THRILLER LIVE
6 Ő 2 + :
The King Of Pop may be dead, but he lives on through bombastic West End show Thriller Live, which makes its Abu Dhabi debut this month…
With all the clamour, controversy and celebrity that surrounded Michael Jackson’s personal life, it’s possible to overlook his incomparable impact on popular music over the past four decades. Hit stage show Thriller Live cuts out the superfluous details, simply sticking to the songs and spectacularly energetic dance routines that made him the most successful entertainer of all time, both solo and with the Jackson 5. Debuting in London’s West End in 2008, three sell-out runs and high-profile dates across the world confirmed Thriller Live as a global phenomenon in its own right recreating wall-to-wall hits like I Want You Back, Smooth Criminal, Beat It, Billie Jean and Thriller itself. The show’s female lead singer, Brittany Woodrow, one of the newest members of the cast, reveals more… Thriller Live isn’t a musical, per se. Can you explain the concept? It’s is a concert to celebrate the music and live performances of Michael, and the Jackson 5. A musical or rock opera would have a story line or dialogue, whereas Thriller recreates the energy and atmosphere of a Michael Jackson concert. There are five main performers who sing the songs of Michael. I sing the duets and songs like The Way You Make Me Feel and Blame It On The Boogie. 22 WHAT’S ON JUNE 2011
The show began when Michael Jackson was still alive. Has it changed since his death? Thriller was running in its current format for two years prior to the loss of Michael. Before that it was an annual event put together by his fan club. The amazing back catalogue of material has always been the main focus, so that hasn’t changed, but certainly the feeling has become one of celebration and paying homage.
Is the reaction from fans different since his death? Do any get emotional? The show is definitely an emotional experience for fans. Not only sadness, but joy as well. When we sing Heal The World everyone seems to get emotional, audience and cast. I fight back tears every time we sing that song. The message is beautiful and so true. Michael’s vision for the world was amazing and he shared that vision through his music.