Hugh's Replacement- Page 2

[IssaMe]

Posted: 12/17/03 at 10:46am

Hugh is covered by two people - regular understudy John Hill (who also regularly plays Judy Garland's hubby Mark Herron...an old friend of mine - and he does a pretty good job of it although he doesn't really look like Mark) and by standby Kevin Spirtas (he's the one who played a leading role on "Days of Our Lives" from 1998-til last year). Kevin has an good stage background starting out on Broadway in "ACL" and "Meet Me in St. Louis".

Hopefully you won't get to see either of them until Hugh's vacation in February...although at the moment Jackman is battling a sore throat (like half of everybody on Broadway these days) and a heavy holiday schedule of sold-out performances looming. But he is known for not missing performances. Keep your fingers crossed.

[IssaMe]

Posted: 12/17/03 at 12:08pm

Then again, in an interview given to the NY Sun in his dressing room after the Actors Studio taping on Monday night, Hugh allowed as how he might consider extending his run in BFO beyond his one year contract ending in September 2004. "A year, that's a long time. We'll see how we go" was his comment.

[PigletH13]

Posted: 12/17/03 at 12:25pm

Issa! I have missed you!!! Haven't seen you around in quite some time.

So much going on btw!

As a side not...Michael Mulheren's brother died on Monday of a heart attack...so I am assuming with the funeral on Friday, Matt Stocke may be going on for him.

[WindyCityActor]

Posted: 12/17/03 at 12:32pm

I think the show will close once Hugh leaves. Look at "Nine" - a wonderful score, and incredible supporting cast, and yet, it couldn't last without Antonio.

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 12/17/03 at 1:39pm

Once Hugh leaves, I give the show 3 months...

[jo]

Posted: 12/18/03 at 7:34am

Hugh's not just good in terms of the technical requirements of the role ( acting, singing and dancing) but also in being able to interact with the audience, sometimes going completely out of character - and effectively adding more interest to the show. I wonder if what he does in the impromptu numbers during the BI-COASTAL scene would come across as equally hilarious when his understudies take over?

He clearly has strong rapport with the audience.


Jo

[alterego]

Posted: 12/18/03 at 7:42am

Issame, Hugh maybe known for not missing performances (on Broadway) but when he was playing Joe in Sunset Boulevard (in Melbourne) I saw the show three times but only once with Hugh Jackman. Still he has more at stake now.