Re: Michael Jackson Estate Signs Huge Deal With Cirque du Soleil! ALL THREADS
Cirque du Soleil to launch Michael Jackson show.
By Alison MacGregor, Montreal GazetteApril 20, 2010 7:28 PM
MONTREAL — Cirque du Soleil is making its biggest investment ever — an $80 million U.S. bet that audiences will shell out to see Michael Jackson-themed productions.
The Montreal-based company is partnering with the Estate of Michael Jackson to develop a series of projects including touring shows, permanent productions and a Las Vegas nightclub.
Although the King of Pop passed away last June, the Cirque hopes to bring him back to the stage by deploying high-tech special effects such as holograms.
Local dancers should start dusting off their shoes because the Cirque plans on hiring "big time" for the first two productions, said the firm's chief executive and president Daniel Lamarre.
The first project, which is expected to open at the end of 2011, will be a touring arena show that simulates the experience of a live concert performed by the late King of Pop.
The second show, which is to open at the end of 2012, will be a permanent Las Vegas theatrical production that attempts to push the technological envelope using cutting-edge technology such as holograms, 3-D and motion simulation.
Lamarre said the company is looking for rehearsal space in Montreal for the summers of 2011 and 2012.
"We're looking at two very hot and humid summers in Montreal for the Cirque people," he said.
Neither show will use Michael Jackson impersonators.
John Branca, co-executor of Jackson's estate, said the reasoning behind this decision is that Jackson "was so unique that no one else could be at the level he was."
However, he said the shows might try to give fans Michael via a hologram or 3-D technology.
"We want to use ways of bringing back Michael Jackson," he said.
Branca also said the shows would use remixes and mash-ups of his songs so that people will hear the music in new ways.
The arena show will tour North America for the first year. Once the Las Vegas show opens, the arena tour will start to go around the world.
Lamarre said that the difference between the two shows is that the Las Vegas show will be more of an "experience" because of the advanced technology — some of which has not been invented yet.
"Michael was ahead of this time," he said. "We will try to do a breakthrough with new technology."
He said that the Cirque is already talking to two or three companies that are developing new technologies that could be used in the show.
Asked if he was looking at high-tech companies in Montreal he said that the Cirque would select the firm that would "bring the better technology."
In a telephone conference call, Branca said that Jackson was a "huge fan" of the Cirque.
Lamarre said that in 2004 Michael visited the Cirque's facilities in Montreal and was impressed.
"Michael Jackson is the King of Pop and an all-time phenomenal artist, both timeless and contemporary," said Guy Laliberte, the founder of the Cirque in a news release. "As a creative challenge, this project is the ultimate."
The Cirque has already teamed up with the Beatles and the Elvis Estate to produce themed shows.
Branca said the show would not be a retrospective of Jackson's life.
"We want to go somewhere else," he said, adding that Jackson "wanted to innovate."
Jackson's estate and the Cirque will each own 50 per cent of the projects, sharing equally in the costs and profits from each project. The Estate of Michael Jackson will also receive royalty payments on various aspects of its intellectual property used in the Michael Jackson projects.
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