Hugh Jackman News

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Les Miserables,' 'Smash,' Idina Menzel, 'Come Fly Away,' 'Jersey Shore,' 'Legally Blonde,' Rogers Park theater history and more....

Looking for a quick roundup of this week's events? Look no further - here are some of the best articles the week had to offer!

The ultra-starry cast for the upcoming feature film version of the international smash musical sensation LES MISERABLES finally got one step closer to finding its Eponine and Cossette this week, as offers have gone out to pop music superstar Taylor Swift and breakout screen starlet Amanda Seyfried for the hotly anticipated Tom Hooper adaptation of the tuner which will also star Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe as Jean Valjean and Javert, respectively, Anne Hathaway as Fantine and Tony-winner Eddie Redmayne as Marius. While Seyfried is perhaps best known to Broadway babies for her lovable and memorable turn in the role of Meryl Streep's daughter in the ABBA jukebox movie musical MAMMA MIA!, Swift has displayed her ample affection for all things theatrical with her recent Broadway-themed SPEAK NOW tour as well as her memorable appearance on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE and on concert stages around the world. Both ladies certainly have the musical chops to take on these much-beloved Broadway roles - even if the soundtrack is to actually be recorded live on set, as the director himself has confirmed he intends to do - and, while neither Swift nor Seyfried has been officially confirmed by the producers as of this writing, both appear to more than merely satisfy the complex casting necessities for the standout roles and the overall younger-sided casting of the feature film adaptation so far. Yet, no matter how fantastic they may turn out to be in the finished final film, it sure will be difficult to manage to make much of an impression with a cast as impossibly accomplished as the one assembled for this film up until now - Jackman, Crowe, Hathaway, Redmayne, Aaron Tveit, Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen included! Plus, who knows what new musical numbers Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Shonberg are cooking up - and what characters shall sing them?! Whatever comes to pass, Christmas 2012 will be all about LES MISERABLES: THE MOVIE MUSICAL for Broadway babies everywhere - many of whom who have been waiting for this moment (and this movie) to arrive for over 20 years! Let's hope it was worth the wait! Until then, we have this look and listen to what made these ladies oh-so right for the roles. After all, less than 360 days remain until the big 24601!

Ellen DeGeneres, Morgan Freeman, Tina Fey, Ray Romano, Seth Meyers and Tracy Morgan have joined the star-studded line-up paying tribute to one of the world's most beloved entertainers in "Betty White's 90th Birthday: A Tribute to America's Golden Girl" on Monday, January 16 (8-9:30 p.m. ET). Also saluting White will be Carl Reiner, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Vicki Lawrence and John O'Hurley.

As BroadwayWorld reported Tuesday evening, Taylor Swift (Eponine) and Amanda Seyfried (Cosette) are the latest additions to the all-star cast of the upcoming Les Miserables movie musical adaptation, joining the previously set Hugh Jackman (ean Valjean), Russell Crowe (Javert), Sacha Baron Cohen (Thernardier), Eddie Redmayne (Marius), Aaron Tveit (Enjolras), Anne Hathaway (Fantine) and Helena Bonham Carter (Madame Thenardier). Jackman recently spoke to New York Magazine about his upcoming stint in the famous role, revealing how getting this opportunity feels like the apex of his professional career.

Variety reports today that despite an absence of movie musicals in multiplexes around the country this past year, 2012 is poised to usher in a record number of musical adaptations on the big screen. The season of musical films will begin with Joyful Noise (Warner Brothers), starring Dolly Parton, Queen Latifah and Broadway's own Jeremy Jordan, set for release on January 13. Throughout the year, musical lovers can expect cinematic renditions of the highly anticipated Rock of Ages (June 1), starring A-listers Tom Cruise, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Russell Brand, Alec Baldwin and more, and Les Miserables (December 7) with the likes of Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Taylor Swift, Amanda Seyfried, Broadway's Aaron Tveit and others.

With yesterday's announcement of the completion of casting for the upcoming big screen adaptation of Les Miserables, theatre lovers are left wondering if country songstress Taylor Swift has got the acting and singing chops to take on beloved, street urchin Eponine. BroadwayWorld has been equally curious, so we bring you the closest thing we found so far to a preview of what to expect from Swift in a Broadway role. In the video below, she sings West Side Story's 'Tonight' as a part of a promo for the 2009 Video Music Awards. Click below to check it out!

Hugh Jackman will return to Broadway during the 2013/2014 season starring as America's greatest showman in HOUDINI, an original musical. Making his Broadway debut as librettist, Academy Award and six-time Emmy Award winner Aaron Sorkin will collaborate with three-time Academy Award and four-time Grammy Award winner Stephen Schwartz. Directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O'Brien, HOUDINI is presented by film and theatre producer Scott Sanders and David Rockwell. Mr. Rockwell will also design the sets for HOUDINI. Additional HOUDINI casting, creative team and design team to be announced at a later date.

El reparto para la adaptación de la película Les Misérables está a punto de cerrarse, con Hugh Jackman en el papel de Jean Valjean y Russell Crowe como Javert. En las últimas semanas se ha anunciado que Sacha Baron Cohen será Thernardier, Eddie Redmayne será Marius, Aaron Tveit Enjolras, Anne Hathaway será Fantine y Helena Bonham Carter será Madame Thernardier.. Twitchfilm.com ha anunciado y Broadwayworld ha confirmado que la cantante de country-pop Taylor Swift dará vida a Eponine y que la protagonista de la película de Mamma Mia! Amanda Seyfried será Cosette.

Today, Twitchfilm.com has reported and BroadwayWorld.com has confirmed that offers are now out to country-pop singer Taylor Swift for the role of Eponine and to the opera-trained Mamma Mia! film star Amanda Seyfriend as Cosette.

Welcome to this week's edition of our new WEEKLY GROSSES ANALYSIS, part of our new Industry Insights section that will feature insider industry information, commentary and insights! Read on for all the weekly grosses statistics for the movers and shakers from the latest grosses, 1/1/2012.

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, January 1, 2012 - Sunday, January 1, 2012.

HUGH JACKMAN, BACK ON BROADWAY finished performances today, and after earning a $6 million advance before the show even opened, it's unsurprising that a look back shows that the production broke multiple records.

Tony Award-winner Hugh Jackman will close the successful BACK ON BROADWAY limited engagement today.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) continues its 2011-2012 Studio Theatre series with A Steady Rain by Keith Huff.

BroadwayWorld.com's SHOW BIZ: Rush, Lottery & Standing Room Only Ticketing Policies - updated on 12/30/2011.

Casting for the upcoming film adaptation of LES MISÉRABLES is just about complete, with Hugh Jackman taking on the role of Jean Valjean and Russell Crowe squaring off as Javert. Sacha Baron Cohen as Thernardier, Eddie Redmayne as Marius, Aaron Tveit as Enjolras and Anne Hathaway as Fantine were also announced to bring their star power to the cast.

Star of the stage and screen, Hugh Jackman visited Theater Talk last week for a comprehensive interview on his career. View it below!

Jackman talks his beginning in theatre, performing in Carnegie Hall for the first time, what he considers to be the 'Halmet of musicals' and the transformation that he needs to make for the upcoming LES MISÉRABLES film; and the star confirms that the film is on track to begin rehearsals at the end of January and start filming in March.

Welcome to this week's edition of our new WEEKLY GROSSES ANALYSIS, part of our new Industry Insights section that will feature insider industry information, commentary and insights! Read on for all the weekly grosses statistics for the movers and shakers from the latest grosses, 12/25/2011.