Went to see Hugh Jackman in concert Wednesday night. He's doing these arena shows with a live orchestra, a set of dancers, and a local choir at each stop. He interspersed snippets about his life in Australia as a kid, his wife, his daughter's birthday (that night) -- they were both in attendance -- as well as highlights from both his musical work, including his latest (Greatest Showman), Les Miserables, and the Broadway musical for which he won the Best Actor Tony Award, The Boy From Oz, about fellow Aussie Peter Allen, who co-wrote a number of hit songs including the Academy Award Best Song "Arthur's Theme."
He performed from The Greatest Showman: "The Greatest Show" and "Come Alive" as the openers, and later "This is Me" (Keala Settle was not in attendance to sing this one in Denver, which was a disappointment) "A Million Dreams" and the next to last song of the night "From Now On."
I still think it would have been impressive to recreate the bar scene and do "The Other Side."
He did more songs from The Boy from Oz, which I'm guessing most of those in attendance were unfamiliar with, including "Not the Boy Next Door", a medley of "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do) / Don't Cry Out Loud / I Honestly Love You / Quiet Please, There's a Lady on Stage / I Go to Rio", "Tenterfield Saddler" and finishing with "Once Before I Go."
Sprinkled in between were all sorts of surprises, including
"Gaston" from Menken's Beauty and Beast, which was his first big role, in the Australian version of the Broadway musical (1995);
Sinatra's "All the Way":
the original Aussie song "I've Been Everywhere" (1959);
"You Will Be Found" from Dear Evan Hansen;
"Soliloquy" from Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel;
a medley from Les Miserables which was a show stopper (and the last act before intermission) of "Valjean's Soliloquy / I Dreamed a Dream / One Day More."
He did another medley in the second half of old school Broadway tunes showing off his dance moves with "Luck Be a Lady / Singin' in the Rain / I Got Rhythm / Steppin' Out With My Baby / and Sing Sing Sing."
And had a collaborative set with Nomad Two Worlds including "Art Song" "Inhibition" and "Over the Rainbow" followed (strangely) by, of all things, "Mack the Knife"
It was eclectic and energizing, to be sure.
He's set to return to Broadway next, headlining a revival of The Music Man.
Some photos from my seat (sadly a bit too high with the light rigging to see the center circle screen)
He did a lot of interacting with the crowd, including three or four youngsters, most dressed like mini-Greatest Showman ringleaders as well as pulling one woman on stage to dance.
One Day More is a favorite and he had hit his stride by this point, even after mentioning how acutely "17% less oxygen" felt in Denver.
From the Peter Allen stuff:
(note the Animal puppet with the drummer, right hand screen)
just for Nick, from "Singing in the Rain"
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