Hugh Jackman brings jokes, drama and John Denver to opening night at the Hollywood Bowl
Strumming a black acoustic guitar to match his black tuxedo pants and jacket, Hugh Jackman strolled onto the stage of the Hollywood Bowl and let the audience know precisely what it was in for.
'Little bit of Neil Diamond,' he said as the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra revved up the go-go self-improvement jive of 'Crunchy Granola Suite.'
A dedicated student of showbiz history, the Australian singer and actor was starting his concert Saturday night just as Diamond did half a century ago at the Greek Theatre gig famously captured on his classic 'Hot August Night' LP.
Yet Diamond was just one of the flamboyant showmen Jackman aspired to emulate as he headlined the opening night of the Bowl's 2025 season. Later in the concert, the 56-year-old sang a medley of tunes by Peter Allen, the Australian songwriter and Manhattan bon vivant whom Jackman portrayed on Broadway in 2003 in 'The Boy From Oz.' And then there was P.T. Barnum, whose career as a maker of spectacle inspired the 2017 blockbuster 'The Greatest Showman,' which starred Jackman as Barnum and spawned a surprise-hit soundtrack that went quadruple-platinum.
'There's 17,000 of you, and if any of you did not see 'The Greatest Showman,' you might be thinking right now: This guy is super-confident,' Jackman told the crowd, panting ever so slightly after he sang the movie's title song, which has more than 625 million streams on Spotify.
The success of 'Showman' notwithstanding, Jackman's brand of stage-and-screen razzle-dazzle feels fairly rare in pop music these days among male performers. (The theater-kid moment that helped make 'Wicked' a phenomenon was almost exclusively engineered — and has almost exclusively benefited — women such as Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Chappell Roan and Laufey.) What makes Jackman's jazz-handing even more remarkable is that to many he's best known as the extravagantly mutton-chopped Wolverine character from the Marvel movies.
Before Jackman's performance on Saturday, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, conducted by Thomas Wilkins, played a brief set of orchestral music that included selections from John Ottman's score for 'X2: X-Men United.'
The ascent of Benson Boone, with his mustache and his backflips, suggests that Jackman may yet find inheritors to carry on the tradition he himself was bequeathed by Diamond and the rest. But of course that assumes that Jackman is looking to pass the baton, which was not at all the impression you got from his spirited and athletic 90-minute show at the Bowl.
In addition to stuff from 'The Greatest Showman' and a swinging tribute to Frank Sinatra, he did a second Diamond tune — 'Sweet Caroline,' naturally, which he said figures into an upcoming movie in which he plays a Diamond impersonator — and a couple of Jean Valjean's numbers from 'Les Misérables,' which Jackman sang in the 2012 movie adaptation that earned him an Academy Award nomination for lead actor. (With an Emmy, a Grammy and two Tonys to his name, he's an Oscar win away from EGOT status.)
For 'You Will Be Found,' from 'Dear Evan Hansen,' he sat down behind a grand piano and accompanied himself for a bit; for the motor-mouthed 'Ya Got Trouble,' from 'The Music Man' — the first show he ever did as a high school kid, he pointed out — he came out into the crowd, weaving among the Bowl's boxes and interacting with audience members as he sang.
'I just saw a lot of friends as I went through,' he said when he returned to the stage. 'Hello, Melissa Etheridge and Linda. Hello, Jess Platt. Hi, Steph, hi, David, hi, Sophia, hi, Orlando — so many friends. Very difficult to say hello to friends and still do that dialogue.' He was panting again, this time more showily. 'It's like 53 degrees and I'm sweating.'
The show's comedic centerpiece was a version of John Denver's 'Thank God I'm a Country Boy' that Jackman remade to celebrate his roots as an 'Aussie boy.' There were good-natured jokes about shark attacks and koalas and Margot Robbie, as well as a few pointed political gibes, one about how 'our leaders aren't 100 years old' — 'I'm moving on from that joke fast,' he added — and another that rhymed 'Life down under is really quite fun' with 'I never have to worry: Does that guy have a gun?'
The emotional centerpiece, meanwhile, was 'Showman's' 'A Million Dreams,' for which the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra was joined by 18 members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic's Youth Orchestra Los Angeles. The song itself is pretty cringe, with a lyric bogged down by cliches and a melody you've heard a zillion times before. But Jackman sold its corny idealism with a huckster's sincerity you couldn't help but buy.
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Los Angeles Times
7 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Hugh Jackman brings jokes, drama and John Denver to opening night at the Hollywood Bowl
Strumming a black acoustic guitar to match his black tuxedo pants and jacket, Hugh Jackman strolled onto the stage of the Hollywood Bowl and let the audience know precisely what it was in for. 'Little bit of Neil Diamond,' he said as the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra revved up the go-go self-improvement jive of 'Crunchy Granola Suite.' A dedicated student of showbiz history, the Australian singer and actor was starting his concert Saturday night just as Diamond did half a century ago at the Greek Theatre gig famously captured on his classic 'Hot August Night' LP. Yet Diamond was just one of the flamboyant showmen Jackman aspired to emulate as he headlined the opening night of the Bowl's 2025 season. Later in the concert, the 56-year-old sang a medley of tunes by Peter Allen, the Australian songwriter and Manhattan bon vivant whom Jackman portrayed on Broadway in 2003 in 'The Boy From Oz.' And then there was P.T. Barnum, whose career as a maker of spectacle inspired the 2017 blockbuster 'The Greatest Showman,' which starred Jackman as Barnum and spawned a surprise-hit soundtrack that went quadruple-platinum. 'There's 17,000 of you, and if any of you did not see 'The Greatest Showman,' you might be thinking right now: This guy is super-confident,' Jackman told the crowd, panting ever so slightly after he sang the movie's title song, which has more than 625 million streams on Spotify. The success of 'Showman' notwithstanding, Jackman's brand of stage-and-screen razzle-dazzle feels fairly rare in pop music these days among male performers. (The theater-kid moment that helped make 'Wicked' a phenomenon was almost exclusively engineered — and has almost exclusively benefited — women such as Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Chappell Roan and Laufey.) What makes Jackman's jazz-handing even more remarkable is that to many he's best known as the extravagantly mutton-chopped Wolverine character from the Marvel movies. Before Jackman's performance on Saturday, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, conducted by Thomas Wilkins, played a brief set of orchestral music that included selections from John Ottman's score for 'X2: X-Men United.' The ascent of Benson Boone, with his mustache and his backflips, suggests that Jackman may yet find inheritors to carry on the tradition he himself was bequeathed by Diamond and the rest. But of course that assumes that Jackman is looking to pass the baton, which was not at all the impression you got from his spirited and athletic 90-minute show at the Bowl. In addition to stuff from 'The Greatest Showman' and a swinging tribute to Frank Sinatra, he did a second Diamond tune — 'Sweet Caroline,' naturally, which he said figures into an upcoming movie in which he plays a Diamond impersonator — and a couple of Jean Valjean's numbers from 'Les Misérables,' which Jackman sang in the 2012 movie adaptation that earned him an Academy Award nomination for lead actor. (With an Emmy, a Grammy and two Tonys to his name, he's an Oscar win away from EGOT status.) For 'You Will Be Found,' from 'Dear Evan Hansen,' he sat down behind a grand piano and accompanied himself for a bit; for the motor-mouthed 'Ya Got Trouble,' from 'The Music Man' — the first show he ever did as a high school kid, he pointed out — he came out into the crowd, weaving among the Bowl's boxes and interacting with audience members as he sang. 'I just saw a lot of friends as I went through,' he said when he returned to the stage. 'Hello, Melissa Etheridge and Linda. Hello, Jess Platt. Hi, Steph, hi, David, hi, Sophia, hi, Orlando — so many friends. Very difficult to say hello to friends and still do that dialogue.' He was panting again, this time more showily. 'It's like 53 degrees and I'm sweating.' The show's comedic centerpiece was a version of John Denver's 'Thank God I'm a Country Boy' that Jackman remade to celebrate his roots as an 'Aussie boy.' There were good-natured jokes about shark attacks and koalas and Margot Robbie, as well as a few pointed political gibes, one about how 'our leaders aren't 100 years old' — 'I'm moving on from that joke fast,' he added — and another that rhymed 'Life down under is really quite fun' with 'I never have to worry: Does that guy have a gun?' The emotional centerpiece, meanwhile, was 'Showman's' 'A Million Dreams,' for which the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra was joined by 18 members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic's Youth Orchestra Los Angeles. The song itself is pretty cringe, with a lyric bogged down by cliches and a melody you've heard a zillion times before. But Jackman sold its corny idealism with a huckster's sincerity you couldn't help but buy.
New York Post
9 hours ago
- New York Post
Inside the secret society of ‘real life vampires' — and the arousing secret of how they drink blood
Mobsters. Doctors. Politicians. Musicians. What's the common thread connecting this motley crew? Advertisement They're all in Australia's secret society of real vampires. Spawned from the goth subculture, this shadowy community – known as a 'vampire court' – now includes Aussies from all sorts of walks of life. 16 Stemming from goth subculture, this shadowy community – known as a 'vampire court' – includes Aussies. Andrey Kiselev – Think real vampires are just pale people drinking red cordial? Think again. Advertisement To many of its followers, the true blood lifestyle is about much more than fashion. It's about survival. And though they might not transform into bats or live forever, they do drink real human blood, wear surgically-enhanced fangs and let loose at vampire balls. 16 Followers drink real human blood, wear surgically-enhanced fangs and attend vampire balls. Gillie and Marc/Youtube Advertisement These days, their ranks are being quietly pumped by social media and the decline of religion. Just don't ask these creatures of the night to throw light on their very dark way of life. They claim they keep to themselves and aren't dangerous. But critics claim some vampires use this cloak of secrecy to exploit people. So are they really monsters? Medical mysteries? Or just misunderstood? Advertisement 'I want revenge' For centuries, vampire folklore has compelled us. Tales of bloodsucking beasts can be found in ancient cultures around the world including First Nations people. But in the last few decades, they've been forever fixed in pop culture as a romanticized symbol of finding identity in the world. This romanticism is at the heart of the complex history between real vampires and Sydney local Crystal, who does not wish to share her real name. On one hand, Crystal claims they've drugged her. Drank her blood without consent. Even forced her to drink the blood of others. On the other hand, she remains transfixed by their mythical morbidity. For Crystal, it all began when she was invited to an opulent mansion party in Sydney's affluent suburb of Vaucluse when she was just 18. Crystal, who was drawn to gothic culture at the time, said the house belonged to the father of a friend of a friend who worked as a nurse. Advertisement 16 Sydney local Crystal claims the vampires drank her blood without consent, but remains transfixed by their mythical morbidity. Supplied Inside the party, she claims to have found herself in imposing company. She was greeted by yakuza and triads – otherwise known as the Japanese and Chinese mafias. 'They were just standing around wearing suits and watching anime movies', Crystal told Advertisement 'And they weren't shy about what they did'. As it happened, the mafia is not the only bloodthirsty group these men belonged to. Crystal soon learned they were part of the Australian chapter of an international 'vampire court'. Inside, Crystal says she was given a glass of champagne. Soon after drinking it, she claims she sat on a couch and lost consciousness. When she woke up, she alleges she felt lightheaded and her neck and arms were dotted by what she calls 'love bites'. Looking back, she believes she'd been drugged. There were no other signs of assault. Advertisement 'I didn't know what to think at the time,' she says. Before she left, Crystal was given a dark diagnosis. 'They told me I'd been infected with the virus.' She never reported her experience to the police. Indeed, real vampires would come back to haunt her before long. After moving into a Newcastle monastery to study business, Crystal met members of a local court. Advertisement 16 Nicolas Cage as Dracula in 'Renfield.' Photo Credit: Universal Pictures While things started safely, one night the group pressured her to drink from a bottle of red. It was human blood mixed with cordial. 'They said, 'it's time to join us',' says Crystal. 'You can't choose to join this society. They choose you.' Feeling powerless, Crystal agreed. But the court came harder than ever. Another night, Crystal woke with puncture wounds on her wrist. 16 'They said, 'it's time to join us',' says Crystal. 'You can't choose to join this society. They choose you.' Supplied Crystal believes the vampires had fed on her while she slept. She kept quiet about the incident because the court had 'powerful people on their side.' 'There are doctors, nurses, business owners and musicians,' she says. 'It's very secretive. From the outside, they live normal lives.' Until now, Crystal kept her experience to herself out of fear she would not be taken seriously. Or worse. But now, she wants to raise awareness. 16 'There are doctors, nurses, business owners and musicians,' she says. 'It's very secretive. From the outside, they live normal lives.' Supplied 'I want revenge for how I was treated.' Despite this messy history, Crystal's experience with the court was forever imprinted onto her self-image. She hopes to one day launch a safe-space for people to appreciate vampire culture. Medical mystery Crystal's disturbing account is not unlike a scene in a horror movie, where vampires lunge from the shadows and maul victims' necks before sucking on the flowing wine-like liquid. 16 In the movies, vampires lunge and maul victims' necks for their flowing, wine-like liquid. copy photo It's important to note that vampiric crime is rare, and abusers of power are far from unique to the courts. For most members, this community offers a sense of belonging, and some courts are heavily involved with charity causes. Not all 'real vampires' feed on blood. And for those who do, the practice is traditionally safe. So how does it work? 16 Bela Lugosi as Count Dracula. Universal Studios What's known as a 'donor' will willingly offer their blood to a vampire. Both take medical tests and other precautions. Complications are rare. Which is fine. But it begs another question: why? Real vampires claim they feel sick and lethargic if they don't feed on human blood. It balances their energy. 16 Movie poster for 'Dracula 'starring Bela Lugosi. AP Some believe this thirst for blood is a sign of a deeper mental health problem. So is it all a big delusion? When vampires follow a code of silence, it's not easy to say. But that secrecy is well founded. They've learned the hard way their lifestyle inspires revulsion. That's why this community stays in the shadows. Most Australian vampires I contacted for this story declined to take part in it. One local fanged figure you need to know is Jason De Marco, otherwise known as Don Jason. Don Jason runs the Sydney Vampires Meetup Group. He's also an electioneering member of the Liberal Party, bringing new meaning to the idea of a bloodsucking politician. At least this one is honest. In a YouTube video made by married artists Gillie and Marc Schattner, Jason is seen wearing Edwardian-era clothing, surgically-enhanced fangs, and a wide smile. Among the graves of Waverley cemetery, he says Don Jason first knew what he was aged four. 'I was different from other children' Jason said. 'I said I'm going to grow up and be Dracula.' 16 'I said I'm going to grow up and be Dracula,' Don Jason, who runs the Sydney Vampires Meetup Group, said. Gillie and Marc/Youtube He says he drinks exclusively from the razor-sliced thighs of female donors. They don't just consent to this feeding. They're aroused by it. 'They seem to get an orgasm off it every time,' he claimed. 'People can assume we're insane: why do you have this need to drink blood?' 16 'People can assume we're insane: why do you have this need to drink blood?' Don Jason says. Gillie and Marc/Youtube 'The only thing I have to worry about is my innate illness, which was ironically an illness associated with the vampire myth.' 'My vitals can shut down and I look like a corpse. People who had it used to be buried alive.' Marc Schattner said Don Jason suffers from porphyria, a rare blood disorder thought to have inspired early vampire mythology. 16 Marc Schattner said Don Jason suffers from porphyria, a rare blood disorder thought to have inspired early vampire mythology. Gillie and Marc/Youtube 'It can cause symptoms like extreme sensitivity to sunlight, skin blisters, and a reddish-purple discoloration,' he says. Jason is an extreme example. Some people just like vampires for a good old-fashioned doof. 'Not merely an event' The dawn of the vampire ball is misty. Sometime during the rise of Europe's medieval masquerade balls, a darker event emerged in honour of the undead. These days, the vampire ball circuit is an international network spanning Romania, the US and Australia. 16 Bela Lugosi in 'Mark of the Vampire.' Melbourne's annual Carpe Noctem Vampire Ball was recently held in April. The founder of the event, who asked to remain anonymous, said it's about something bigger than costumes. 'More than just an opportunity to don elaborate attire, the Carpe Noctem Vampire Ball is a celebration of identity and belonging.' After a signature 'bloodbath cocktail' (ingredients undisclosed), the crowd – comprised of goths, role players and the real deal – take part in rituals including a 'sacrifice' that 'lifts the veil between the living and the dead.' Australian vampires Few real-vampires claim to have the magical powers you'll find in Twilight. But if I had to throw money on one of them being superhuman, Andreas Bathory is the one. 16 Kristen Stewart, left, and Robert Pattinson are shown in a scene from 'Twilight.' AP He dwells on the sprawling grounds of Bran 'Dracula's' Castle in Romania's Transylvania. With these walls, Bathory drinks donated blood. Sometimes sleeps in a coffin. And channels Vlad the Impaler. 'It's not merely an event' Bathory says. 'It's a portal.' Bathory is the leader of the Ordo Dracul, a vampire court based in Transylvania. And he says more and more Aussies are signing up. 16 Bran Castle towers above Bran commune, in Brasov county. via REUTERS 'New initiates are joining from Australia. Some of my dearest allies come from Melbourne and the Gold Coast,' he said. 'Australia resonates with the old blood.' Bathory believes these vampires thrive in silence. 'Just because we're not loud, doesn't mean we're not present. In our world we prefer to walk the line of shadows.' 16 Bran Castle, also known as Dracula's Castle, in the Carpathian Mountains. REUTERS 'Realise their full potential' The University of Western Sydney's Dr Adam Possamai charted the rise of real vampires in his book Sociology of Religion for Generations X and Y. He believes it's a 'hyper-real religion' – a modern hybrid of religion, philosophy and popular culture that helps people find their identity in a noisy world. 'The vampire is no longer a monster that needs to be destroyed,' he said. 'It's now a superman-type of character that people aspire to become to realise their full potential. 'As society becomes more consumerist, I expect hyper-real religions like vampires to grow. But it's tricky to quantify.' 'Are they people who identify with the image alone? How far do their practices go? And how long will they keep them up?' Though Australian vampire groups have picked up thousands of members on social media, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) said in a statement they don't formally recognise vampires. 'Vampires don't describe a stand-alone group in any of the statistical standard classifications used to disseminate Census data,' a spokesperson said. 'The ABS regularly reviews statistical standard classifications and holds public consultations to ensure standard classifications reflect the Australian community.' Until vampires are socially acknowledged, we'll never know how many of them walk among us or what secrets they hold. Nelson Groom is a freelance writer. His novel The Auction is coming soon. Learn more on his Instagram Got a story? Get in touch: nelsonsamuelgroom@
American Military News
11 hours ago
- American Military News
Jessie J has early breast cancer, will have surgery soon
Singer Jessie J has breast cancer. Early breast cancer, mind you, and she's taking care of it as soon as possible. 'I'm highlighting the word 'early,'' she said Tuesday via video on Instagram. 'Cancer sucks in any form, but I'm holding on the word early.'' The 'Bang Bang' artist also joked that it was 'a very dramatic way to get a boob job.' The pop star and coach on the Australian version of 'The Voice' has been undergoing tests in private, she said. In a little less than two weeks, after a radio station-sponsored music mini-festival at Wembley Stadium in London, she will undergo surgery. 'I just want to [exhale] and just let you guys know, it wasn't something I'd planned, but yeah, I'm getting to keep my nipples,' she said. 'That's good. It's a weird topic and a weird situation and I know that the press are gonna say crazy stuff.' It was the expected media attention that held up her announcement for a bit, she said, because she had been going 'back and forth' about whether to reveal her situation, knowing that celebrity outlets were likely to turn 'early' into something much more ominous. She also said she was 'not processing it' because she was working so hard. 'To get diagnosed with this as I'm putting out a song called 'No Secrets,' right before a song called 'Living My Best Life' — which was all pre-planned before I found out about this — I mean you can't make it up,' the 37-year-old marveled. That said, Jessie J is a 'sharer,' she explained, and an 'open book.' Maybe a little too open? 'I am going to disappear for a bit after Summertime Ball to have my surgery, and I will come back with massive t—,' she said on camera, 'and more music.' But her own Instagram caption countered that salacious prediction. 'Also not getting massive t—,' she wrote. 'Or am I? No no… I must stop joking.' Joining Jessie J in the 2025 Summertime Ball lineup are Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff, Mariah Carey, Benson Boone, Tate McRae, Myles Smith, Lola Young, KSI, JADE, Renee Rapp, Rita Ora, Dasha and more. 'All jokes aside (You know it's one of the ways I get through hard times),' she wrote on Instagram. 'This last 2 months have been so amazing, and having this go on along side it on the sideline's has given me the most incredible perspective. BUT… Your girl needs a hug.' ___ © 2025 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
