How Hugh Jackman Really Feels About Returning To Broadway
Hugh Jackman may be a mega-popular movie star these days, but before he became super famous for his on-screen roles, he was both a Physical Education teacher as well as someone who starred in popular musicals back in his home country of Australia. Jackman's work on the stage was so impressive that he eventually moved on to the big time, which means Broadway.
In fact, in 2004, he earned a Tony Award for "The Boy from Oz," according to Playbill. Jackman appeared in the Broadway show as the late Peter Allen, an award-winning Australian musician who was once Judy Garland's son-in-law and died while dealing with throat cancer that was connected to complications with AIDS in 1992, per TODAY.
While the ability to do justice to such a stunning and sensitive role might make you think that Jackman would regularly take gigs on Broadway, he actually took a significant break from live performances of the sort (although not live gigs completely, as his hosting work and other opportunities proved). That changed, though, in October, when he began prepping for a brand new Broadway role. He also revealed to fans how the situation is making him feel.
Hugh Jackman is excited to be the Music Man
Hugh Jackman is returning to Broadway in "The Music Man" and while the production has already been the center of a controversial situation due to producer Scott Rudin, the star is apparently feeling pretty pumped about getting things rolling. Jackman made that clear on October 28 when he hopped onto Instagram to give his followers a quick update.
Filming himself in a rather visually rough video as he was apparently walking to his first day of rehearsals for the show, he first noted the date and then told anyone who was watching, "That may not sound remarkable to you but to me it is. ... It has been 18 years since I've been on Broadway with a full book musical." Saying that was "way too long," he also included a caption that mentioned the character he would be playing, Harold Hill, and added what he also stated in his video: "Hell yeah!"
The star actually gave a preview of his performance while stopping by "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" in July and absolutely nailed the snippets of song that he shared. When asked why he knew the role so well already, he admitted that it was the first show he has been a part of when he was still a student in high school. Granted, at the time, he was "Salesman No. 2." He's definitely moved up in the world!