Hugh Jackman thanks his 'Music Man' understudy after testing positive for COVID again

Hugh Jackman, who is currently starring in "The Music Man" on Broadway, has had to bow out once again after a second bout of COVID-19.

A day after performing at the Tony Awards, Jackman told his fans he had "frustratingly" tested positive for the virus for a second time, once again forcing him to lean on his understudy Max Clayton so that the "show can go on."

"Max and I have been working together on this show for over two years, and I can tell you ... he is absolutely extraordinary," Jackman told his followers on Instagram. "So I'm just frustrated that I won't get to see him and cheer him on."

The Tony winner added, "But I'll be cheering you on in my heart, Max, and to everyone, my whole cast of 'The Music Man,' I hate not being there, but I'll be back as soon as I can."

Jackman also noted that while Broadway continues to deal with COVID-19, it's brought to light the value of understudies like Clayton.

"I've said it before, and will say it a million times more ... Maxi and all the standbys, swings and understudies around the world, you are the true heroes of theater," he wrote. "You give life to the saying 'the show must go on.'"

Jackman will miss performances starting Tuesday and will return to the Winter Garden Theatre on June 22, according to "The Music Man" Twitter account.

To the understudy, the message added, "Max, you better grab your Harold Hill suitcase and get on the next train to River City!"

In December 2021, Jackman, then subsequently his co-star Sutton Foster, missed performances because of the virus.