Rather than allowing Jackman's standby — soap star Kevin Spirtas — to temporarily replace Jackman, the producers of the musical will shut down the show during Jackman's vacations. Variety reports that Jackman is scheduled to take time off from the production Feb. 1-6, 2004, and March 28-April 2.

Since its official opening at the Imperial Theatre Oct. 16, Jackman — a star of stage (London's Oklahoma!) and screen ("X Men") has yet to miss a performance. The musical has also been doing extremely well at the box office, last week taking in $903,803.

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The Boy from Oz is "a musical true story" of the late entertainer Peter Allen who was a protege of Judy Garland, and briefly married to her daughter Liza Minnelli. Allen died of complications from AIDS in 1992. Sherman (Bent) provides the libretto for the score which features the music and lyrics of the pop superstar. Nick Enright is credited with the original book.

Joining Jackman (as Peter Allen) in The Boy From Oz are Stephanie Block (as Liza Minnelli), Beth Fowler (as mother Marion Woolnough), Isabel Keating (as Allen's mentor and mother-in-law, Judy Garland), Jarrod Emick (as Allen's companion, Greg Connell), Mitchel Federan (as the young Peter) and Michael Mulheren (as father, Dick Woolnough, and the manager promoter Dee Anthony).

Philip Wm. McKinley directs the Broadway musical with choreography by Joey McKneely. Patrick Vaccariello serves as music director. Orchestrations are by Michael Gibson. Ben Gannon and Robert Fox produce. For tickets to The Boy From Oz at the Imperial, 249 West 45 Street, call (212) 239-6200 or click here. For more information, visit the show's website at www.theboyfromoz.com.