Hugh Jackman is set to revive “The Music Man” on Broadway, after “The Greatest Showman” actor agreed to star in a 2020 production of the former hit show. The energetic 50-year-old Australian superstar is looking to back up his Emmy, Tony and Grammy Award-winning successes with another toe-tapping musical performance in a show that harks back to the golden age of Broadway.
Renowned for his all-action roles in box office smashes such as the “X-Men” films, Jackman is equally at home treading the boards and his latest project seems to be one that has been in his thoughts for quite some time.
The Hollywood hunk admitted in a statement that “The Music Man” was the first Musical he had been in and to bring it back to Broadway had been on his mind, but to finally see that ambition come true “is a huge thrill.”
Jackman to play Harold Hill
Jackman will play the main role of con artist Harold Hill, hoping no doubt to emulate the smash success of the former production from the 1950s which ran on Broadway for more than 1,300 performances and bagged five Tony Awards as a result. Meredith Willson’s music and lyrics were fundamental to its enduring popularity, including timeless classic numbers such as “Seventy-Six Trombones”, “Ya Got Trouble” and “Till There Was You”.
Respected producer on board
Producer Scott Rudin certainly has confidence in his leading man and is excited to be able to utilise his talents in what he believes is “the best role ever written for an actor in all of Broadway musical theatre.”
Rudin represents an extremely safe pair of hands for the new venture, with a proven track record of success on Broadway and an enviable capability for running multiple shows per season.
Fifteen Tony awards and counting, his record in the cutthroat industry certainly speaks for itself. His 2017 production of “Hello, Dolly!” featuring Bette Midler became a massive hit with musical fans and he is looking to bring back many members of the crew behind its success for “The Music Man”, including respected director Jerry Zaks.
Continued success for “The Greatest Showman”
The critical and commercial success of “The Greatest Showman” continues to be evident, after the album from the show was announced recently as the world’s biggest seller for 2018. Its global appeal ensured that it held off all-comers, including South Korean boy band sensations “BTS” who had to be satisfied with the second and third spots. The remaining top five positions were filled by Lady Gaga’s popular “A Star Is Born” soundtrack in fourth position, with the late French rock and roll singer Johnny Hallyday in fifth (“Mon Pays C’est L’amour”).
