Michael Jackson Musical Coming to Broadway in 2020- Page 2

[little_sally]

Posted: 6/19/18 at 1:33pm

I feel like this is going to be pointless because they're just going to sugarcoat the negative parts of his life.

[CallMeAl2]

Posted: 6/19/18 at 1:38pm

Well, anything can be good with courage and the right people. I just don't think that the commitment to "courage" is there with the involvement of Michael's estate. Like with Summer, they will want the show to burnish the legacy, which decreases the honesty.

And how will they cast this? Jackson was a child star, so you would have to do the different actors for different ages. But then, are you going to do a different actor every time his face changes? Are you going to end up with a white actor playing Jackson? Part of Michael's unique star appeal was that he embodied all of those people at the same time. Dividing him up and doling out the pieces of his life to different people will only make him seem smaller.

Gotta say, the ideal choreographer for this show would be Wade Robson. Though maybe there is too much real life baggage there. And the estate probably wouldn't approve.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 6/19/18 at 1:45pm

Given how heavily involved his estate appears to be in this, I imagine the musical will gloss over or entirely ignore the more controversial aspects of his life. It’ll make for a much less interesting show, that’s for sure, if it’s 2 hours of “Michael Jackson is awesome! Look what we lost!”

[robskynyc]

Posted: 6/19/18 at 1:52pm

theatreguy12 said: "And Britney? Don't even get me started. Who. Cares."

at least the britney one isnt a bio musical. and they concept for it sounds amazing. "Once Upon A One More Time" with all the fairy tale princesses? way better potential than most jukebox musicals now. 

[Impossible2]

Posted: 6/19/18 at 1:58pm

robskynyc said: "theatreguy12 said: "And Britney? Don't even get me started. Who. Cares."

at least the britney one isnt a bio musical. and they concept for it sounds amazing. "Once Upon A One More Time" with all the fairy tale princesses? "

Sounds like a living breathing nightmare of epic proportions...

[CallMeAl2]

Posted: 6/19/18 at 2:03pm

Speaking of Britney, why don't we just skip over the pointless little diva and just have a Max Martin jukebox musical? After all, it's his music, not Britney's. She just sang it. He has had more #1 hits than anyone other than the Beatles (last I looked - he may have surpassed them by now). He wrote all her early hits as well as the biggest songs for Backstreet Boys, Nsync, Kelly Clarkson, Pink, and Katie Perry, just to name a few. 

[Impossible2]

Posted: 6/19/18 at 2:06pm

How about we just have no jukebox musicals and start investing in some new talent instead of living in a constant state of perpetual nostalgia whoring for cheap bucks...

[theatreguy12]

Posted: 6/19/18 at 2:09pm

robskynyc said: "theatreguy12 said: "And Britney? Don't even get me started. Who. Cares."

at least the britney one isnt a bio musical. and they concept for it sounds amazing. "Once Upon A One More Time" with all the fairy tale princesses? way better potential than most jukebox musicals now."

And that's been discussed. Not all jukebox musicals are bios.  Understood.  I should clarify that the "who cares?" part of my comment has as much to do with her music as her life.  She isn't Michael Jackson.  In fact, none of those mentioned (whose music, or persona have been a part of a recent Broadway musical) are in the same iconic realm as MJ.  In my opinion. 

 

[Tag]

Posted: 6/19/18 at 2:11pm

I'm sure this will have a big budget.  Just think of the cost for all the double cast children & chaperones they'll need for the big Act II Wheeldon choreographed molestation ballet.  Martin Bashir narrates.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 6/19/18 at 7:36pm

Funny story: evidently my team just got f#¢ked on this deal, as when Michael was alive, we had been developing a musical utilizing his catalogue at his behest (admittedly on an informal basis, as he was paranoid about signing something ironclad with anyone; we have all kinds of records, such as emails back and forth, and corroborating witnesses, but I suppose it doesn't matter at this point), and there has been interest since his death in pursuing our project again, largely from figures connected to Sony and Michael's former management. Given the writing talent involved in our project, I can only assume hiring Lynn Nottage to do the book is grasping at hiring someone with a similar writing pedigree.

Creators of new theater, take heed -- if you're lucky enough to have the kind of talent that actually gets your work past square one, this is why you only work on original material not subject to extenuating variables. Nature of the beast.

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 6/19/18 at 8:16pm

Holy smokes, Gibson! I am so sorry to hear of that. How frustrating- it's part of why I rarely share my theatre ideas with people I don't plan on collaborating with. Oof!

My 1st thought when I heard of this was...Lynn Nottage? A fascinating departure from her body of work! Has she done a libretto before?

[Ben_Platt_Out]

Posted: 6/19/18 at 8:49pm

I would be interested in one on LaToya 

[MadonnaMusical]

Posted: 6/19/18 at 8:53pm

A STRANGE LOOP is transferring to Broadway before it even opens at playwrights horizons???!!! Wow! It must be amazing!

[BwayLB]

Posted: 6/19/18 at 11:38pm

Impossible2 said: "BwayLB said: "Christopher Wheeldon sounds like a surprising choice. I loved his choreography in An American in Paris. Especially the dream portion of the title where ballet where Lise imagines Jerry as her dance partner."

Jackson only had about 5 distinctive 'moves' there's no way a whole show could be sustained on that. Plus he was a fan of old movie musicals so anold school choreographer is probably more suitable. I even think An American in Paris was his favourite film which is maybe why the family were drawn to him."

That actually makes a lot of sense

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/20/18 at 12:12am

This just sounds totally boring. 

[bwaylyric]

Posted: 6/20/18 at 8:48pm

How should they portray Bubbles - a puppet like Olaf in Frozen musical or like Julie Taymor’s Rafiki?

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 6/20/18 at 11:53pm

Honestly. I’m a little bored that every singer thinks they have a story to tell about their life on stage. Or someone see another jukebox musical is a gonna bring in the bills. Mamma Mia worked fine. But I’m over it. I never saw jersey boys but I’ve knlg heard raves. I honestly loved beautiful (but I think that it also helps immensely that Carole King is a songwriter and he story could be reflected in the music which made it work for the stage).
There are aspect of Tina’s musical that interest me. And Cher I would simply go in hopes of seeing the flare of Mackie. Also with hoping nostalgia of her music. The rest I’m done with. Please. Original music. Please.
The ONLY other musician I would like to see a musical about is Dolly Parton. Once again as a songwriter I think and simple and honest writer. I think it could work.

Also I feel that Michael Jackson has been in some senses over marketed. We have thriller live if you really want. We have cirque shows and tribute shows it honestly exhausts me.

I do not want to see a Britney Spears musical make it to Broadway. Nor the Bodyguard nor any other jukebox styled musical.

That all being said I’m thrilled about moulin rouge. If it’s done right. But I think because of the original film and arrangements. I like that it works as a jukebox.

[SweetLips]

Posted: 6/21/18 at 2:38am

RJ14 said: "Damn. Michael Jackson, Tina Turner, and Cher. Britney's in the work too. Who else"

I think Kylie is in there somewhere as well.  Someone else might have mention this later on but couldn't be bothered reading through to find out---I stopped here.

[AlfredDrakeII]

Posted: 6/21/18 at 9:15am

Anyone who claims that Jackson "only had five distinctive moves" in questioning the use of a ballet choreographer to develop this project obviously isn't very familiar with Jackson's singular talent. Just watch the video for "Bad", and get back to me.

[Bwayornoway]

Posted: 6/21/18 at 4:37pm

At least they could sell jesus juice!