Hugh Jackman, Josh Groban, Idina Menzel, and More on Their Most Embarrassing Musical Auditions

In honor of the Tonys, we asked some of our favorite Broadway actors to share the story of their most memorable auditions for a musical. Josh Groban recounts being laughed out of the room for his try at Sweeney Todd, Idina Menzel shares the secret of her Wicked outburst, Hamilton’s Leslie Odom Jr. reveals the song he always auditions with, and Hugh Jackman admits that his run for the musical Beauty and the Beast forced him into singing lessons. Watch for these stories and more.
Interviewed by Sam Maher, YesBroadway
Filmed by Lucas Flores Piran, Michael Kefeyalew, Tristan Walczak, Tyler Kohlhoff
Sound by Colin Alexander, Christopher Bennett, BoTown Sound; Keith Ringling, Thump Recording Studios; Max Mellman
Sound Mix by Colin Alexander
Color by Gabriele Turchi
Filmed at Sardi’s, Crosby Street Hotel, B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, Russian Samovar - Tolstoy’s Lounge, Imperial Theater, Chateau Marmont
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Hugh Jackman, Josh Groban, Idina Menzel, and More on Their Most Embarrassing Musical Auditions

[@niara_wav]

I love how they all had these awful, failed attempts but it didn't stop them, they laughed it off, worked harder and look at where they are now. So inspiring, we all have to start somewhere!

[@RonaldAtkinson9]

The key to actors and actresses. Never take any thing personally.....in audition. Just keep going and prefecting the craft. And keep going to auditions.

[@anneliesa240]

Indina Menzel's Story is HILARIOUS!
This shows that even some of the best of the best aren't perfect and mess up once in a while.

[@MrNotThatFamous]

i'm gonna miss him as wolverine but omg he is so handsome (Hugh)

[@jeffelyheffley9836]

Thanks for clarifying, thought you meant Josh Groban

[@htcupcakesstudios5731]

Jeffely Heffley oh, I thought he meant Idina menzel

[@AndySaenz]

Mr Not That Famous Hugh is hot, he’s a man’s man.

[@leilanisosa5986]

well if it isn't aaron burr, sir

[@sporetour8053]

Leilani Sosa LESILE is great.

[@purplealpaca4995]

😂😂😂

[@ellieshin1216]

ALEXANDER!

[@alyphavee8321]

@Faagalo Collins oh well sure, sir, Im Alexander Hamilton. Im at you're service sir. I have been looking for you.

[@ChloEHopsonSings]

I honestly cackled when I read this

[@lucyfelice3819]

My parents saw Hugh Jackman in that beauty and the beast production and they still talk about it now😂😂

[@c0llapsingst4rs]

I WATCHED THIS JUST FOR HUGH JACKMAN LAST TIME, BUT IM BACK FOR IDINA- OBSESSED WITH THIS QUEEN RIGHT NOW

[@swastman2]

Hugh Jackman is so multi-talented . He is one of my favourite actors & man crush.

[@rubymars5493]

Hugh Jackman is the best!!!! My favorite!! I just received his autograph! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@justsomegirl7274]

I love Hugh so much on broadway 😍

[@rhpmike]

Idina us so good that her screw up landed her one of the most iconic roles in broadway history lol

[@Niqhtmusic]

I can’t imagine wicked without idina

[@m76000]

Omg 6 years later and Josh is finally playing Sweeney Todd. And he is AMAZING!

[@michael_jacksonmjthekingof7237]

this why I love Hugh Jackman

[@Jackskellington9100]

I'd love to see Josh do Sweeney Todd now! That must have been so dishearting at that age for him!

[@bambipantanosas6641]

Hugh is so so handsome and cute!! And oozing with tremendous talent!! 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

[@maddiewashburn915]

I love Lucas Steele so much omfg

[@toastypearl41]

0:25, 3:27, 3:37, 1:17, 2:25, 3:52 Gotta love Hugh's stories. :)

[@acrylicgodoy]

I love Gaston's "proposal" song!!!! Hugh singing that just made my day

[@juswakun]

Idina: ...because he thought I was so evil and witchy
Also Idina right after: *Wicked Witch laughs*

[@BrokenTreeBranch458]

My girl Idina with the f word. She rocks that word better than any Wicked song she sang.

[@AndySaenz]

I have a man crush on Josh Groban. I’ve been a fan of his for ages, I think he’s got one of the most beautiful voices I’ve ever heard. He’s a great performer. If I ever make it big in the music industry, I would love to have a career half as successful as his.
I also love Hugh and Idina. The Greatest Showman and both Frozen films all have some of the most iconic songs ever.

[@camilaalvarado4106]

nothing but respect for my president Josh Groban

[@ginafrontino9236]

this is amazing and funny and Josh Groban is amazing

[@AngeliqueFelice]

I guess Idina didn't get the memo that your embarrassing story is embarrassing because you had a "fail moment" and DIDN'T get the part :/ Like, tell us about a FAILURE so we relate! WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED AFTER WICKED! haha

[@Emma-mf1vq]

Angelique Felice It was a fail 😂 it was just a good one that boosted her career

[@overlydramaticpanda]

I mean...it was probably still hugely embarrassing - breaking in any audition is on a par with forgetting lines during a performance in terms of how much an actor does not want to ever experience it. In any other audition, her cursing would probably not only result in *not* getting the part but also those on the panel not wanting to see her again for anything else. It was basically just plain good luck that it went the complete opposite direction.

[@ChienaAvtzon]

Fast forward to 2023 and Josh Groban is selling out the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre as a Tony-nominated Sweeney Todd.

[@m76000]

He is AMAZING as Sweeney

[@powerpuffableX]

Leslies singing makes me melt

[@flurrypawz]

It’s hard to even see wolverine in Hugh’s innocent kind face 😂😂

[@mernieto2257]

I love you hugh

[@littlewoim]

Ben Platt!!! ❤❤❤

[@carolinfulmer379]

Lucas Steele and Josh Groban ❤

[@jessp3977]

oml Hugh is such a babe plz explain to me how he is so perfect

[@aug07broken]

Josh and Hugh! So much talent and awesomeness!!!!!

[@Arualx]

Hugh and Josh

[@irenerosalie590]

I love him he's so nice a person 👌

[@evelynmcmanus7959]

And now Josh is doing Sweeny Tood

[@alexalodu2247]

Josh Groban je t'aime beaucoup ❤

[@c0llapsingst4rs]

I CANNOT BELIVE I AM SEEING HIM AT HIS CONCERT ON TUESDAY HOLY FRICKEN COW.

[@paigetessera7761]

luCAS STEELE!! we stan a high pitched mAn

[@lialoe6602]

AHHH HUGH AS GASTON

[@Victoria-op4rm]

Hugh❤

[@xxanimexx9905]

Hugh is damn handsome

[@willoww7023]

Re: Groban as Sweeney. Haha! Who's laughing now?!?! 😅

[@oliviamichel780]

My school played volleyball against his daughters school and he came to all of the games and we freaked out

[@maemae1531]

I LOVE JOSH AND LUCAS AHAHAHAHAHAHAH

[@mmM-ee1ci]

ah hugh

[@bingbong-yr6qe]

Hugh jackman is the Australian kinggg👅😍

[@winonawu8260]

Well done that production company

[@kishwerimtiaz9663]

Hugh is hot.

[@eurydicexoxo]

and now josh is sweeney in the 2023 revival 🥲

[@lenoralol9962]

2:41 he looks like a barbie doll

[@maggie3405]

Leslie 😍

[@sakimarumarumaru]

ハグジャックマン歌うまww

[@davidfathom3051]

Hugh Jackman would have been a much better Javert.

[@hewodoge6620]

Wicked idina?!?

[@linanajib6920]

I'M IN LOVE WITH HUGH JACKMAN ! IF ONLY I WAS OLDER AND I MET HIM BEFORE HIS WIFE AND I SEDUCED IM !!

[@trinitysuarez8596]

Woah chill

[@nettiegurl]

okay....no actual footage?

[@overlydramaticpanda]

Of the auditions? There wouldn't be. These were likely all (excluding Ben Platt's) auditions for stage productions - typically, the only time auditions are filmed are if the actor will need to be on camera (so really only if they're casting a movie/TV show) or on the very rare occasions the director is unable to be there in person.

[@owenchuarbx]

Elsa < Wolverine?

[@seen6107]

1st?hahhaha

[@ibo3761]

2nd

[@icelion326]

4th

[@kajsasifjar7729]

third ^^

[@elchicodelapartamento5123]

Does Idina annoy anyone else or just me? Idk guys she is just super annoying to me, since Enchanted

[@josephtafur]

Just you

[@katherineweaver3658]

I know this is late, but why? I think she’s really nice and funny