Hugh Jackman Tests Positive For Covid-19 With Breakthrough Case

Actor Hugh Jackman has tested positive for Covid-19. He is fully vaccinated and received his booster shot on Dec. 5. He is experiencing mild symptoms in the breakthrough case.

Jackman, 53, announced the news on social media Tuesday. “I just wanted to make sure you heard this from me,” he wrote in his post. “I tested positive for Covid. Mild symptoms and looking forward to getting back on stage ASAP! Sending love for a happy and healthy new year.”

The screen and theater actor is currently starring as Harold Hill in a Broadway production of The Music Man. Last week, his costar Sutton Foster announced that she had tested positive for the virus.

“Yesterday I tested positive for Covid,” wrote Foster in her own social media post at the time. She went on to praise the work of swings and understudies, who step into roles at a moment’s notice and who ensure that shows can go on. She said, “At noon Kathy Voytko found out. And last night she went on for Marian Paroo and smashed it. Grateful to Kathy and our incredible company. Grateful to all swings and understudies who keep all the shows going, now and always.”

Foster’s post came days after Broadway League President Charlotte St. Martin‘s controversial comments about swings and understudies. When discussing the reason for the surge of performance cancelations in an interview, Martin said, “My educated guess is the newer shows maybe have understudies that aren’t as efficient in delivering the role as the lead is. Some of the older shows have more experienced understudies and more experienced swings. I know one show last week where the lead was out, the understudy was on vacation, the swings were covering other parts, and they just didn’t have enough people to stand in.”

Martin faced heavy backlash for her comments, and soon issued an apology.

After a performance of The Music Man last week, Jackman gave a speech in which he also praised swings and understudies. “They all know 10 roles,” the two-time Tony Award-winner said. “Kathy, when she turned up at work, could have had any of eight roles, and it happened to be the leading lady.”

The Music Man has been in preview performances since Dec. 20, and plans to open officially on Feb. 10, 2022. However, it announced on Tuesday that it has canceled performances through Jan. 1.

“All tickets can be refunded or exchanged at point of purchase,” the show said in a statement. “Performances will resume on Sunday, January 2. Sending you warm wishes for the New Year from the entire company of The Music Man.”