Hugh Jackman to portray Peter Allen in new musical

Australian heartthrob Hugh Jackman (Kate and Leopold, X-Men) will play gay singer-songwriter Peter Allen in Boy From Oz, a new musical that will be workshopped in New York in April, reports The New York Times. (The workshop shows will be closed to the public, but if all goes well, a full-scale production is scheduled for spring 2003.) The show's book is written by out playwright Martin Sherman (Bent) and will feature songs by Allen, best known for his brief marriage to Liza Minnelli, for composing "I Go to Rio" and "Arthur's Theme," and for creating the flop Broadway musical Legs Diamond. Jackman has extensive experience in musical theater, having played Curly in Trevor Nunn's London production of Oklahoma! He will perform at Carnegie Hall in June, in a special presentation of Carousel.