Fed: Jackman in training for Boy From Oz arena musical

AAP General News (Australia)
02-13-2006
Fed: Jackman in training for Boy From Oz arena musical

By Jonathon Moran, National Entertainment Writer

SYDNEY, Feb 13 AAP - Hugh Jackman has until August to get in shape to play Peter Allen
in the physically gruelling stage musical, The Boy From Oz.

And he's well underway with an intense training regime.

"I was kayaking on the harbour this morning at 6am," Jackman told AAP in Sydney today.

"I have got to get very fit again and strong. I am dancing and doing a lot of yoga.

Having done it for a year (on Broadway) eight times a week, I am confident I can do it."

Following the success of the Broadway production of the same name, Jackman and producers
Ben Gannon and Robert Fox are bringing the show home - but this time it has been upsized.

The arena musical will start at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on August 3, with tickets
to go on sale on February 27.

The show will then travel to Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane, and there is talk of
dates to be set in Perth.

For Australia, Chrissy Amphlett will play Judy Garland and Angela Toohey will play
Allen's ex-wife Liza Minnelli.

Allen's mother, Marion Woolnough, will be played by Colleen Hewett.

"I am really excited about taking the show to the next level," said Jackman, who won
a prestigious Tony Award for his energetic performance on Broadway.

"It is new territory for me, mate. This is my rock star dream, I suppose.

Critics lauded Jackman's portrayal of Allen - the flamboyant and energetic boy from
Tenterfield in north-western NSW, who helped define the disco era in the 1970s and 80s,
before succumbing to AIDS in 1992 - in the Broadway production.

The first Boy From Oz production opened in Sydney in March 1998 and went on to become
the most successful new Australian musical ever staged.

Dancing with the Stars judge Todd McKenney was in the lead role then, with Jackman
taking on the Broadway lead in October 2003.

That production ended in September last year and there has been much speculation about
Jackman possibly taking the musical to London's West End, Las Vegas or Los Angeles.

Following Australia, Jackman would like to take the production to London.

"If this works ... I hope that we could do it in London and maybe back in America," said Jackman.

Jackman last performed on the Australian stage eight years ago, playing screenwriter
Joe Gillis in Sunset Boulevard.

The actor, who studied at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, is one
of Australia's biggest stars in Hollywood.

His film credits include Swordfish, Van Helsing, Kate and Leopold, Someone Like You
and the X-Men films.

He's got a number of releases over the next 12 months including the third X-Men movie,
Scoop, Happy Feet, The Fountain, The Prestige, Flushed Away, Wolverine and Good.

And Jackman said his role in The Boy From Oz had increased his credibility as a performer.

"Spielberg saw it, lots of people saw it and see me now in a different way," he said.

"That was not my intention ... some people thought I was nuts to take it on."

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