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New Report Goes Inside Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” Rehearsals

5/12/09, 1:48 pm EST

Photo: Fraser/FilmMagic

For years Michael Jackson has been plagued with rumors about his health — he appeared in public wearing surgical masks, in wheelchairs, looking gaunt. With 50 concerts booked for his historic “This Is It” run at London’s O2 Arena beginning in early July, oddsmakers are already taking bets that MJ won’t have the stamina to take the stage. But a new Los Angeles Times report takes a look at Jackson’s rehearsals for the shows, which reportedly last six hours a day, four days a week with a team of 10 hand-selected dancers.

Though details are heavily guarded, the LAT offers more specifics about the This Is It run. “It’s going to be the biggest, most technologically advanced arena show — and the most expensive — ever mounted,” said Randy Phillips, chief executive of AEG Live, the company staging the $20 million-plus production. The show will reportedly feature more than 22 different sets, while the set list will contain between 18 to 22 songs. Phillips also added that Jackson is ready both physically and mentally for the 50 concert shows. (Take a look back at Jackson’s four-decade career, in photos.)

Jackson has recruited Kenny Ortega, who choreographed Dirty Dancing, the High School Musical series and Jackson’s own Dangerous Tour, to direct and design the production. Travis Payne will serve as choreographer, and he’ll receive input from young choreographers like Todd Sams and Rich & Tone Talauega, who helped Chris Brown with his moves. More than 700 dancers from the elite schools reportedly tried out for a shot at the Jackson shows, but in the end eight men and two women were selected.

Rumors say the show might also feature MJ in a duet with his oldest son Prince Michael, a bunch of Michael look-alikes and monkeys and elephants, although Phillips insists to the LAT that there are no monkeys involved. As for that cease-and-desist lawsuit yesterday from the organizers of the Jackson 5 tour, Phillips called the suit “meritless” and says the show will go on.

Related Stories:

Michael Jackson “This Is It” Run Threatened By Jackson 5 Lawsuit
Michael Jackson Sells Out 50 London Shows as Controversy Brews On Secondary Market
Michael Jackson Sued by Former Publicist, “Thriller” Star


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Comments

Jeff | 5/12/2009, 2:40 pm EST

Hee Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!11!11! !!

I hope he makes it through at least one show…50 is asking for a miracle.

Cha-pa-dee-derr-bah !!

TheCoz | 5/12/2009, 2:48 pm EST

I bet Michael lasts 7 shows before the stage lights melt him. I’m curious how much he’s making per concert. It has to be at least a million dollars, right?

ray | 5/12/2009, 2:59 pm EST

of course he’s gona make it through one show! he was made to undergo a major medical examnation before being allowed to sign the deal to do the concerts,do you honestly think a concert promoter would sign an artist to do fifty 20 million dollar concerts if they werent 99.9% sure he could pull it off???

Anonymous | 5/12/2009, 3:37 pm EST

I try to separate Michael Jackson – the person, from Michael Jackson – the entertainer.

I definitely don’t approve of the guy’s personal life, but I admit he’s a terrific live performer.

I really hope the London run is successful and he brings the show around the world before calling it quits.

The Jackson’s 1984 Victory tour was my first ever concert, when i was about 9 years old. I would like to see him one more time, while I still can… though traveling to London is just out of the question for me.

monique | 5/12/2009, 4:31 pm EST

I’m 14 years old and depise what people think or say I am for a fact a huge fan of his.My mom is too matter of fact my whole entire family is.My mom told me when my uncle was a kid down in Mississippi any he would go outside he would always wear his multi – zipper jacket just like mj.

Jan | 5/12/2009, 5:11 pm EST

All these reports about Michael not making it through the concerts, or not healthy enough for them, or these other reports of threats to keep the show from happening, is just ludicrous to me. I believe MJ is somewhere laughing at all of this and saying “I love to be underestimated”, because he always has. Go Mike!

oz | 5/12/2009, 5:51 pm EST

the greatest entertainer of all time is back and all I can say is roll on july..long live the king.

Josh | 5/12/2009, 6:09 pm EST

I see there is a lot hate present here…
but understand this;

The KING is back!!

DrZ | 5/12/2009, 6:46 pm EST

Yesss…The KING of HAS-BEENS!

Space Cowgirl | 5/12/2009, 7:58 pm EST

For folks that say he is a has been or dumb.. you seem to spend time into him.. you read stories about him and bother to comment. This means that not matter if you like it or not, you LIKE MJ. Only things we CARE about we spend time on. Haters will hate and he will still rise!!!lol Who’s Bad?

Applehead | 5/12/2009, 10:16 pm EST

To my fans around the world, I would just like to say, I love you and see you in July. Thank you for all your support, Love Michael

Anonymous | 5/12/2009, 10:19 pm EST

Michael Jackson was definitely a true superstar from about 1968 to 1993. Extremely talented, but far from being the greatest or most important musician of all time.

(Just because someone chooses to call themselves the ‘king of pop’ doesn’t make it so.)

However, I find it alarming the behavior of some of his diehard fans, who act almost in the manner of a sick religious cult. Scary shit!

DrZ | 5/12/2009, 10:43 pm EST

Learn to spell, goober stock.

mediate | 5/12/2009, 11:57 pm EST

MJ’s 50 shows still won’t be as quality as PRINCE’S RUN IN THE SAME VENUE.

Xander | 5/13/2009, 1:51 am EST

I’m hoping the man succeeds again. There’s a whole generation that doesn’t know him for his music, but rather his bizarre antics. There was a time when he truly was untouchable, and while I can’t say he’ll be escalated to such heights again, I think he can still wow a crowd. Maybe then we can leave all the tabloid bullshit and appreciate him for the groundbreaking talent that he is.

OW!

ENDEVOUR | 5/13/2009, 4:16 am EST

DR Z wrote the “king of has beens” i think this troubled individual needs to change that to “soooon to be again”
he needs to look at the demand for tickets and decide if any has been can command that kind of sellin power. its not Micheal Jackson the man thats important to me, its Micheal Jackson the show man, the entertainer

RICHARD

bigsampson | 5/13/2009, 2:31 pm EST

“I’m hoping the man succeeds again. There’s a whole generation that doesn’t know him for his music”

ya cause he is a pedophile and a all out wierdo….this is a guy who would shack up in a coutry that harbors more morally messedup people then somolia….dude is a clown literally

Xander | 5/13/2009, 7:08 pm EST

bigsampson,

Maybe you missed the memo that he was found NOT GUILTY. Even if that wasn’t good enough for you, then maybe you should look into it further. Rolling Stone ran an interesting look into the trial, in which the case against MJ was such utter bullshit that there was NOTHING tangible against him.

I’m not denying he isn’t weird: I can’t deny he’s bizarre. But morally? Apparently you also didn’t know that his charitable contributions make him one of the most giving entertainers in the world, if not THE most giving (I think Elton John might have him beat).

Listen to yourself, playing into all the tabloid bullshit. You’re the clown for buying into all of it. Or maybe that would make you a sheep. Either way, jokers like you are a dime a dozen.

Cj | 5/13/2009, 10:15 pm EST

The ticket sales are purely based on wanting to eye ball a freakshow, and he is a has been.

Rik | 5/13/2009, 10:20 pm EST

Dummies,Being found not guilty does not mean he is innocent. It means he GOT OFF!!

Xander | 5/13/2009, 11:57 pm EST

Rik:

The alleged that he had mollested the boy not BEFORE or DURING the Martin Bashir interview, but AFTER it had already been aired. Does that make sense? Just one of the many fallacies of their case.

nick | 5/18/2009, 6:32 am EST

i love you micheal (L)

paige & tammy | 5/18/2009, 6:34 am EST

noooo nick dow lovee him :D

tammmy wants too marry him

paigeee gets thaa creeps

x

Anonymous | 5/19/2009, 8:07 am EST

The legend, the genius. he is back!

Steve | 5/25/2009, 8:03 pm EST

Rik put “Dummies,Being found not guilty does not mean he is innocent. It means he GOT OFF!!” Rik, you Stupid person with cheese on your face, the opposite of not guilty is innocent, no mattter how you wanna phrase it, dumbass.

brad | 5/28/2009, 7:28 am EST

i lovee micheal go micheal prove urr self i will be there at one letss goo micheal

Kent | 5/29/2009, 5:40 pm EST

No one claims Michael is innocent because he was found not guilty. Michael is innocent because the people accusing him got caught making lies and fabricating facts.

Funny how morons who do not pay attention think they have an opinion on the matter.

There is a word for people like that. Sheep. Go read the court transcripts or shut the hell up.

And it is funny to see people call him a has been, when he sells millions of records each year without releasing anything, and sell out 50 shows in less then 10 hours.

How dumb can people get??

FT | 6/25/2009, 11:41 am EST

MJ forever!

haters stfu!

Tony | 6/25/2009, 7:22 pm EST

No shows. He’s dead.

KERRY HAWKINS | 6/26/2009, 10:03 am EST

WELL HE IS DEAD SO LET HIM REST IN PEACE GODBLESS.

Marian | 6/26/2009, 10:44 am EST

Aguante Michael te vi en mi pais Argentina y jamas te olvidare!!!
Gracias por tu musica…donde quieras que estes…

ernest anyiam | 7/5/2009, 6:49 pm EST

we just have to pray for my micheal,he is a genuis,his charity,his everything.may God grant him internal rest AMEN.ADIUE MICHEAL ADEIU MY HERO.I THOUGHT THAT ONE DAY I WILL MEET U,TELL U HOW MUCH I ADORE U BUT DEATH,LIKE BIBLE SAY LIFE IS NOT FARE,DEATH SNATCH U WHEN WE NEEDED U MOST .REST IN PEACE MICHEAL JACKSON.

Mel | 7/12/2009, 5:03 pm EST

Everybodies weird!!! why cant people get over the fact that yes michael jackson was weird!but does being weird make you a guilty person? does it make you evil and wrong?? No! it makes everybody else confused!
the biggest problem in society today is that people that dont understand things instantly believe either it isn’t true or look to the media for the answer! Michael Jackson was an inoccent man, the court that tried him said so and all his fans will always believe so..
Open Your Eyes!
Look a little further than whats right infront of you and tell me that you would honestly rather take money from a man that alledgedly molested your child instead of seeing them behind bars or even worse dead!!??!!
I know what i’d do!

Me | 9/18/2009, 9:56 am EST

See, that is what children become: mean adults!

Rest in peace my angel.

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