Hugh Jackman.............- Page 2

[jo]

Posted: 6/20/03 at 10:17am

I had actually seen Hugh Jackman perform on stage in OKLAHOMA! in London a few years back. He is a real treat on the musical stage - great voice and charismatic stage presence. I hope they eventually release the video/DVD of the RNT London version of OKLAHOMA! ( available from Amazon.co.uk, if your player is multi-system or multi-region) in NTSC/Region 1 (USA) format so people can appreciate what a great musical theatre actor/singer he is. At the moment, there is the CD version of the show, the Australian cast recording of Beauty and the Beast (I was able to get a copy from the online site of HMV-Autralia), and the CD as well as the video/DVD of "Hey Mr Producer".

I'm looking forward to seeing him back on stage in The Boy From Oz ( I liked the music from the Australian cast recording, although my favourite song at the moment is "I Honestly Love You" which Jarrod will be singing to Hugh, I suppose). I have already gotten tickets for the show for several dates... and had even peeked at the posters at the Imperial Theater


jo

[PigletH13]

Posted: 6/20/03 at 10:24am

Jo,

Yes Jarrod will be singing "I Honestly Love You"...thank God! B/c hearing that man sing will make anyone "shiver all over!" (Badseed!!!)

I have tickets for a few dates as well and have also enjoyed the posters over at the Imperial. I just can't wait for the show and am praying they will have a few people perform on August 21st at Bryant Park.

What dates are you going??

PigletH13

[scooter38432]

Posted: 6/20/03 at 10:29am

Hello...

I bought a video copy of Hugh Jackman's OKLAHOMA on ebay ... and it is truly a delight. It is a must have! Not only is Hugh to die for, but his chemistry with Josefina Gabrielle, Maureen Lipman and Shuler Hensley is captivating.

Just wanted to let you know it was available...

[sharon1]

Posted: 6/20/03 at 12:55pm

I have never seen Mr. Jackman in Oklahoma. I have only heard the music. Frankly I like him as an actor, and he is charming as anything. But I still see some room for improvement in the singing department. I also see him as Peter Allen. Again, charming, great entetainer, not the best singer. To me the casting for the show is perfect. But then again that is my opinion.

[jo]

Posted: 6/20/03 at 8:09pm

PigletH13 -

I don't live in the USA ( halfway across the world, in fact ), but I will be back in November and December. My tickets are for some dates in that time frame -for 4 shows, including one on a rare Friday matinee right after Thanksgiving. Re the Imperial Theater -- whereabouts is the stage door? The front of the theater ( on West 45th Street)is flanked by a retail store and the stage door of the Music Box theater. I saw a marquee of the Imperial also at the back of the theater on West 46th Street - is that where the stage door is?

I did have a great time in my recent visit - saw Hairspray, Man of La Mancha, Nine, The Producers and Take Me Out and was able to go to two concerts, Stars In the Alley - Shubert Alley in the rain ( performers from each musical on Broadway gave a number each from their show) and Broadway Under the Stars in Bryant Park - but am already looking forward to seeing The Boy from Oz with much anticipation!

Btw, according to Talkin'Broadway, the USA version of the video of OKLAHOMA is due for release in the last quarter of this year, I guess to coincide with the publicity wave from Hugh's new musical.

jo

[PigletH13]

Posted: 6/20/03 at 11:34pm

Jo,

The stage door is on 46th street actually. So, my advice is to go to where the garage is, and walk right through to the other side.

Buut I was told something tonight which will really bother me if it is indeed true....



They may now move BFO to the Bway theatre...where La Boheme is/was....and move Wicked to the Imperial???????


UM...NO!

Has anyone else heard this??

[jo]

Posted: 6/21/03 at 8:17am

Piglet13,

Maybe because The Broadway Theatre has a larger seating capacity? Is this normally done after they have sold tickets in the first venue? Although, looking at the theater layouts, sorting the seats out if they transfer may not be that problematic. Unless there are particular problems with The Broadway Theatre that you are aware of?

jo

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 6/21/03 at 8:23am

Ok, even If, and this is a BIG if, they moved BFO to the Bway, why would they move Wicked to the imperial??? Wicked has nothing to do with the broadway, it is scheduled for the Gershwin.
Switching theatres would be highly unlikely unless BFo is selling very very very well and no one has said anything. Even though, that still wouldn't have a lot to do with it. They didn't move mamma Mia, Hairspray, or the Producers to bigger venues when they had huge ticket sales before opening.

[PigletH13]

Posted: 6/21/03 at 10:24am

So true Bwayguy2! Ok, I am calmer now!!

I think what the person who told me about this said is that a cast member from Gypsy who is going to be leaving to be in BFO, said they may now move to the Bway. I think I was so shocked by the idea that I inter-twined that Wicked was going in there. Oops! See what happens when someone tries to change my plans!!!

Anyway...I don't think it would be hard for them to change the seats at all...I just really wish they would stay at the Imperial!

[IssaMe]

Posted: 6/22/03 at 9:37am

What a bizarre rumor. Haven't heard THAT one even from the producers themselves!

Why would the Shuberts give up their largest theater to a mid-size show such as "Oz" when they might need the venue soon because they are frantically bidding on "Springer" to bring it from London (along with everybody else....the competition for the rights to this show...er, opera....is greater than any British show since....well, what? Les Miz or Phantom perhaps??)

"Springer" would need the Broadway, "Oz" doesn't.

Well, anything is possible I guess ...and, indeed there is some supersizing going on with "Oz" already- for example the orchestra going from the projected 12 pieces to 22 because Mr. Jackman wanted a bigger sound. He's right.

Maybe he wants a bigger theater too? Doubt it.

[lensman]

Posted: 6/22/03 at 10:44am

He's officially on my list of people I [hate] because he can do so much, so well and make it look so easy!

[kec]

Posted: 6/22/03 at 2:50pm

<< YES! Hugh is fabulous in OKLAHOMA!

You can buy the video on ebay, incidentally. I did, and it was worth every penny. Every fan of the musical theater should get it.>>

One note of caution, however... if anyone else bids on one of those videos, you need to be sure it can play in your VCR. As I understand it, the video is only available in a PAL format, although I have seen some NTSC versions sold on Ebay -- possibly these were coverted from PAL. It is not always indicated in the description of the item whether the format is compatable with U.S. systems. It appears to me that those who put those descriptions up think that saying the tape is "VHS" is sufficient, when, in fact, it is not.

[PigletH13]

Posted: 6/22/03 at 7:43pm

Issa...I swear that is what I was told...but I am praying to God that it is just a rumour. Dammit...I have plans being on 45th street!!! Right Dolly??

[IssaMe]

Posted: 6/29/03 at 10:58am

This is the final word on the theater change question. The rumor Piglet heard was valid - the Shuberts were interested in switching "The Boy from Oz" to the larger Broadway Theater with the sudden availability of that house with "La Boheme" closing.

After much consideration and discussion over the past several weeks, it isn't going to happen, however. "Oz" stays at the Imperial thanks to producers who remained steadfast to the size and scope of their show and which theater would be best for it. Jackman sided with them. And that is that!

On to rehearsals...

[PigletH13]

Posted: 6/29/03 at 12:43pm

Thank God! or shall I say Thanks Issa!...welll same thing! LOL!

[scooter38432]

Posted: 6/29/03 at 5:03pm

True about the videos.

Mine worked great, but it couldn't hurt to "ask the seller" before you pay for anything.

Worth it! The show is terrific.

[jo]

Posted: 6/29/03 at 11:11pm

It sounds like Hugh has a lot of say in the show's staging ( the orchestra size, the appropriate theater, to-date). I guess if he is committing a year ( or 15 months, including rehearsals) of his time - he's going to be consulted on quite a number of things.

Do you recall other Broadway newcomers who have been given such leeways?

jo

Updated On: 6/30/03 at 11:11 PM

[IssaMe]

Posted: 6/30/03 at 7:30am

Yes, he does have quite a bit of input. The two producers are also VERY powerful (and determined). Rehearsals have been closed to everyone...but then, that is not surprising. There is a lot at stake - although the advance is good (but then, it was good for DOTV too).

Maybe they should have gone with the confidentiality clause that will apparently in the future become more common in contracts with actors, staff, etc. - i.e. you are not permitted to talk about a show in ANY way to outsiders. These are starting to pop up and will become much more common in coming years.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 6/30/03 at 7:38am

yeah, does anyone remember the flop musical MERLIN ('The Magical Musical'). Everyone involved in that procduction a confidentiallity clause that said they couldn't reveal any of that show's effects.

[IssaMe]

Posted: 6/30/03 at 7:45am

Yeah, that happens with magic-oriented shows. Same with the David Copperfield book magic show at the Martin Beck several years ago....all that stuff about not being able to reveal about the twins (ooops, sorry about that....but then, I never signed to shut up).

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 6/30/03 at 7:48am

to quote Nathan Lane "There were three horses. Not two"

[PigletH13]

Posted: 6/30/03 at 9:57am

have rehearsals started already??? Why did I think they began in July??

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 6/30/03 at 10:00am

I just recieved word that rehearsals are set to begin July 16.

[PigletH13]

Posted: 6/30/03 at 10:04am

Thank you! I figured either you or Issa would know.

[aurora1958]

Posted: 7/1/03 at 1:25am

Scooter I appreciate the fact that you don't like Phantom, but to make people who do enjoy it out to be mindless little I don't know whats isn't fair. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and you can't belittle people because they enjoy something you don't. Are there better shows, ofcourse. But Phantom was something totally different when it opened and gave people a good show. Now..well..there's better stuff out there. Don't get me wrong, I loved Phantom then and I still do, but I can understand not being overly excited over it.

Now Hugh...yea...I think he could just about any role he wanted to tackle right now. I might have had to have seen the POTO movie had he been in it...LOL