Hugh Jackman will return to Broadway during the 2013/2014 season starring as America’s greatest showman in HOUDINI, an original musical. Making his Broadway debut as librettist, Academy Award and six-time Emmy Award winner Aaron Sorkin will collaborate with three-time Academy Award and four-time Grammy Award winner Stephen Schwartz.
Directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O’Brien, HOUDINI is presented by film and theatre producer Scott Sanders and David Rockwell. Mr. Rockwell will also design the sets for HOUDINI. Additional HOUDINI casting, creative team and design team to be announced at a later date. The show, when previously announced, was to feature music by Danny Elfman and lyrics by David Yazbeck.
One of the world’s most fascinating figures takes center stage in HOUDINI, an original and contemporary look at the life–and death–of America’s first superstar.
“I have been deeply fascinated by the life of Harry Houdini since I was young, and in many ways I’ve been preparing for this role my whole life,” said Hugh Jackman. “I am thrilled to be collaborating with this collection of artists who are all at the top of their game.”
“Rather than being a biography, HOUDINI–told in a contemporary tone–tells the story of an epic battle that took place between the world’s greatest illusionist and a trio of women, known as ‘Spiritualists’, who convinced millions of people, including the editors of Scientific American and The New York Times, that they could communicate with the dead,” said Aaron Sorkin. “The chance to collaborate with Stephen Schwartz, Jack O’Brien and Hugh Jackman on a new Broadway musical is a huge gift.”
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