It Turns Out He Does Know the Territory

Over on his website yesterday, Mark Evanier wrote about the very strong rumors that there would be another revival of Meredith Willson's The Music Man (following the successful 2000 revival with Craig Bierko, from which I've posted several videos). And that it would star Hugh Jackman.

Well, it turns out that the very strong rumors aren't rumors any more, but reality.  It's been announced that Hugh Jackman will indeed be starring in Meredith Wilsson's The Music Man -- though not until October, 2020.

There must be something in the air, because the Tony-winning Goodman Theatre in Chicago is doing The Music Man this summer -- and I have tickets for it.  (The Music Man is the first professional musical I ever saw, with of all people Forrest Tucker as Prof. Harold Hill -- and from my extremely young memory he was wonderful, Yes, I was really young, but if you know Forrest Tucker's work -- particularly as the fast-talking con man Sgt. O'Rourke, you can figure out that not only is it likely that he would indeed be great in the role, but also it's near-ideal casting.  The show remains one of my 2-3 favorites.  Which is why I've planned by trip to Chicago to coincide with the production.)

This summer in Chicago is one thing.  But October, 2020 with Hugh Jackman is something else entirely.  However, for those of you who can't wait that long, we here at Elisberg Industries do our best to be accommodating.

I had a memory of a couple of times when Hugh Jackman performed a song from The Music Man on TV -- and was able to track them down.  Thereby not only being accommodating, but making clear that surprising as this announcement is, it shouldn't be all that shocking.  Especially in the first video, he makes clear his love for the show.

That appearance was on The Tonight Show when Jay Leno was still hosting.  As far as I can determine, this may have been around six years ago, in 2013.

​And yes, as you'll see -- though this isn't one of Harold Hill's songs -- it seems pretty likely that he'll be quite wonderful in the show.  For his talents and his love of the show.
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The next year on the Tony Awards when he was hosting, Jackman performed the same song again -- it's called "Rock Island," for those keeping sore.  But there's a fun twist to it, so stick around.
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