Hugh Jackman returned to the Hollywood Bowl with all the charm, stamina, and razzle-dazzle you’d expect from a bona fide Broadway and Hollywood star. Opening night of An Evening with Hugh Jackman was a joyous reminder that some entertainers aren’t just performers—they’re showmen. And Jackman, true to form, brought his A-game.
The evening began with conductor Thomas Wilkins leading the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra through a selection of classic tunes, highlighted by a crowd-pleasing suite from The Music Man – a fitting tribute to Jackman’s Broadway run. In a moving moment of musical mentorship, 18 graduating members of the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (YOLA) joined the stage for a stirring performance of “A Troupe’s Cadence,” bringing youthful energy and passion to the Bowl’s grand setting.
Then came Jackman, bursting onto the stage after intermission with infectious enthusiasm and charisma. He delivered a whirlwind tour of his film and stage repertoire, seamlessly gliding from high-energy numbers to heartfelt ballads. Songs from The Greatest Showman soared, but it was a medley from The Boy from Oz that stood out: a nostalgic journey through hits written by legend Peter Allen who you might not know wrote songs like “Arthur’s Theme,” “Don’t Cry Out Loud,” and a poignant tribute to Judy Garland. It was one of the night’s true “wow” moments.
A show highlight came as Jackman bounded into the audience mid-performance, performing “Ya Got Trouble” from The Music Man with such vigor and precision that it felt as if Harold Hill himself had taken over the Bowl. He dedicated a touching rendition of “You Will Be Found” to a lifelong friend and even poked fun at his own roots, turning “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” into a cheeky Aussie anthem.
With selections from Les Misérables, a Sinatra medley, and a few Neil Diamond tunes (teasing his upcoming role as a Diamond impersonator in “Song Sung Blue”), Jackman kept the night moving with infectious energy, tireless movement, and genuine joy.
While his vocal stylings might not satisfy every purist, there’s no denying his magnetic stage presence and sheer love for the craft. Hugh Jackman may not be The Greatest Showman, but after a night like this, he’s undoubtedly one of the great ones.
