Hugh Jackman new one man show

Hugh Jackman has been appearing   in Jez Butterworth’s mysterious play “The River” at Circle-in-the-Square on Broadway which ends on Sunday.

And he’s already planning his next stage venture which is a new one-man show.  He smashed box offices records in 2011 at the Broadhurst Theatre in “Hugh Jackman Back on Broadway”  which was a tour de force  of song, dance and jokes.  (There were rumours that Robert Fox was transferring the show into the West End for a few performanes but Jackman's Les Miserables heavy filming commitments meant that unfortunately it did  not happen).

The new show is going to emphasize dance. He said “I want to do something that’s going to challenge me in a different way,” he tells me. “And, as a 46-year-old guy, I realize there are limited years left for the kind of dancing I want to do, to push myself as far as I can go.”

Jackman is a real showman and is working on the new project with Warren Carlyle (who once assisted choreographer Susan Stroman and staged “Back on Broadway)who he met on a revival of “Oklahoma!” when he played  played Curly at the National in London.

Hugh Jackman Starring as Blackbeard in Peter Pan Movie

Hugh Jackman is starring as the villainous Blackbeard in Warner Bros' new live-action Peter Pan feature film which will be directed by Joe Wright (Atonement,Pride & Prejudice).

The announcement has just been made  by Greg Silverman, President, Creative Development and Worldwide Production, and Sue Kroll, President, Worldwide Marketing and International Distribution, Warner Bros Pictures. Silverman said "Hugh Jackman always delivers indelible performances that resonate with audiences. We know he will create a Blackbeard who will be a powerful presence in this original Peter Pan adventure." With Kroll adding  "There is a reason that Hugh is known and loved the world over. He is uncompromising in his dedication to every role, and we are all thrilled to be working with him again."

The as-yet-untitled Peter Pan adventure has a screenplay by Jason Fuchs. Greg Berlanti and Paul Webster are the producers. The film is set for a worldwide release on July 17th 2015.

Hugh Jackman to star in The River on Broadway

According to the New York Post, and confirmed by the man himself, Hugh Jackman will be back on Broadway in The River by Jez Butterworth which was produced by the Royal Court Theatre in 2012.

Not surprisingly Jackman is Broadway’s No 1 box office draw and it was disappointing when he had to withdraw from the Houdini musical because of scheduling problems.

Ian Rickson’s London production starring Dominic West and Miranda Raison received favorable reviews in London's West End with the critics describing it as “Hitchcock meets Shirley Valentine. Strange, eerie, tense and, on a single viewing, slightly unfathomable.”

The 80 minute play is about a Man (nameless) who invites a Woman (also nameless) to his cabin in the woods for the weekend. He is  a fisherman and teaches her how to fish, telling her he loves her. But not all is as it seems ... especially when The Other Woman arrives.

Rickson will also direct the New York production which is set to open in early 2015, with Sonia Friedman and the Royal Court producing.

Hugh Jackman pulls out of Houdini Musical

Film and musical theatre star Hugh Jackman has been attached to the new musical Houdini for over five years but has now announced that he has withdrawn from the production due to its scheduling demands.

In a statement to Variety he siad "I have greatly enjoyed the collaborative process on Houdini. Ultimately, though, I wasn't able to commit to the time this role will require. I have tremendous respect and admiration for the creative team and I wish everyone the best. I know they're well on their way to making something extraordinary."

The show's producer Scott Sanders said "Hugh has been terrific to have on this part of our journey. We will continue to move forward with our remarkable creative team as they craft this ambitious new musical."

Hugh Jackman as Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls the Movie?

It is hoped that the record breaking success  of the Les Misérables film at the box office will open the doors for more movie adaptations of hit musicals.

Hugh Jackman picked up a Golden Globe on Sunday for his Jean Valjean in   LesMis and says he'd love to do it again. His name has already been mentioned for Miss Saigon the movie and at the BAFTA reception at the Four Seasons Beverly Hills he said "I think I wanna do maybe a lighter one next time. What about some dancing in the next one?"

He is thinking about Guys and Dolls that won the Tony for Best Musical saying : "I wouldn't mind doing Sky Masterson. That would be fun."

Hugh Jackman Back on Broadway raises record amount for charity

Hugh Jackman has been presenting his one man show Hugh Jackman, Back on Broadway and during just  three weeks of performances his post-show appeals to the audience for donations to the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS fund drive raised a whopping $857,740. That total was boosted auctions of undershirts worn by Jackman in the show which went for more than $10,000 each.

I was at a performance of Jackman’s the Boy from Oz on Broadway a few years ago when he held one of these fundraising auctions after the show and believe me the audience go mad for the lots and pay incredible amounts of money for anything which he has been wearing.  

Jackman was easily the highest fundraiser but other shows included How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying with $325,935 and The Book of Mormon came in third with $315, 968.

This man is charismatic on stage and really exciting to watch so I am really hoping that he manages to get this show on in London's West End while hs is here next year shooting the film of Les Miserables.

Hugh Jackman presenting one man show in West End next year

Hugh Jackman is  breaking box office records in his one man show at the Broadhurst Theatre on Broadway where he interacts with the audience and performs some great song-and-dance numbers.

He is currently talking to producer Robert Fox and Cameron Mackintosh about using one of his theatres for a series of Sunday night concerts while he’s in London next Spring filming his role of Jean Valjean in the musical Les Miserables for Oscar-winning director Tom Hooper.

As soon as the Les Miserables shooting schedule is fixed dates and a theatre will be announced.

Having seen him perform live on stage several times really hope this comes off!

Hugh Jackman in Concert to play Broadway prior to London’s West End

He is due to star in the film of Les Miserables as Jean Valjean and perform his one man show in London for a limited number of engagements, but now it looks as if Hugh Jackman in Concert is also heading to Broadway. The concert has already played limited engagements to rave reviews in Toronto and San Francisco which he fitted in when he was filming there.

The production delay on the upcoming "Wolverine" film has enabled Jackman to return to Broadway and the concerts will run for eight weeks at the Broadhurst Theatre from October 25th.   Backed by an 18-piece orchestra, he will perform a personal selection of his favourite musical numbers, including tunes from his Tony-winning musical The Boy from Oz.

Details on his London Concerts will be published here soon.

Hugh Jackman London Concerts

As already reported, the divine Hugh Jackman is playing Jean Valjean in the movie version of Les Miserables which is being directed by Oscar Winning the King’s Speech Tom Hooper. 

Shooting will begin next February and Jackman is planning to do a series of Sunday night concerts in London during breaks from filming in the Spring.

He has just finished his fabulous In Concert show in Toronto when he was accompanied by two Broadway performers and a 17-piece orchestra.  I have seen Jackman perform several times and he is a real showman giving a great performance singing classic numbers from Oklahoma! (which he starred in as Curly at the National), Carousel, Over the Rainbow, Dreamgirls and the Peter Allen catalogue (he starred in the Boy from Oz on Broadway).

Hugh also hopes to perform his concert show on Broadway in October next year.

News to follow on the London events.

Hugh Jackman confirms Les Miserables movie role

Hugh Jackman is currently toruing in a one man show and during a telephone interview with Toronto's 98.1 CHFI  he has confirmed he is appearing in the film version of Les Miserables. He said” "I've always loved movie musicals like Singin' in the Rain  so I would love to do one of those one day - and it looks like that's coming true, because I'm going to do Les Miserables the movie musical next year”.

Though specifics haven’t been announced, Jackman had been rumoured to be in talks with the director Tom Hooper for the lead role of Jean Valjean. Jackman knows he'll have a lot to live up to, saying that this is "one I'll need to bring my A-game for."

He would bring a wealth of stage and film experience to whatever role he plays, and having seen him in two musicals (Oklahoma! and The Boy from Oz) he is certainly vocally up to playing Valjean or Javert.

Hugh Jackman, Patti LuPone and Shirley MacLaine in Concert

Now that I've got your attention, the bad news is that the concert is in the States.

Hugh Jackman is hosting the Motion Picture & Television Fund's fifth annual A Fine Romance benefit concert which is a tribute to musicals and being held on May 1st at the Fox lot. Fox studio co-chief Jim Gianopulos and his wife Ann are co-hosts.

Volcanic ash apart, I would give anything to be there as it really is the ultimate dream team. Apart from the gorgeous Hugh Jackman you can listen to some real musical theatre stars including  Kristen Bell, Joel Grey, Cheyenne Jackson, Melina Kanakaredes, Patti LuPone, Shirley MacLaine, James Marsden, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Kelli O'Hara and  Lea Salonga.

I saw Hugh Jackman in the Boy from Oz on Broadway several years ago and it was one the best musicals performances I’ve ever watched. He won a Tony Award and I wish someone would bring it into London. But if Jackman wasn’t available they would have real trouble finding someone with enough star quality, stamina and all round ability to fill the Peter Allen part.

Hugh Jackman not hosting Oscars next March

The Academy Awards are already deep into preparations for the show next March, and a front man has to be named soon. According to sources close to Hugh Jackman he has been offered the job again after his success this year, but has turned it down in order to keep his mind on his current Broadway run then get back into movies for a while. He might host it again, but isn't keen on doing it two years in a row.

Shame he hasn’t got any musical theatre lined up because he was fabulous as Curly in the National Theatre’s production of Oklahoma! And one of the best pieces of musical theatre I have ever seen was when he was on Broadway playing Peter Allen in “The Boy From Oz”.

The 82nd Academy Awards will be held on March 7th and be produced by Adam Shankman, the guy who directed the Broadway version of Hairspray.