dates - maybe, you may want to pick up your choice as soon as possible...or avoid dates which are expected to draw very high interest from ticket buyers?

Also, hotel rates and airline tickets seem to be on the rise fast.

Sigh!

Jo

[jo]

www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.php?thread=1125699&page=10

Post # 247 included a controversial statement re Hugh Jackman which went on for a few pages on a thread that was about casting FUNNY GIRL...because the BWW poster alleged that he thinks Hugh Jackman is not a huge star

Jo

[jo]

Of course I had to pitch in

jo
Send PM
Broadway Legend
joined:5/15/03
Funny Girl 2022 Revival
#289
Posted: 8/10/21 at 7:38pm


My favorite stage door story about Hugh Jackman ( whose career I have followed since seeing him live in the RNT Oklahoma! - saw the show only because I like Rodgers&Hammerstein musicals and had no idea of who the lead was) --

At the Imperial stagedoor during the run of THE BOY FROM OZ:

A teenage fan finally reached Hugh Jackman's side among that overflowing, overexcited crowd at the stage door. She was so excited that she was shaking and was rendered speechless.

Hugh noticed it and told her :"Hey, It's only me."


Re Oklahoma! - that literally started the road to international stardom for him. The main producer of the first XMen movie Lauren Shuler Donner saw and met him at the show in London... and that eventually led to Wolverine! When the original cast actor ( DScott ) could not meet filming deadlines, she suggested to bring in Hugh Jackman! Her assistant then was the now-famous head of Marvel Studio Kevin Feige ( who is actually credited for styling the infamous Jackman/Wolverine hairstyle).

The road to stardom can take many paths!

And because of his rise to fame, it led to him to Broadway ( as theatre is his first love)!

It has even led him to the concert stage ( although he says "TheManTheMusicTheShow" is more of a theatre show as he featured many song numbers from his stage and film career musicals... in a 92-show music tour in major parts of the world in 2019.

Another story -- when he was in rehearsals for the 2009 Oscars hosting, the Oscars producer Lawrence Mark saw him doing his routine and along with co-producer Bill Condon, pitched him the idea of a Barnum musical. Hugh did set it up as a film project in August 2009...but the movie THE GREATEST SHOWMAN did not get completed and released till late 2017! It turned out to be one of the leggiest box office hits in Hollywood history. He also won a Grammy for being the principal soloist in the soundtrack whose album release became the best selling album in 2018 ( beating even all the pop music albums).

So, in the public mind, he is now both Wolverine & The Greatest Showman

But the public perception that he is now an actor of excellent range is now leading him to other genres ( such as the social satire Bad Education... and a new movie he is now filming in London - another adaptation from Florian Zeller 's drama trilogy, It is called "The Son". Zeller recently won an Oscar for 'The Father" ). After that, The Music Man!

In the meantime, Hugh has a new movie release - a romantic sci-fi thriller called REMINISCENCE, written and directed by Westworld's Lisa Joy Nolan ( wife of Jonathan Nolan who has co-written some scripts with brother Chris Nolan,

I digress - I will be a MUSIC MAN tourist -- coming from halfway across the world!

[jo]

On related news -- and as someone said on BWW "Lots of free advertising for The Music Man!"

Aug 12, 2021 10:06:22 GMT -5 jo said:

broadwaynews.com/2021/08/11/tony-awards-to-take-place-at-the-winter-garden-theatre/

The 2019-2020 Tony Awards will be held at the Winter Garden Theatre this September in front of an audience.

The Tony Awards will also host a viewing party, including live entertainment and hosts, for industry members at the Broadway Theatre. A tented after-party will follow, according to the invite.

All guests will need to provide proof of vaccination for entry and both events have set a black tie dress code. The details were sent to Tony voters in invites Wednesday and confirmed by a spokesperson for the Tony Awards.

Details on what will take place in the Winter Garden Theatre remain unclear. The Tony Awards had previously announced that the ceremony will be held Sept. 26, 2021, in a two-part event airing across different CBS platforms.

At 7 p.m. that night, a presentation of awards is scheduled to air on Paramount+. At 9 p.m., CBS is scheduled to air a special featuring performances from the Tony-nominated musicals, as well as a live presentation of the awards for Best Play, Best Revival of a Play and Best Musical.

A spokesperson for the Tony Awards did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the details of the invite.

The Winter Garden Theatre is home to “The Music Man,” which is scheduled to begin performances Dec. 20. The Broadway Theatre was previously home to “West Side Story,” which announced Monday that it will not reopen.

In recent years, the Tony Awards ceremony has been held at Radio City Music Hall. The 2019-2020 Tony Awards were originally scheduled to take place at Radio City Music Hall on June 7, 2020, but the event was postponed by the pandemic.

Due to the pandemic, Tony Award organizers decided to only consider productions in a shortened season, with an eligibility cut-off date of Feb. 19, 2020. Voting for the 18 eligible productions took place in March 2021.

The Tony Awards ceremony has been broadcast on CBS since 1978. This is the first time the event will air on the new subscription service Paramount+.

[jo]

The Global Citizen global concert for 2021 will be a 24-hour event in various cities on September 25, 2021 ( Saturday). Hugh and Deb have been announced as co-hosts with others. Presumably, he will be in NYC ( and has already completed filming The Son).

The TONYs will be held on September 26, 2021 ( Sunday) -- will there be a chance for him to have some sort of participation in that awards show, assuming he will be in NYC?

Jo

[jo]

[jo]

In 1 promo clip for reminiscence, Hugh shared that rehearsals for Music Man will start on October 25 !

Gives him time to complete filming The Son, which is supposed to finish by end- September.

Gives him time to take care of any health issues.

Gives him time to rest & celebrate his birthday on October 12!

Jo

[jo]

As he has said in another interview -- the original schedule would have Hugh completing his year's turn by mid-September 2021!

But Broadway is lucky that he will be part of the strong push for the return of The Great White Way!

Jo

[jo]

He went to see Millie ( aka Sutton Foster) in THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE circa 2002-2003?

[jo]

More publicity for THE MUSIC MAN, which had a human interest feature re a fan treating his ailing Grandpa with a singalong screening of The Greatest Showman. People.com's coveraage included memtion of Hugh's latest musical project.\

Aug 31, 2021 10:16:17 GMT -5 jo said:

People.com found a great human interest story in Hugh's latest tweet sharing how a grandson arranged a special treat for his ailing Grandpa!

people.com/movies/hugh-jackman-touched-grandpa-with-dementia-sing-along-the-greatest-showman/?utm_campaign=peoplemagazine&utm_content=new&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_term=612e3f423f44320001ed936f

PEOPLE.COM
MOVIES
Hugh Jackman Touched by Viral TikTok of Grandpa with Dementia Watching
The Greatest Showman

“One of the best films I've ever seen,” a senior fan of Hugh Jackman's said

By Naledi UsheAugust 31, 2021 10:31 AM


CREDIT: MOVIESTORE/SHUTTERSTOCK
Hugh Jackman is glad that The Greatest Showman brought a smile to a fan's face.

The actor, 52, shared a viral TikTok video Monday that followed a fan who took their grandfather to see The Greatest Showman.

"I am in tears at the sweetness and purity of this post. Thank you for sharing such a sweet moment 💕😭💕," Jackman wrote, reposting the quick clip to Instagram.

"2 minutes of happiness," the fan, who goes by CharlieMoose on TikTok, prefaced the video.

"My Grandad is at the second stage of vascular dementia and one way to cheer him up is The Greatest Showman!" the user said of the outing. "So I decided to take him to a sing along [on] the weekend so he can sing the songs."

"We hope you enjoy," he added.



In the quick clip, CharlieMoose teased his grandpa during the car ride and let him know they would be seeing a favorite film. When the grandson asked his grandfather on a scale of one to 10 how excited he was for the movie, he exclaimed "345!"

Once they arrived at the outdoor screening, the grandson unpacked a basket filled with his grandpa's "favorite sweets."

RELATED: Watch Hugh Jackman Tap Dance as He Fulfills Mandatory Quarantine in Sydney Hotel

"You happy we're here?" CharlieMoose asked once it was clear they were watching The Greatest Showman, and the senior nodded enthusiastically.

"One of the best films I've ever seen," the grandfather declared in the middle of the movie.

"He just couldn't stop smiling," the TikTok user captioned part of the clip, and revealed his family member's favorite song is "From Now On."





Fortunately for his fans, Jackman has more musical numbers ahead as he gears up for his upcoming role in The Music Man this winter on Broadway alongside Sutton Foster.


"The first musical I was ever part of was the phenomenal The Music Man," Jackman said in a March 2019 statement. "The year was 1983, and I was at Knox Grammar School in Sydney, Australia. I was one of the traveling salesmen, and I think I can actually (almost) remember that unforgettable opening number! That was probably the moment when the magic of theater was born in me."

"The idea of bringing The Music Man back to Broadway has been lurking in the back of my brain for a long time, maybe even for 35 years," he continued. "When Scott Rudin called me with that very idea, I was floored. To finally be doing this is a huge thrill."

The Music Man will begin performances on Dec. 20 and officially open on Feb. 10, 2022, according to Broadway.com.

[jo]

The quote about "the sweetness and purity of your post" is incorrectly attributed to Hugh - that came as a reply on HJ's Instagram post.

However, the clip sent to Hugh must have touched him deeply...because he himself has an ailing relative ( his Dad) with a similar and maybe even more serious disease! His way of showing his affection was to travel to Australia despite the 14-day quarantine requirement he had to comply with to see how his Dad is doing.

Jo

[jo]