So Why Was Hugh Jackman Hopping Through the TONYS Opening Number?

Last night, Golden Globe and Tony Award-winning actor Hugh Jackman returned to host THE 68TH ANNUAL TONY® AWARDS for the fourth time. The song and dance man's big opening number featured him bouncing through the aisles, halls and backstage area of New York's famed Radio City Music Hall, running into several famous faces and nominees along the way.

While the number was certainly amusing and entertaining, many were left wondering, what's with the hopping? According to the star's rep Alan Nierob, the routine was a tribute to a song titled 'Take Me to Broadway', performed by Bobby Van in the film Small Town Girl.

Below, check out the opening number in full followed by the the original number from the film which Jackman was referencing!

Jackman previously served as host from 2003-2005, earning an Emmy Award for his 2004 duties at the 58th Annual ceremony, as well as an Emmy nomination for his 2005 appearance at the 59th Annual ceremony.

The actor is an Academy Award® nominated, Golden Globe and Tony Award winning actor, who has made an impression on audiences of all ages with his multi-hyphenate career persona, proving that he is as successful on stage in front of live crowds as he is on a film set. The Australian native made his first major U.S. film appearance as Wolverine in the first installment of the "X-Men" series, a role he reprised in the enormously successful "X2," "X-Men: The Last Stand," "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" and "The Wolverine." He reunites with the X-men team for "X-Men: Days of Future Past," which is set for release in May 2014.

Jackman's other feature film credits include "Prisoners," "LES MISERABLES," for which he earned a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Comedy/Musical as well as his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, "Rise of the Guardians," "Real Steel," "Australia," "The Fountain," "The Prestige," "Scoop," "Happy Feet," "Flushed Away" "Deception," "Someone Like You," "Swordfish," "Van Helsing" and "Kate and Leopold," for which he received a 2002 Golden Globe nomination.

Most recently, Jackman appeared on Broadway in "Hugh Jackman - Back on Broadway" in the fall of 2011. Additional credits include "A Steady Rain" in 2009 and "The Boy From Oz," for which Jackman received the 2004 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical as well as Drama Desk, Drama League, Outer Critics Circle and Theatre World awards. Previously, Jackman appeared in "Carousel" at Carnegie Hall, "Oklahoma!" at the National Theater in London (Olivier Award nomination), "Sunset Boulevard" (MO Award - Australia's Tony Award) and Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" (MO Award nomination). Jackman's continued dedication to the Broadway community was feted at the 2012 Tony Awards where he received a Special Award from the Tony Awards Administration Committee, recognizing his accomplishments both as a performer as well as a humanitarian.

Source: USA Today

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