Hugh Jackman is guest for Academy of Music Anniversary Concert
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Artswatch
Hugh Jackman is guest for Academy of Music Anniversary Concert
Peter Dobrin, Inquirer Classical Music Critic
Who is the special guest for the Academy of Music's 156th birthday this January? Is it:
(a) A highly respected song and dance man? (b) The sexiest man alive, 2008? Or (c) a wolverine?
In a gesture of considerably greater Hollywood dash than previous years, Academy leaders are importing all three in a single guest: Hugh Jackman.
The 43-year-old Australian actor and singer will perform with the Philadelphia Orchestra January 26th for the Academy of Music Anniversary Concert.
Jackman wasn't available for an interview, an orchestra spokeswoman said, and details of the program are not yet set.
However, she said: "We are told we can expect highlights from some of his award-winning performances, that he will dance, and that it will be an all-around theatrical performance, including some of his comedic wit. As always, we will leave much of this to be a surprise to the audience."
Conducting the program this year is new music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin.
Jackman is known as Wolverine in the X-Men film series and for roles in Kate & Leopold, Van Helsing and The Prestige. He won a Tony Award for his role in The Boy from Oz. He was People magazine's "sexiest man alive" in 2008, and is involved in several charitable organizations.
Tickets, which go on sale Nov. 1, range in price from $200 for the concert alone, to $325-$1,850 for the entire Academy of Music Anniversary Concert and Ball. Information: 215-893-1978, www.philorch.org.
Huh? *This* is who POA management is placing its bets on? And he does what, exactly? Yet another brilliant brain cramp from this shockingly inept crew of lightweights. I guess Kato Kaelin was not available?— SupportTheArtsInPhilly- Philly isn't *that* far from NYC, is it? Apparently you were too busy each time Mr. Jackman performed on Broadway. If you have any appreciation for talent, take advantage of this local appearance and you will never miss him LIVE on stage again.— A Theater goer
- Hmmm, SupportTheArtsinPhilly is unaware of Hugh Jackman's musical experience in Australia, London's West End and on Broadway (Tony Winner for the musical The Boy From Oz), and must be living on a rock if he/she is so completely unaware that Hugh will be playing Jean Valjean in the big screen version of the musical Les Miserables. Please, change your name, because as a supporter of the arts in Philly who works in the arts in Philly, you give the arts in Philly a bad name.— Phillynovafreedom
Peter Dobrin is a classical music critic and culture writer for The Inquirer. Since 1989, he has written music reviews, features, news and commentary for the paper, covering such topics as the Philadelphia Museum of Art at the Venice Biennale, expansion of the Curtis Institute of Music, the Philadelphia Orchestra's bankruptcy declaration in 2011, Philadelphia's evolving performing arts center and the general health of arts and culture.
Dobrin was a French horn player. He earned an undergraduate degree in performance from the University of Miami, and received a master's degree in music criticism from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, where he studied with Elliott Galkin. He has no time to practice today.
