klinnerz said: "ModernMillie3 said: "Michael Jackson was a black man. Why would Ephraimbe an "odd choice"?
It's odd to me because vocally I don't see the similarities between the two. Unless Ephraim has a higher register that I just haven't heard yet"
Cool, thanks for the reply. Maybe he's been hiding it?
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/19
There’s no way this show touches on anything controversial.
JDonaghy4 said: "I dont think he was acquitted of anything."
Just as a point of information, he was indeed acquitted of one accusation in 2005. This tends to happen a lot with rich and powerful people. The victims interviewed in Leaving Neverland are obviously credible.
Broadway Star Joined: 7/13/04
Whatever happened with Michael Jackson is unknowable, unless some video tape is found. Of course, someone can say the accusers just want money. But one could also say that the MJ estate is calling the accusers liars because THEY want money.
There’s no way to say definitely that the accusers are liars. That’s one good reason adult men shouldn’t sleep in the same bed as children.
The MJ show will only be a success if people can sit in the audience without obsessing over the idea that he might have been a child molester. Because these days, when someone says the name Michael Jackson out loud, that’s the first thing people think of.
If this musical is still focusing on the lead up to the album "Dangerous" and not beyond its release, they really won't have to address the allegations. The first allegation happened after he recorded the album from what I have gathered and remember. The album was released in 1991 and the allegations happened a year or two after. I do remember that people were wondering about him hanging with Mcaulay Caulkin and Caulkin being in the "Black or White" video (Which was a bit of a throwback to Home Alone) but I don't remember any allegations against Jackson.
Who on Earth is Whitney Bashor playing?
Ado Annie D'Ysquith said: "Who on Earth is Whitney Bashor playing?"
Latoya Jackson
I kind of hope it ends with him winning the MTV Video Vanguard Award, when he walked onstage and called it the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, and MTV was like, "Sure, let's just call it that from now since he said it."
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/19
They’re rehearsing down the hall - I guess the Lab? - and all I’ve heard all day is The Jackson 5 medley over and over again.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/15/07
everythingtaboo said: "I kind of hope it ends with him winning the MTV Video Vanguard Award, when hewalked onstage and called it the Michael JacksonVideo Vanguard Award, and MTV was like, "Sure, let's just call it that from now since he said it.""
Didn't he take a cheap music clef topper off the top of a birthday cake thinking it was an award statue?
"I thought this was a really bad idea given the allegations against Jackson which were bolstered by Leaving Neverland, but in addition to the MJ shows still reportedly doing well in Vegas, Billboard is currently running a poll where people can vote for their favorite artist and last time I checked, Jackson was still #1 by a sizable margin. It’s a hard pass for me, but it’ll be interesting to see how it does."
I believe I mentioned over a year ago in a post I created that the dance studio my oldest daughter teaches at is no longer allowed to use any of Jackson's music in class or for dance routines. She said she found out from other teachers at different places that his music can no longer be used. I understand this is different than having a Broadway show about him but just pointing out that some people do not want to have any association with him or his music.
Derek McLane posted an image of one set rendering and it looks pretty impressive. I just wonder if it'll be a projection screen on the back wall.
Yankeefan7, this is also true for some fitness studios - we were given a company-wide “suggestion” to be more sensitive when curating playlists, after several complaints from clients - those who were victims themselves and also people who are just passionate about the topic.
That reason alone tells me that this won’t be incredibly well received. It/he will always have the cloud of this situation following close behind. The performances may be praised, however I’m sure every review will come with a big “but...”.
As much as I'm not a fan of this project coming to Broadway, if they keep it about the music and his creative process, as it seems to be heading, then I think it'll do well with international tourists. Thriller Live opened shortly before his death, and has been a solid performer for over a decade, closing now because the theatre needs refurbishing. So opening in the summer will work in its favor, but I don't know how long it'll last once the tourists go away.
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