In tribute to the greatest entertainer of all time, the Estate of Michael Jackson and Michael Jackson ONE by Cirque du Soleil just wrapped a three-day birthday extravaganza for the King of Pop to celebrate what would have been his 58th birthday. Hosted at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas August 27 - 29, the fourth annual birthday celebration delighted guests throughout the weekend, featuring unforgettable activities, coveted prizes and more. Scroll down for photos from the festivities!
To kick off the festivities, members of the Estate unveiled an iconic piece of Michael Jackson memorabilia-the legendary white-and-blue pinstriped suit and matching white fedora famously worn by Jackson in the short film for "Smooth Criminal," the sixth of nine short films to be produced by the King of Pop for recordings from Bad, one of the best-selling albums of all time. It was in "Smooth Criminal" that the singer debuted one of his most recognizable dance moves-the anti-gravity lean, a seemingly impossible physical feat. The ceremony took place in the Michael Jackson ONE Theater lobby during an exclusive meet-and-greet with the Estate.
The celebration continued on Sunday, Aug. 28 as the Michael Jackson ONE Boutique revealed three never-before-seen paintings created by renowned artist Nate Giorgio. Inspired by the key art for ONE, the artworks reflect Nate's long history working with the King of Pop and his admiration for the show.
The following day on Michael Jackson's birthday, cast members from ONE delivered a performance newly created for Michael's 58th birthday inside the theater, kicking off the afternoon with an explosive dance number set to Michael Jackson's world-famous song "Another Part of Me."
The festivities also included a rare book signing opportunity hosted by critically acclaimed author Michael Bush, followed by a private reception with VIP guests including members of the Estate, writer and director of ONE Jamie King, choreographers for the show Rich and Tone Talauega, musical director Kevin Antunes, cast members of ONE and more.
Michael Jackson ONE is an electrifying fusion of acrobatics, dance and visuals that reflects the dynamic showmanship of the King of Pop, immersing the audience into the world of Michael's music. Driven by his biggest hits and heard like never before in a riveting, state-of-the-art surround-sound environment, Michael Jackson ONE by Cirque du Soleil performs exclusively at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
Michael Jackson ONE is a heartfelt tribute to the work, innovative spirit and legacy of Michael Jackson - the King of Pop, the genius, the visionary, the One.
Michael Jackson is one of the most beloved entertainers and profoundly influential artists of all-time. He was also a dedicated philanthropist and an astute business professional. To date Jackson has sold in excess of 1 billion records worldwide, released 13 No.1 singles and became one of a handful of artists to be inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Guinness Book of World Records recognized Jackson as the Most Successful Entertainer of All Time and "Thriller" as the Biggest Selling Album of All Time. Thriller has also become the first album in RIAA history to reach 3X Diamond status with sales in excess of 30 million copies in the US alone. Jackson won 17 Grammy Awards including 8 in one year, a record in itself, and received 26 American Music Awards, including the Artist of the Century Award. Jackson defined the art form of music video with such ground-breaking short films as "Billie Jean," "Beat It" and the classic "Thriller," which in 2009 became the first and only music video inducted into the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress. In his short films "Black or White", "They Don't Care About Us", "Bad and "Smooth Criminal" and others, Jackson set an aesthetic standard for music video production that remains unsurpassed even today. The Estate of Michael Jackson and Cirque du Soleil have produced two top shows: Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour which remains one of the top grossing tours of all time; and Michael Jackson ONE, a permanent show at Mandalay Bay Las Vegas, which continues breaking box office records and receiving critical raves. Jackson's sound, style and dance moves continue to inspire today's performers and new generations of fans worldwide continue to discover his artistry through projects like the critically acclaimed documentary Michael Jackson's Journey From Motown To Off The Wall, produced by Spike Lee, John Branca and John McClain and directed by Spike Lee, which offers an insightful chronicle from Michael's early rise to fame through the release of the seminal album.
Photo Credit: Erik Kabik / erikkabik.com
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