Hugh Jackman, who gained worldwide acclaim for his acting, singing, and dancing in major musical films such as “Les Misérables” and “The Greatest Showman,” has announced his return to Broadway for the first time in about seven years.
Hugh Jackman returns to Broadway after seven years
Hugh Jackman, best known for his outstanding performances in musical films like “Les Misérables” and “The Greatest Showman,” is set to make his long-awaited return to Broadway after nearly seven years.
The highly anticipated production is “The Music Man.” Originally premiering on Broadway in 1957, the show was later adapted into a hit film starring Robert Preston five years later.
Now, in the fall of 2020, Hugh Jackman will lead a revival of The Music Man on Broadway for the first time in 63 years. Although the opening was more than a year away at the time of the announcement, major media outlets quickly reported the news, and At Broadway is excited to share the latest updates here!
A Broadway revival of The Music Man after 63 years
“The Music Man” is a Broadway musical based on a story by composer Meredith Willson and premiered on Broadway in 1957.The following year, it won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, out of eight nominations, beating “West Side Story,” and achieved a long run of over 1,000 performances.
It was later adapted into a film in 1962, which won the Academy Award for Best Original Score, and a television version was broadcast nationwide in 2003. Robert Preston, who played the lead role in both the stage and film versions, was already a well-known Western film actor and received the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical for his portrayal.
The story of The Music Man
The story takes place in the small town of River City, Iowa. A man named Harold Hill arrives, posing as a music professor. In reality, he is a con man known as “The Music Man,” who travels from town to town pretending to organize boys’ bands, selling instruments and uniforms, then disappearing with the money. He continues his schemes in this naive town, but a piano teacher and librarian named Marian Paroo begins to see through his lies…
Latest update: Opening postponed from fall 2020 to spring 2021
The revival of “The Music Man,” returning to Broadway after more than half a century, has officially rescheduled its previews to begin on April 7, 2021, with the official opening set for May 20. Originally slated to open on September 9, 2020, the production was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused all Broadway shows to shut down. Although Broadway remains on pause through January 3, 2021, the production team continues to prepare for the upcoming premiere. Stay tuned for updates—discount ticket information for The Music Man will be available here as soon as it’s announced!
The Music Man – Lead cast
Harold Hill: Hugh Jackman
Born October 12, 1968, in Sydney, Australia.
Hugh Jackman, returning to Broadway after about nine years, rose to stardom as Wolverine in the popular “X-Men” film series. Before his Hollywood success, Jackman honed his craft in the theater. While studying journalism at the University of Technology Sydney, he discovered his passion for acting through an elective drama class. After graduation, he performed in musicals such as “Beauty and the Beast” and “Sunset Boulevard,” and in 1998, he starred as Curly in the West End revival of “Oklahoma!,” earning a Laurence Olivier Award nomination that marked his international breakthrough.
Hugh Jackman’s Tony Award-winning performance
His stage talent was proven when he won the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical for “The Boy from Oz” in 2004. He also hosted the Tony Awards three consecutive years (2003, 2004, 2005) and again in 2014.
Jackman’s exceptional range extends beyond the stage. His portrayal of Jean Valjean in the 2012 film “Les Misérables” earned him the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. He was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for his role as P. T. Barnum in the 2018 film “The Greatest Showman.” His ability to sing, dance, and act seamlessly stems from years of stage training.Interestingly, “The Music Man” holds a special place in Jackman’s heart—he first performed in it as a student at Knox Grammar School in Australia, playing a traveling salesman. He has described it as the first musical that made him feel like part of a story. Returning to this same musical decades later as a Broadway lead makes his comeback even more meaningful.
Video: Hugh Jackman’s musical performance
Here’s a live performance video from “The Greatest Showman.” After watching, you’ll understand why audiences worldwide are eager to see his energy, voice, and charisma live on stage.
A star-studded creative team behind The Music Man
The creative team for this revival of “The Music Man” is nothing short of extraordinary. Director Jerry Zaks is a veteran of both television and stage, with a career spanning decades. He won the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical for “Hello, Dolly!” (2017) and has been nominated multiple times across his career, including Best Direction of a Play on three occasions.
Zaks also co-directed and produced the 2016 musical “A Bronx Tale” alongside actor Robert De Niro.
The production and costume design are by Santo Loquasto, one of Broadway’s most decorated designers, who has been continuously nominated and awarded at the Tony Awards since the 1970s.
His achievements include multiple wins for Best Scenic Design and Best Costume Design in both musicals and plays, spanning more than four decades of groundbreaking work.
The Music Man to be staged at the Winter Garden Theatre
A previous production at the same venue closed in June 2020, and beginning in April 2021, “The Music Man” will take its place on the Winter Garden Theatre stage.
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