Jackman prepares to host
“Rehearsals really started this week because that’s when we finally got the stage (at Radio City),” Jackman said Friday before going into his marathon afternoon of singing and dancing.
The actor has been working steadily over the last month or so, not only with the show’s executive producers, Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner, but with writer Bruce Vilanch and choreographer Jerry Mitchell.
“Bruce and I have been e-mailing and holding conference calls, and I have worked extensively with Jerry, who is trying to make me look good,” Jackman said with a laugh.
It was Mitchell who devised the show’s lavish opening number, which will feature Jackman as well as the Radio City Rockettes, the three girl groups on Broadway in “Caroline, or Change,” “Little Shop of Horrors” and “Hairspray” and, to top everything off, cast members from all the shows.
Jackman was set to rehearse “Not the Boy Next Door,” the number from “Oz” that will be showcased on the telecast.
“The number is indicative of what a great time the show is,” Jackman said of the musical, which tells the life story of flamboyant Australian entertainer Peter Allen.
“I get to play with the audience a bit, and we’ve added a surprise to the song — but I don’t want to give that away.”
