Hugh Jackman to hold 12-performance concert series at Radio City Music Hall- Page 2

[Danasi]

Posted: 1/25/25 at 1:41am

My mom and I went to the first show tonight. I didn't take notes, so apologies if I miss anything. It started around 8:15, and while it said sold out outside, based on what I saw on ticketmaster the other day and in person  tonight it wasn't.  But it was pretty full. Hugh started singing, then gave the agenda and estimated running time (he said about 1 hour 45 min, maybe a bit longer depending on how much he talked). He also said no encore. It was 10:02 when we got up and headed out. There wasn't an intermission, and he even made a couple jokes about how those over 50 might be regretting it, and how towards the end there was only two songs left. He chatted and told some stories between songs. The big special guest was Ryan Reynolds, during the "ask me anything" segment he had. They were filming, and projected it onto the big screens on the side and occasionally the big screen in back. The rest of the time it either showed patterned, art deco style backgrounds or sometimes clips from his movie. Hugh went into the audience a little, at the front of the orchestra.

We enjoyed the show. We've only seen him on stage in musicals and in movies, so I don't know how this compares to his show in 2019. I'd consider going back again, but not for the pre-sale price we paid (my mom expressed interest). It'll be interesting to see how the show changes.  my theory is that each month's three shows will be similar, and some of the songs will carry over to all of them.  We were in the front row of the first mezz and I'd get those seats again.

For merchandise, they had window cards, some different shirts and jackets, a drink container, a puzzle, and a bracelet set (reminded me of Taylor Swift). No magnets or keychains.

Here's the songs I remember. It's not complete - I may have the order wrong, and might've missed something, since again, I didn't take notes

Oh what a beautiful morning (first line)
Neil Diamond song - Hugh noted it was his birthday today
Greatest Show (Greatest Showman)
Come Alive (Greatest Showman)
You got Trouble (Music Man)
I think there was another from the music man
Sweet Caroline
You will be found (Dear Evan Hanson)
Stars (Les Mis)
 Valjean's Soliloquy (Les Mis)
Other Side (Greatest Showman)
Jump rope dance number (to NSync)
Rockettes nod
AMA -Ryan Reynolds
All My Days (Real Steel opening number)
Peter Allen medley
Thank God I'm a Country Boy, reworked to thank God I'm an Aussie
Never be enough (guest singer, can't remember her name, Greatest Showman)
*can't remember if there was another song here*
Fly Me to the Moon
??? He sang something here but I can't remember
New York New York
*can't remember if there was another song here*
A million Dreams (Greatest Showman)
Once before I Go (seems to be his usual final song)
 

 

Updated On: 1/25/25 at 01:41 AM

[Tom-497]

Posted: 1/25/25 at 6:00pm

I saw this afternoon's show, which looks pretty similar to the above - to add a couple of specifics, the first Neil Diamond song was Crunchy Granola Suite, and the other Sinatra song was That's Life. There was no AMA, and no Ryan Reynolds, though there was a cute faux bitchy quip about Reynolds' lack of dancing ability.

A back up singer named Lauren, I think, was asked to do a solo song very last minute (10:30 this morning) and was very well-received. Hugh spoke glowingly of her onstage and, when the show ended, the curtain was down, and the audience leaving, he asked, still on mic, Where's Lauren?, presumably to congratulate her further.

I thought the whole show was pleasant and likeable, but it also had a random one-thing-after-another quality, seldom building momentum.

 

[Melissa25]

Posted: 1/25/25 at 7:31pm

That's the beautiful Lauren Blackman most recently in Lempicka. She was also in The Music Man with Hugh and was a Marian Paroo understudy who went on once or twice.

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 1/26/25 at 7:30pm

Gabriella Carrillo, who has been playing Catharine Parr in SIX tour/Broadway for years at this point, was chosen from a bunch of audition tapes to sing Never Enough- but then got sick and had to bow after the first night, Must be crushing but the show must go on, so good for Lauren Blackman.