Photo by OSA Images Costumes: Zaldy Goco©2011 Cirque-Jackson I.P., LLC
For one night only, Cirque Du Soleil’s Michael Jackson – the IMMORTAL tour will be gracing the stage at Austin’s Frank Erwin Center. With over 30 songs from the Jackson 5 and Michael, twelve musicians including Michael Jackson’s former drummer and saxophonist, half a dozen back-up singers plus ten choreographers cement this show as truly Immortal. Most notably, the show features choreographer Travis Payne from the famed This Is It tour. This is also the first tour to be officially approved by the Jackson Family Estate.
Michael Jackson’s relationship with Cirque du Soleil started long before they decided to Immortalize Michael. Jackson saw his first Cirque du Soleil Big Top show back in 1987, and has been a fan ever since. He last visited Cirque’s headquarters in Montreal in 2004. Expect to hear Michael’s own words and some of his favorite sayings along with sounds of his actual snaps and foot taps in the show’s musical score. IMMORTAL clearly captures the essence of the King of Pop while painting a portrait of his inner world of imagination, music, and magic. The astonishing performances will leave you breathless.
To more accurately describe the show, I had a chance to talk with IMMORTAL’s publicist, Laura Silverman.
Q: How important do you think a show like IMMORTAL is to all of Michael’s fans after his untimely death?
A: I think it’s extremely important. The focus is to celebrate his legacy and what he left behind. This is really the concert he never had. The creative team included colleagues and friends who knew him very well, including his drummer of 35 years. All of this lends an air of authenticity to the show. For Michael Jackson’s fans, this is an incredible showcase of how phenomenal his passion was. For non-fans, it’s great way for them to see just why he is known as the King of Pop.
Q: I heard the show’s producers met at Neverland Ranch for the first creative meeting for IMMORTAL. How do you think this helped influence the show?
A: The creative team got to explore the ranch and see how he lived and who he was beyond who we see him as an aritst. Neverland lent a lot of inspiration to the show, as seen in the props. Based on the actual gates of Neverland, a replica of the gates welcomes the audience into Michael’s world at the beginning of IMMORTAL. An aerial act in the performance was actually inspired by actual black and white swans seen at Neverland. This really clicked with the directors and, again, lends that feeling of authenticity to the show.
Q: From that first meeting, how long did it take for the show to be taken from concept to the full length show audiences can see today?
A: From that first meeting to the premiere, about a year and a half. A lot shorter than normal; we moved fast on this one. The artists all came on board quickly.
Q: Michael’s moves are so one of a kind. Was it difficult to find dancers to accurately embody Michael’s spirit?
A: There is not one impersonator in the show. The dancers are incredible. We held invitation-only auditions in New York City and Paris. Thousands auditioned, and we came up with a team of incredibly talented dancers. They have worked with the best top artists including Britney Spears, Pink, Madonna, Ricky Martin, and Rihanna. From a technical standpoint, they are all super talented. As for spirit, growing up being an artsist or a dancer gives a certain passion apparent in all of the dancers and artists, even acrobats. It is an incredible opportunity and they do a great job.
Q: I’ve also heard one of the dancers, a one-legged hip-hop dancer, made quite a splash on Ellen. How is he incorporated into IMMORTAL?
A: He actually has many solos. He is an incredible dancer. There’s really not much more to say. He goes out hoping to show people that anything’s possible. He keeps up with everyone else in the show dancing with both legs. He’s featured in solos as well as all of the ensemble performances.
Q: How many cities has IMMORTAL’s toured?
A: Austin is our 58th stop.
Q: Can Austin’s Michael fans expect to see IMMORTAL come back through town another time if they miss the June 15th performance?
A: We do have plans to come back after the North American tour at the end of August. If Austin fans miss the show we are also playing in San Antonio on June 23 and Dallas on June 26.
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Perhaps little known, Michael Jackson shares a quirky connection with Austin. Jackson’s adored monkey, Bubbles, was actually born in an Austin medical research facility. Austinites love Michael. In June 2011, Austin commodities trader and philanthropist Milton Verret bought Michael Jackson’s famous Thriller jacket for $1.8 million to raise money for wildlife charities. Austin’s own blues rock star, Gary Clark Jr., sited Michael as one of his career’s most important influences during an interview with Carson Daly. After Michael’s tragic death, several clubs, restaurants, and deejays held a celebration of Michael’s music and life. Alamo Drafthouse even held a candlelight screening of videos and a singalong. Breaking a world record in October 2008, a flash mob of 800 people danced to Thriller decked out in full regalia at the Long Center.
Jackson was lasted spotted in Austin in 2009 shopping at the Recycled Records on Congress Avenue for The Cowsills album. His legacy continues to live on in Austin to this day. His nephew, Austin Brown, performed for the first time this year at the SXSW Music Festival in Austin and aired on CNN.
This unforgettable show will captivate audiences of all generations with its astounding juxtaposition of music, dance and magic. This is one you don’t want to miss.
Click here to see a preview of the IMMORTAL tour. Click here to buy tickets for the one-night-only performance in Austin.
Photo by OSA Images Costumes: Zaldy Goco©2011 Cirque-Jackson I.P., LLC
