Stefan Sinclair as Michael Jackson in Thriller Live. Picture; Betty Zapata
Cast and crew on the hit Thriller Live at London’s Lyric Theatre are gearing up for a 10th anniversary year of milestone moments.
Now the eighth longest-running show currently playing in the West End, Thriller Live will celebrate becoming the 14th longest-running West End musical of all time on 15 February.
Further celebrations and prime-time TV appearances are also planned to mark what would have been Michael Jackson’s 60th birthday in August as well as the show’s 4,000th West End performance later this year.
Inspired by the life and music of Michael Jackson, the show recently announced a new West End booking period, taking the show up to September.
Commenting on the 2018 celebrations, Adrian Grant, author of Michael Jackson – The Visual Documentary and executive director of Thriller Live, said: “Michael Jackson, who so sadly passed away on 25 June 2009, is and will always be the undisputed King of Pop. He is in my opinion the world’s greatest ever entertainer, and I feel it is very fitting that Thriller Live continues its West End run and world tour as a tribute to his memory, and as a celebration of his work.
“We dedicate Thriller Live to Michael Jackson – the performer and the man – for his creativity and humanitarian vision of peace, love and harmony. It has been a privilege for everyone connected to the show to work with one of the greatest ever catalogues in music history. We hope this celebration will be just one small part of the Michael Jackson legacy.”
Thriller Live, which is choreographed and directed by award-winning Gary Lloyd, was originally conceived and created by Grant. It is produced by Paul Walden and Derek Nicol for Flying Music in association with Grant for Key Concerts.
The creative team includes original concept and executive director Adrian Grant; musical supervisor and head arranger John Maher; set designer Jonathan Park; lighting designer Nigel Catmur; associate lighting designer Matt Lee; video content designer Colin Rozee; costume stylists and supervisors Shooting Flowers; sound designer Chris Whybrow; casting director Debbie O’Brien; associate choreographer Yasmin Yazdi; associate choreographer: Jo Dyce; media programmer Sam MacLaren; and original choreographer for ‘Dangerous’ LaVelle Smith Jnr.
The longest-running production in the Lyric’s 125-year history, the newest version of the show with new elements including songs costumes and special effects was launched at the venue two years ago.
The current Thriller Live West End company includes: Charlotte Berry, Jason Brock, Wayne Anthony Cole, Vivienne Ekwulugo, Haydon Eshun, David Jordan, John Moabi, Cordell Mosteller, Stefan Sinclair, Aisling Duffy, Peter Cleverly, Florivaldo Mossi, Jamie Mason, Ella Redhead, Brett Baxter, Shakara Brown, Ella Coghill, Jamal Crawford, Joel Ekperigin, Ashley Jordon-Packer, Emma Jane Smith, Sophie Usher, Jorgia Vaughan, Triple Calz, Isaiah Mason, Christian Posso and Jay Jay Prince.
The band consists of musical director John Maher (guitar 2, keyboard 2), assistant musical director Ryan Alex Farmery (keyboard 1), Damien Cooper (guitar 1), Oliver Latka (bass guitar), Mike Bradley (drums) and Accy Yeats (percussion).
A second Thriller Live company is touring the UK and Europe until July.
Thriller Live recently completed a successful return visit to the People’s Republic of China, the state-of-the-art 1,200-seat theatre at the new Parisian Hotel Macau, where it had previously been chosen as the venue’s opening production in 2016.
The art world will join in the Jackson celebrations this summer with the exhibition Michael Jackson: On The Wall at the National Portrait Gallery. Running from 28 June until 31 October, the exhibition will bring together the work of over 40 artists.
Angela Thomas
Tickets for Thriller are available HERE
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