Keating, created the role of Lotty Wilton in the world premiere of Matthew Barber's Enchanted April at The Hartford Stage Company. She was awarded the 2000 Helen Hayes Award for Best Actress for Tom Stoppard's Indian Ink at Washington, D.C.'s Studio Theatre. Other regional credits include The Rise and Fall of Little Voice and Dinner With Friends.
Beth Fowler is best remembered for creating the role of Mrs. Potts in Broadway's Beauty and the Beast. Jackman — known for such films as "Kate and Leopold" and "X-Men" — has the lead role of entertainer Peter Allen in the musical.
The show is a musical biography of the late entertainer who was a protege of Judy Garland (Keating) and who was briefly married to Liza Minnelli. The Australian production of The Boy from Oz ran two years and starred Todd McKenney as Allen. It received strongly positive reviews when it opened March 5, 1998, at Her Majesty's Theatre Sydney. Nick Enright penned the musical's original book, though since fall 2001, Martin Sherman, of Bent and A Madhouse in Goa note, has been the project's librettist. Philip Wm. McKinley is the director Joey McKneely is the choreographer.
The Broadway musical will be designed by Robin Wagner (sets), Ann Hould-Ward (costumes), Donald Holder (lighting) and ACME Sound Partners (sound design). Patick Vaccariello will serve as musical supervisor. Orchestrations will be by Michael Gibson.
Sources say the show has many musical numbers and ends with Allen's signature song, "I Go to Rio." The original cast recording of the Australian production included the following songs:
"Continental American"
"When I Get My Name In Lights"
"Pretty Keen Teen"
"All I Wanted Was the Dream"
"Only An Older Woman"
"Don't Wish too Hard"
"Sure Thing Baby"
"Quiet Please, There's A Lady On Stage"
"I'd Rather Leave While I'm In Love"
"Taught By Experts"
"Not the Boy Next Door"
"Everything Old Is New Again"
"Best That You Can Do"
"Love Don't Need A Reason"
"She Loves To Hear The Music"
"I Honestly Love You"
"I Still Call Australia Home"
"Don't Cry Out Loud"
"Tenterfield Saddler"
"I Go To Rio"
