Jackman's Boy from Oz Fit for London???
Date: 7 June 2002
Might Hugh Jackman someday return to tread the boards in the West End? Certainly, recent Stateside activities suggest that the Australian native - who's pretty much absconded to Hollywood since earning rave reviews and an Olivier nomination as Curly in Trevor Nunn's 1998 production of Oklahoma! at the National - is missing belting out a tune onstage. Last night, Jackman appeared opposite Broadway diva Audra McDonald in an all-star performance of Carousel at New York's Carnegie Hall as part of the Richard Rodgers' centenary celebrations, and it's now been confirmed that he'll lead the 25-strong cast of the Australian musical The Boys from Oz when it receives its Broadway premiere in September 2003. The Boy from Oz tells the story of the real Peter Allen, from his humble beginnings growing up in the Australian outback through a meteoric rise to fame as an international star who would go on to sell out week-long engagements at Radio City Music Hall. No echoes there then. The Broadway production will be directed by Philip William McKinley and choreographed by Joey McKneely. British fans may take some hope in the fact that our own Ruthie Henshall played opposite Jackman in last month's New York workshops for the musical and also that it's being co-produced by Briton Robert Fox. Sounds like a West End hit to me.
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