Hugh Jackman and wife to produce projects to "help revive Broadway post-pandemic"?

"According to the friend, Jackman and Furness ... "can't wait to collaborate. They feel like there's nothing they can't accomplish together." … With new Broadway projects in mind, it may be that Jackman is trying to save face in the theatre community after sources said that the actor was "feeling pressure" to pull out of starring in The Music Man …:

https://okmagazine.com/p/hugh-jackman-producing-projects-with-wife-deborra-lee-furness/

The value of a celebrity producer is not necessarily in using their name to sell tickets, but using their name to sell the show to other producers and investors. Someone like Hugh Jackman being a lead producer opens a lot of doors within the entertainment industry and beyond that someone like a Ken Davenport could only dream of.

AEA AGMA SM said: "The value of a celebrity producer is not necessarily in using their name to sell tickets, but using their name to sell the show to other producers and investors. Someone like Hugh Jackman being a lead producer opens a lot of doors within the entertainment industry and beyond that someone like a Ken Davenport could only dream of."

That's fair, but the same could be said about a lot of the usual suspects who invest in shows. "Roy Furman and John Gore have good track records, they're in." Better than nothing, but I don't think it's going to magically solve the problem of raising money for a tough sell if Hugh Jackman has $100k in a $15m musical or even a $5m play.

AEA AGMA SM said: "The value of a celebrity producer is not necessarily in using their name to sell tickets, but using their name to sell the show to other producers and investors. Someone like Hugh Jackman being a lead producer opens a lot of doors within the entertainment industry and beyond that someone like a Ken Davenport could only dream of."

You could argue this happened when JJ Abrams produced The Play That Goes Wrong.

Theatrefanboy1 said: "But maybe he can convince some “names” to be attached. Take on some of those former Rudin revivals... Julie Andrews and cate Blanchett in night music"

Possibly, but there are very few producers who attract stars. The actors are smart and their agents are smarter. It's all about the role, the director, and –– eventually –– the money and availability.

And I would hope that if someone superfamous is going to dip their toe into producing or "presenting", it should be for NEW WORKS...not necessarily star-driven musical revivals.

Updated On: 5/24/21 at 06:15 PM

JayElle said: "

Jeff Bezos (Amazon founder/CEO) just bought MGM Studios for $8.45 Billion.

Now there's a good money source to replace Rudin."

Right. Bezos working with 27 different unions -- what could possibly go wrong??