Sutton Foster and Hugh Jackman co-starred in The Music Man on Broadway in 2022. Credit: Instagram

Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster’s reported romance is a classic showbiz tale: when two actors playing pretend love interests take their on-stage romance off-stage.

Since rumours of The Music Man co-stars’ real-world romance picked up speed, the most fervent Broadway fans have combed the archives in a bid to figure out when the pair’s on-stage chemistry spiralled into something more.

A resurfaced interview from July 2022 has Foster herself giving away the secret to how their real-life love story started.

In an appearance on Live with Kelly and Ryan, the 49-year-old dual Tony Award-winning actor said she and Jackman took part in an intimate pre-show ritual nicknamed “carpet chat”.

“We hang out in my dressing room before every show and just catch up,” Foster explained.

“Somehow we ended up sitting — maybe because my dressing room’s a mess — we sit on the carpet.”

She described the private ritual as a “wonderful thing” that brought them closer as co-workers into “really good friends”.

“That’s been one of the best parts of the whole thing, that I’ve made this wonderful new friend.”

Foster shared a photo of one of the “carpet chats” to her Instagram in March 2022.

In the 2022 revival of The Music Man — which ran until January 2023 — Jackman played con man Professor Harold Hill and Foster played his leading lady.

The musical tells the story tells the story of what happens when Hill arrives in River City, posing as a boys’ band organiser, and falls in love with (and tries to woo) the town’s straight-laced librarian and piano teacher, Marian Paroo (Foster).

At the time of the performances, Jackman and Foster were married to other people. They have both since divorced their partners, which has only added fuel to the rumours’ fire.

In September 2023, Jackman and his wife of 27 years, actor and producer Deborra-Lee Furness announced their separation, writing on social media they had decided to “pursue our individual growth”.

“We have been blessed to share almost three decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage,” their statement read.

“Our family has been and always will be our highest priority. We undertake this next chapter with gratitude, love, and kindness.”

Just over a year later, Foster filed for divorce from her husband of 10 years, screenwriter Ted Griffin.

While the reports of Jackman and Foster’s supposed relationship — which neither party has publicly commented on — may have come as a surprise to celeb watchers, their romance was allegedly an “open secret on Broadway” .

InTouch Magazine first linked the pair in December 2023, when the 56-year-old Australian Wolverine star was reportedly “romancing” his 43-year-old co-star. An insider told the magazine the pair “have been inseparable” with Jackman “besotted” with Sutton “from the moment he met her”.

“He followed her around like a puppy,” the source said, InTouch reports, adding that Foster was “absolutely giddy” around Jackman.

Jackman reportedly always treated Foster as the star and “insisted that they shared equal billing above the title of the show”, a move which reportedly “moved” her.

“Everyone in the theatre world has seen the chemistry between them. It was only a matter of time before the truth came out.”

Footage taken from the audience of The Music Man performances shows, after one of their final bows in March 2022, Jackman conducting the audience to sing “Happy Birthday” to Foster.

“This is a little unusual, a little unorthodox,” he told the crowd.

“Today is a very special day … Someone very special in our family is celebrating a birthday today.”

Foster could be seen on-stage covering her face with her hand as Jackman rallied the audience into song.

“But we also know that we have to share her with millions and millions of other people,” he continued.

“So I thought it would be appropriate, tonight, for someone who is, I think one of the best actors alive today, universally beloved in our industry and outside of our industry… to sing her happy birthday.”

His special birthday tribute echoes the saccharine sentiments the co-stars shared in media appearances throughout The Music Man’s run.