Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' set for Broadway?

BROADWAY SET FOR A THRILLER

PR-inside Entertainment News
6 November 2008
— PR-inside Entertainment News @ 11:36 pm

MICHAEL JACKSON’s 14-minute THRILLER video is on its way to Broadway - as an ambitious new stageshow.

Theatre impresario James Nederlander is producing a musical version of the promo, which wowed music fans when it first aired in 1983. The show is expected to hit the Nederlander Theatre in the next few years.

The zombie-themed video, directed by John Landis, cost $500,000 (GBP312,500) to make.

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News (World Entertainment News Network)

PR-Inside.com Entertainment News BROADWAY SET FOR A THRILLER

Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' set for Broadway?

Legendary video to become a stage musical

Nov 6, 2008

Michael Jackson’s legendary video ‘Thriller’ is reportedly to be made into a musical for Broadway.

The 14-minute video clip for the track, taken from the album of the same name, was directed by John Landis and made waves upon its release in 1983 due its length and cost, which at the time was $500,000.

The story centres on Jackson and his date, who are attacked by a mass of zombies after a night at the movies. According to the New York Post, James Nederlander will produce the Broadway production.

After shifting over a million copies a week for over a year, ‘Thriller’ became the worldwide best-selling album of all time, and was the first album to be Number One in the US and UK. It won seven Grammy Awards in 1984.

--By our New York staff.

Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' set for Broadway? | News | NME.COM

Michael Jackson Broadway Thriller

11/07/2008

(NME) Michael Jackson's legendary video 'Thriller' is reportedly to be made into a musical for Broadway.

The 14-minute video clip for the track, taken from the album of the same name, was directed by John Landis and made waves upon its release in 1983 due its length and cost, which at the time was $500,000.

The story centres on Jackson and his date, who are attacked by a mass of zombies after a night at the movies. -

Michael Jackson Broadway Thriller - antiMUSIC News

Michael Jackson's THRILLER to 'Strike' on Broadway?

The New York Post's PAGE SIX is reporting that James Nederlander is producing a musical version of Michael Jackson's video for his hit song ‘THRILLER'. Jackson's album of the same name is the best-selling record of all time. It spawned such hits as ‘Billie Jean', ‘Beat It', ‘The Girl Is Mine' and of course ‘Thriller'. Not much else is known other than a production is being planned. In an age where films are making the leap to the Broadway stage, it doesn't surprise that classic music videos might be thrown into the mix, Thriller in many ways resembled a musical with its dancing zombies and dynamic visuals. Hey, if vampires could take a bite out of the Rialto, why not singing zombies?

The release became the first album to reach number one in the United States and the United Kingdom simultaneously, becoming the first album to ever have that honor. 'Thriller', at the height of its success was selling a million copies a week worldwide. In little over a year, Thriller became the best-selling album of all time. Sales are estimated to be somewhere between 47-108 million copies sold worldwide. Seven of the album's nine songs were released as singles, and all reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album won a record-breaking seven Grammy Awards in1984.

Michael Jackson was one of the first artists to embrace the music video format, and with ‘Thriller' he took it to a level rivaling theatrical releases of the time. The 14-minute music video for the song of the same name was directed by John Landis who also co-wrote the screenplay with Jackson. ‘Thriller' was broadcast on MTV three weeks before Christmas 1983. It was the most expensive video of its time, costing $500,000 to make, and the Guinness World Records in 2006 list it as the "most successful music video", selling over 9 million copies.

'Thriller' featured choreographed zombies performing with Jackson as he danced his way through a spoof of the classic Night of the Living Dead and Universal Studios Horror films. Co-starring with Jackson was former Playboy centerfold Ola Ray. The video was choreographed by Michael Peters with major contributions by Jackson. The two had worked together before with great success on ‘Beat It' The video also contains incidental music by legendary film composer Elmer Bernstein, who had previously also worked with Landis on An American Werewolf in London. Thriller also spotlighted a spoken word performance by horror film icon Vincent Price. Hollywood make-up master Rick Baker assisted in prosthetics and creatures for the production.

'Thriller' debuted at a special theatrical screening, in hopes to qualify for an Oscar along with the 1940 animated motion picture Fantasia. Thriller is still a successful seller to this day. The video is still considered a classic, Jackson of course has gone on to become both a figure of enormous creativity and scandalous infamy.

Michael Jackson's THRILLER to 'Strike' on Broadway?

Michael Jackson Thriller Musical Broadway!

James Nederlander is producing a Broadway musical of Michael Jackson’s Thriller! Michael Jackson’s Thriller as a Broadway Musical? Thriller still for Jackson remains the best-selling record of all time.

Few details about the musical are being released to press beyond confirmation that it is reportedly planned.

Thriller was the first album to go to number one in the U.S. and UK at the same time, and at some points selling one million copies a week.

With Quincy Jones, Thriller went to earn a record seven Grammy Awards.Its video was historic, the most successful of all time selling 9 million copies, and the most expensive then, costing $500,000 to make.

No confirmation from Jackson or Jones about the report.

James Nederlander

'Thriller' set to scare West End

Musical to run beginning in January

With a live tuner version of the Michael Jackson video ``Thriller'' rumored to be in the works Stateside, London is getting its own Jackson musical, ``Thriller - Live,'' skedded for a West End run beginning in January.

Show is a tribute to Jackson's work both as a solo artist and as a member of the Jackson 5, with a song list that includes ``I'll Be There,'' ``ABC,'' ``Billie Jean,'' ``Beat It'' and ``Man in the Mirror.''

Production features performer-dancers and a live band coupled with video footage and effects. Helmed and choreographed by Gary Lloyd, ``Thriller - Live'' already has played three U.K. tours as well as stints in Germany, Holland and Scandinavia.

``Thriller - Live'' is set to run Jan. 2-April 12 at the Lyric Theater, with a press opening Jan. 21.

'Thriller' set to scare West End - Entertainment News, Gotham, Media - Variety

Thriller — Live, Featuring Songs of Michael Jackson and The Jackson 5, Heads to the West End

By Mark Shenton
06 Nov 2008

Thriller – Live, a touring musical celebration of the career of Michael Jackson, will begin performances at the West End's Lyric Theatre Jan. 2, 2009, prior to an official opening Jan. 21. The limited run will play through April 12.

Thriller — Live has previously enjoyed three U.K. tours as well as engagements in Germany, Holland and Scandinavia.

Billed as a spectacular, high-octane show specially created to celebrate the career of the "world's greatest entertainer and undisputed King of Pop," the show's performance schedule will include two Sunday showings every week at 3 and 7 PM, as well as Tuesday-Saturday evening performances at 8 PM and an additional Saturday matinee at 4 PM.

The West End season is being produced by Paul Walden and Derek Nicol for Flying Music, and Sony BMG Music Entertainment UK in association with Adrian Grant for Key Concerts.

In a press statement, producer Nicol of Flying Music said, "Thriller – Live is an uplifting, feel-good show with incredible choreography and sensational songs that everyone knows and loves — it's just the sort of escapist entertainment people need to take their minds off how tough life is at the moment. Thriller – Live has high production values, a large company on stage and a live band — and it delivers high class entertainment that is suitable for everyone from 8 to 80. It's obvious to us from the recent early closing of West End musicals, cancellation of several planned UK tours, and the number of ticket discounts and promotions, that money is extremely tight and a lot of the current shows are struggling to fill their theatres. We want to make sure that Thriller – Live is in the price bracket of as many people as possible."

Paul Curran of Sony BMG Music Entertainment UK, added, "The show is a celebration of one of the greatest music catalogues in history. We are thrilled to be involved and there are obviously many promotional and marketing opportunities between the show and our catalogue."

Songs that will be heard in the show include "I Want You Back," "I'll Be There," "Show You The Way To Go," "Can You Feel It," "Rock With You," "She's Out Of My Life," "Thriller," "Beat It," "Ben," "ABC," "Man in the Mirror," "Dirty Diana," "Billie Jean" and "Earth Song".

The production was originally conceived and created by executive director Adrian Grant, a long-time associate of Jackson's and author of "Michael Jackson – The Visual Documentary." It is directed and choreographed by Gary Lloyd (who has previously worked with Leona Lewis, Will Young, Gareth Gates, Emma Bunton, Robbie Williams, Pink, Anastacia, Lemar, Rachel Stevens, Kelly Clarkson and Girls Aloud) and features additional choreography by five-time MTV award-winning LaVelle Smith Jnr. and Kerys Nathan.

The producers are launching a major hunt to find a young, undiscovered talent to sing the songs of the young Jackson in the show. An open audition will be held at the Lyric Theatre on Nov. 23 beginning at 10:30 AM London time.

To book tickets the show, which go on sale Nov. 7 at 10 AM London time, contact the box office at 0844 412 4661 or visit Official NIMAX Theatres London Tickets, Thriller - Live Tickets - Concert At The Lyric Theatre London.

Playbill News: Thriller — Live, Featuring Songs of Michael Jackson and The Jackson 5, Heads to the West End

MTV News: MJ's 'Thriller' Goes To Broadway, and More!

By News Desk
November 11, 2008

MJ's 'Thriller' Goes To Broadway

Michael Jackson's classic music video for his 1983 hit single "Thriller" is reportedly going to be made into a Broadway musical.

According to the New York Post, the musical will be directed by James Nederlander, and will feature the same storyline as the video. The 14 minute video centers around MJ who was attacked by a group of zombies on a night out.

Thriller is also the worldwide best-selling album of all time and won 7 grammys in 1984.

Quick Cuts - Beyonce Is Wonder Woman, MJ's 'Thriller' Goes To Broadway, and More! | International | News | MTV Asia

Thriller video turns musical

Michael Jackson’s landmark Thriller promotional video clip will be turned into a new musical.

Producer James Nederlander will adapt the 1983 promo for the stage.

The John Landis-directed clip cost US$500,000 and clocked in at 14 minutes, a record for its time.

[Published: 11-Nov-2008]

The Star Online eCentral - Music - Malaysia Entertainment