Fox News is reporting that the talk of the AUSTRALIA movie premiere the other night was the exciting "news" that the film's star, Hugh Jackman, is all set to "reappear" on Broadway in original musical, HOUDINI in the spring of 2010.
Reports reveal that Hugh is "already working on magic routines. The show, when it materializes, would include Jackman replicating big Houdini tricks on stage. Hugh has already played a magician in the movie, "The Prestige," so he's already ahead of the game. Magician extraordinaire Ricky Jay is said to be giving him advice. At some point the producers may reach out to David Blaine and to Cirque du Soleil for help reports the Fox News website.
Tony Award-winning producer Scott Sanders and Tony- nominated architect/set designer David Rockwell had announced plans to present HOUDINI, An Original Musical on Broadway in the spring of 2010 a number of months ago. The creative team includes Danny Elfman (music), David Yazbek (lyrics), Kurt Andersen (book), and Jack O'Brien (direction). HOUDINI, An Original Musical marks the Broadway debuts of Mr. Elfman and Mr. Andersen, and first-time producing debut for Mr. Rockwell, who will also design the sets.
Harry Houdini (1874-1926), one of the world's most famous and stupefying escape artists, was known to constantly up the ante. Throughout his career, the magician seemed capable of outwitting any restraint or obstacle - from handcuffs to jail cells to underwater traps and underground caves to thick walls. The only exception was his inability to satisfy his driving, obsessive quest to challenge the limitations of being human. HOUDINI, An Original Musical ultimately deals with the human yearning for astonishment and miracles-both manmade and supernatural-and the quest to defy death.
"When David Rockwell asked me to join him as a co-lead producer, I didn't hesitate for a moment. Houdini is an amazing, iconic figure who continues to captivate our imagination more than 80 years after his death. His colorful world defines the theatrical and, combined with this remarkable creative team, will make for a fascinating and entertaining musical," says Scott Sanders.
"The musical theater has always been a passion of mine, and I can't imagine a more thrilling opportunity than the creation of a new musical, especially with this team" adds David Rockwell.
Broadway theatre, casting and full design team will be announced at a later date.
Danny Elfman (Music) is one of today's most successful creators of movie music and is has managed to make the transition from rock musician with his band Oingo Boingo ("Dead Man's Party") to three-time Oscar-nominated orchestral score composer. The Grammy-winning composer has been working in motion pictures since 1985, when director Tim Burton and star Paul Reubens called him to write the music for Pee-Wee's Big Adventure. Since then, Elfman has scored nearly all of Burton's movies including Beetlejuice, Batman, Edward Scissorhands, Batman Returns, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Mars Attacks!, Sleepy Hollow, Planet of the Apes, The Corpse Bride, and Charlie And The Chocolate Factory . Elfman has earned Oscar nominations for his inventive scores to Good Will Hunting , Men in Black and Big Fish.. He has also composed the scores for such diverse films as Midnight Run, Spider-Man 1 & 2, Dick Tracy, Sommersby, Mission: Impossible, Black Beauty, Dolores Claiborne, Chicago, Dead Presidents, A Simple Plan, The Family Man, Proof of Life, To Die For, Charlotte's Web and Meet The Robinsons. Upcoming scores include Wanted staring Angelina Jolie for acclaimed Russian director Timur Bekmambetov, Errol Morris' documentary Standard Operating Procedure, Hellboy II directed by Pan's Labyrinth's Guillermo Del Toro and Milk, a biographical film about Harvey Milk directed by Gus Van Sant starring Sean Penn. Elfman is also well-known for his classic television themes to "The Simpsons," "Tales from the Crypt," and "Desperate Housewives." Elfman's first full-length orchestral commission, Serenada Schizophrana, premiered at Carnegie Hall and was recorded for Sony Classics. Elfman will be making his ballet debut this summer with the American Ballet Theatre's at the Metropolitan Opera House with the World Premiere of a new work choreographed by Twyla Tharp.
