THRILLER LIVE CELEBRATES 1000TH PERFORMANCE
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London Theatre Direct
Thriller - Live, the spectacular concert show that celebrates the music of the world's greatest entertainer and undisputed King of Pop, Michael Jackson, is to celebrate its 1,000th performance in the West End at the Lyric Theatre on Thursday May 26.
For one night only, Blue, who have sold over 14 million records worldwide and recently represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest, and Shaheen Jarargholi, the Britain's Got Talent contestant who was in a pre-West End tour of Thriller - Live, will perform in the show. Shaheen sang I'll Be There at the 2009 MOBO Awards, during the ceremony's tribute to Jackson. After performing on the Britain's Got Talent tour, he sang a musical tribute of Who's Lovin' You on stage at the Los Angeles Staples Center, at the 7 July 2009 globally televised Michael?Jackson memorial service. He had been invited to perform with Michael in his This Is It series of London concerts.
Celebrities in the audience will then continue the 1,000th celebrations at a party at Planet Hollywood.
Unlike other West End productions, Thriller - Live is not a rigid book musical with set songs, but is a constantly evolving music concert celebration including Michael Jackson and Jackson 5 chart-toppers such as “I Want You Back”, “I’ll Be There”, “Earth Song”, “Blame It on the Boogie”, “Billie Jean”, “Beat It” and, of course, the title song, “Thriller”, from best-selling albums including Off The Wall, Thriller, Bad, Dangerous and HIStory. . Following the death of Michael Jackson, the show has regularly been updated with additional songs, new visuals and choreography. Since opening in the West End, several world tours have seen the show play to acclaim in many countries, including Germany, Italy, Poland, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, France, Singapore, South Africa, China, Sweden, Finland and Norway. Further productions are planned for Australia, South and North America and Canada. It has been seen by more than 1.5 million people worldwide.
A year after his death, a permanent West End memorial to Michael Jackson was unveiled in the foyer of the Lyric Theatre by the cast and Britain?s top dance group, Diversity, winners of Britains Got Talent, who had also been booked by Michael Jackson to perform alongside him at his This Is It dates at the O2.
Thriller Live opened in the West End on 21 January 2009 (previews from 2 January), initially for four months only, but increased demand after Jackson's death has led to numerous extensions in the West End – it is currently booking through to 22 January 2012.
The show is directed by Gary Lloyd and written by Adrian Grant, with design by Jonathan Park. The cast is led by three 13-year olds who rotate in the role of Young Michael. It is produced by Paul Walden and Derek Nicol for Flying Music in association with Adrian Grant for Key Concerts.
Book Thriller Live tickets online now.
[posted by Louise, 20/05/2011]