Theater News

Boy From Oz Fans Petition Producers for Video of the Show

Hugh Jackman as The Boy From Oz
Hugh Jackman as The Boy From Oz

Fans of the Broadway musical The Boy From Oz and of its star, Hugh Jackman, are using the internet to petition the producers to have the show taped for home video release. The complete text of the online petition is as follows:

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TO: Producers of The Boy From Oz

The fans of The Boy From Oz and its star, Hugh Jackman, would like to present this Petition to request that the show be recorded and released on DVD/VHS once the show closes later this year.

Mr. Jackman’s Tony-winning performance and portrayal of Australian entertainment legend Peter Allen is truly one for the ages. Filled with spark, style and indefatigable energy, the entire cast brings Peter’s catalogue of music back to life and leaves every heart soaring and toe tapping as they exit the Imperial.

Hugh’s fan base is truly international — fans have come to New York to see The Boy From Oz from as far away as the Phillippines, Japan, the Netherlands, France, and as close as the five boroughs of New York City. Not all of Mr. Jackman’s fans are as lucky. For logistical, geographical or simply financial reasons, they have not and may not be able to attend the show before Hugh’s departure on September 12, 2004.

For this reason, we would like to request that The Boy From Oz be recorded for release this fall on DVD and VHS. Given the current box office attendance numbers and the impressively sized cancellation line found nightly at the Imperial, combined with the large fan base that Mr. Jackman has through his film career ($100+ million international box office grosses for Van Helsing, as an example), we believe that this recording would be a record-setter for Broadway.

Remember…if you’re gonna live, LIVE!

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

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Based on the life and music of entertainer/songwriter Peter Allen, The Boy From Oz was first produced in Allen’s native Australia. The musical was rewritten for the Broadway production, which opened at the Imperial Theatre on October 16, 2003 and is scheduled to close on September 12, 2004. Although the show itself received mixed reviews, Jackman has been universally hailed for his tour-de-force performance as Peter Allen, and he won this year’s Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical.

Jackman is considered so essential to the production that the show took two week-long hiatuses during the past year when the star was on vacation, rather than continuing to play with an understudy. And though there was some talk of replacing Jackman with another star (Ricky Martin? John Travolta?) when his contract is up, it was ultimately decided that the show would simply close.

To add your name to the Boy From Oz petition, click here.

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The Boy From Oz

Closed: September 12, 2004