Hugh Jackman and wife to produce projects to "help revive Broadway post-pandemic"?

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 5/24/21 at 10:26am

"According to the friend, Jackman and Furness ... "can't wait to collaborate. They feel like there's nothing they can't accomplish together." … With new Broadway projects in mind, it may be that Jackman is trying to save face in the theatre community after sources said that the actor was "feeling pressure" to pull out of starring in The Music Man …:

https://okmagazine.com/p/hugh-jackman-producing-projects-with-wife-deborra-lee-furness/

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 5/24/21 at 1:00pm

Take with a grain of salt from this publication...

I'm all for famous/wealthy people investing money in Broadway shows or setting up a fund to commission work from talented writers. But the ticket value of a "celebrity" producer is pretty minimal (with the big exception of Oprah on the original Color Purple because she promoted it on her talkshow...and we know what happened when Kathie Lee tried to do the same).

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 5/24/21 at 3:43pm

The value of a celebrity producer is not necessarily in using their name to sell tickets, but using their name to sell the show to other producers and investors. Someone like Hugh Jackman being a lead producer opens a lot of doors within the entertainment industry and beyond that someone like a Ken Davenport could only dream of.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 5/24/21 at 4:04pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Take with a grain of salt from this publication...

I'm all for famous/wealthy people investing money in Broadway shows or setting up a fund to commission work from talented writers. But the ticket value of a "celebrity" producer is pretty minimal (with the big exception of Oprah on the original Color Purple because she promoted it on her talkshow...and we know what happened when Kathie Lee tried to do the same)."

Her effect would have been minimal as well, as many ticketbuyers assumed she was in the show. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 5/24/21 at 4:32pm

AEA AGMA SM said: "The value of a celebrity producer is not necessarily in using their name to sell tickets, but using their name to sell the show to other producers and investors. Someone like Hugh Jackman being a lead producer opens a lot of doors within the entertainment industry and beyond that someone like a Ken Davenport could only dream of."

That's fair, but the same could be said about a lot of the usual suspects who invest in shows. "Roy Furman and John Gore have good track records, they're in." Better than nothing, but I don't think it's going to magically solve the problem of raising money for a tough sell if Hugh Jackman has $100k in a $15m musical or even a $5m play.

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 5/24/21 at 4:59pm

But maybe he can convince some “names” to be attached. Take on some of those former Rudin revivals... Julie Andrews and cate Blanchett in night music

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 5/24/21 at 5:00pm

AEA AGMA SM said: "The value of a celebrity producer is not necessarily in using their name to sell tickets, but using their name to sell the show to other producers and investors. Someone like Hugh Jackman being a lead producer opens a lot of doors within the entertainment industry and beyond that someone like a Ken Davenport could only dream of."

You could argue this happened when JJ Abrams produced The Play That Goes Wrong.

[jo]

Posted: 5/24/21 at 5:06pm

Scott Rudin's co-producers for The Music Man ( before the controversy that led to his leaving the show) are billionaire angel producers David Geffen and Barry Diller ( Diller is also a co-producer for To Kill A Mockingbird).  There has been no word that they are leaving as producers as well.  In the interviews during the height of the Rudin issue, they only released neutral views and hoped that Scott Rudin would get some help for his issues. 

Btw, Rudin is no longer listed as a Producer on the Telecharge Information Page for TKAM --

https://www.telecharge.com/eventoverview.aspx?cityName=NY%20City%20Area&productId=12196

Updated On: 5/24/21 at 05:06 PM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 5/24/21 at 6:15pm

Theatrefanboy1 said: "But maybe he can convince some “names” to be attached. Take on some of those former Rudin revivals... Julie Andrews and cate Blanchett in night music"

Possibly, but there are very few producers who attract stars. The actors are smart and their agents are smarter. It's all about the role, the director, and –– eventually –– the money and availability.

And I would hope that if someone superfamous is going to dip their toe into producing or "presenting", it should be for NEW WORKS...not necessarily star-driven musical revivals.

Updated On: 5/24/21 at 06:15 PM

[JayElle]

Posted: 5/26/21 at 4:12pm

 

Jeff Bezos (Amazon founder/CEO) just bought MGM Studios for $8.45 Billion.  

Now there's a good money source to replace Rudin. 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 5/26/21 at 5:42pm

JayElle said: "

Jeff Bezos (Amazon founder/CEO) just bought MGM Studios for $8.45 Billion.

Now there's a good money source to replace Rudin."

Right.  Bezos working with 27 different unions -- what could possibly go wrong??