Interview with Jamie King Writer and Director Cirque's "Michael Jackson, The IMMORTAL Tour"

[MJ TinkerBell]

Cirque to Take Michael Jackson on National Tour..By RYAN PEARSON
The Associated Press
Wednesday, November 3, 2010; 3:54 PM

In this publicity image released by Cirque du Soleil, Jamie King, writer and director of "Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour" by Cirque du Soleil, stands by a promotional poster, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2010 in Los Angeles where the Estate of Michael Jackson and Cirque du Soleil announced the launch of the production combining Michael Jackson music and choreography with Cirque du Soleil performers. The tour begins in October 2011 in Montreal. (AP Photo/Cirque du Soleil, Jake Novak) (Jake Novak - AP)

LOS ANGELES -- Cirque du Soleil is taking Neverland Ranch on the road.

The first of the acrobatic troupe's two planned Michael Jackson shows will be set in a stylized version of the singer's famed Southern California home, according to Jamie King, writer and director of what Cirque is billing as "Michael Jackson, THE IMMORTAL World Tour."

"It is really about a central character or characters who get transported into this world of Neverland where they learn everything there is to know about Michael," said King, who has directed concert tours for Madonna, Rihanna and Celine Dion.

The tour will kick off in Montreal next October and hit 30 cities including New York, Miami, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. John Branca, co-executor of Jackson's estate, said that depending on fan response, it could be extended beyond its planned end in the summer of 2012 and travel outside of North America.

Excerpts from Jackson's music videos and extended scenes from last year's "This Is It" documentary will be part of the 90-minute show, but no performer will represent Jackson specifically.

"Michael Jackson is throughout the entire show, but in no way am I going to use a stand-in," King said, adding that songs would include hits from "Thriller" to "Smooth Criminal," as well as new remixes like those made for Cirque's Beatles show, "Love."

"Immortal" will also feature as-yet-unreleased songs that Jackson had finished before his death last year, including some from an album that the singer's estate hopes will go on sale by Christmas, Branca said.

Concept art for the set prominently features a massive tree, which represents a favorite oak that sat outside Jackson's Neverland bedroom, King said. The singer nicknamed it the Giving Tree and had a perch built atop it where he wrote music and sometimes slept.

"It made sense that that would be the perfect environment for us to create this world of magic, fairy tale," King said. "Because Neverland for Michael Jackson was his kind of his peace and his serenity. ... So after going to Neverland and really experiencing and feeling the beauty and the energy that was there, I had no choice but to create an environment that reflected that."

King said he would begin auditions for about 60 dancers next week. Producers are hoping to hire dancers and musicians for the live band who have worked with Jackson, Branca said.

Jackson admired the Canadian troupe's work and had attended Cirque shows in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. "He was always captivated and a fan of what Cirque does," Branca said.

Cirque and the estate are also collaborating on a separate permanent production in Las Vegas in 2012 at a property owned by MGM Mirage Inc. They will each own 50 percent of both projects and share equally in the cost of putting on the productions.

Cirque said "Immortal" would be its most expensive touring show ever, with a budget of $57 million. A select number of tickets are being sold to fan clubs of Michael Jackson and Cirque Du Soleil starting Wednesday.

The rest go on sale Saturday.

The Source:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/03/AR2010110303876.html

The Article Review :

All Hail, Jamie King and Michael Jackson
Nov - 11 | By: Rockstar

Got A Mission, Are You In?

Jamie King has done it again, only this time he has embodied music and dance with visuals and fantasy of our greatest ICON. Mr. King came together with Cirque du Soleil to write and direct Michael Jackson, The Immortal World Tour. The show will bring to life (because we get enough of him) the artistry of MJ, capturing the essence, soul and inspiration that turned him into the King of Pop. Tickets went on sale at noon on November 6th… Don’t wait, you know you want one.

Taking place in a mythical realm where viewers discover his inspirational Giving Tree, The Immortal World Tour is driven by the rhythm and lyrics of our Michael Jackson. The secrets of MJ’s inner world will be unlocked and we’ll come in contact with all that is Michael – his love of music and dance, fairy tale and magic, and the fragile beauty of nature. The Legend Lives On – MJ Joins the Cirque. Special thanks to Jamie King for his gift to the next generation with this new show. Congrats, Jamie.

All Hail, Jamie King and Michael Jackson !!

The Source:
http://nextgeninsider.com/2010/11/11/all-hail-jamie-king-and-michael-jackson/


The Youtube Videos of Jamie King Interviews about The Tour:

Jamie King talks about his career - Cirque du Soleil
[YOUTUBE]gCDv01J6I1I[/YOUTUBE]

Jamie King talks about his inspiration and creative process - Cirque du Soleil
[YOUTUBE]Hd54xvSKrwA[/YOUTUBE]

 

[JMie]

Re: Interview with Jamie King Writer and Director Cirque's "Michael Jackson, The IMMORTAL Tour"

Just the other day I saw a tv series called "The Fire Within". It's a 15-episode show about the creation of the Cirque show "Varekai". Very very interesting! It shows the rehearsals, how that whole show was coming together up to the premiere night. I wish they would do something like that with this show as well. I think it would be very interesting to see.