THRILLER - LIVE UK Tour Launches Today

Thriller - Live, the spectacular concert show that celebrates the music of the world's greatest entertainer and undisputed King of Pop, Michael and the Jackson 5, has now sold more than 2,500,000 tickets worldwide. As it celebrates its fifth amazing year in the West End where it has become the longest-running production in the Lyric Theatre's 125-year history, the show is touring the UK beginning today, September 23. This new tour features the sensational Cleo Higgins as the lead female vocalist.

Cleopatra featured Cleo and her sisters Zainam and Yonah. After winning a talent contest, Cleopatra secured management and worked the boards which led to a record deal. Their debut album Comin Atcha! was released on Warners and led to three Top 5 hit singles in the UK - Cleopatra's Theme, Life ain't Easy and the Jackson 5 cover, I Want you Back.

Madonna's Maverick lable signed Cleopatra for the USA and the girls worked with several luminary producers on their more grown-up second album Stepping Out.

Cleopatra were promoted on Jay Leno's Tonight show and Queen Latifah show, toured America with Jessica Simpson, Next, Brian McKnight, and performed on the Disney cruise ship which was broadcast worldwide on television. The girls also became the faces of make-up maverick Cover Girl. But with little crossover on the more risqué singles You Got It and Come and Get Me and the second album unreleased in the UK the girls disbanded to pursue their solo ventures.

In 2000, Cleo recorded a duet of song Someone Like You with Russell Watson for his debut album called The Voice which made history by topping both the UK and the US classical charts and went multi-platinum . Cleo duetted again with Russell on the song The Best That Love Can Be for his third album called Reprise.

In 2013, Cleo auditioned for BBC 1 The Voice. All of the coaches turned around for her, she eventually chose to join Will i am's team.

Cleo then battled her way through to Quarter Finals and was voted though by the public.Cleo was eliminated at the Semi Final stage of the reality show, she left the show with a explosive performance of Don't Let Go for everyone to remember her by.

The last performance Cleo appeared on The Voice also led her to be nominated for Best Act for The National Reality TV awards 2013

Thriller Live moonwalked into the West End in January 2009 after three acclaimed UK tours. Several world tours since have seen the show play to acclaim in 26 countries, including Germany, Italy, Poland, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, France, Singapore, South Africa, China, Sweden, Finland and Norway. It has just returned from a four- month run in Japan and a five-month run in Brazil.

Unlike other West End productions, Thriller Live is not a rigid book musical with set songs, but is a constantly evolving music concert celebration. When Michael Jackson died, the Lyric Theatre became a focus for fans from all over the world, who created a massive shrine of flowers, candles, and tributes. More than 40 books of condolence were signed in the foyer then sent to the Jackson family. A year after his death, a permanent West End memorial to Michael was unveiled in the theatre foyer.
Thriller Live brings to life on stage the distinctive high-energy dancing and pulsating sound of many of pop's greatest hits, blending eye-popping video footage and effects together with dazzling choreography by the show's award-winning director Gary Lloyd. The show has regularly been updated with additional songs, new visuals and choreography.

To date, more than 30 young boys have sung the hits of the young MJ in the West End and around the world. The need to have six available at any one time has led the producers of Thriller - Live to launch an in-house training academy to train young boys. The MJ Academy opened its doors for the first time on Friday 9 November 2012. Would-be MJs get classes in singing and dancing every Friday between 5pm and 8pm, with terms lasting three months.

Thriller - Live was originally conceived and created by AdrIan Grant, a long time associate of Michael Jackson, and author of Michael Jackson - The Visual Documentary. Thriller - Live is produced by Paul Walden and Derek Nicol for Flying Music in association with AdrIan Grant for Key Concerts.

THRILLER LIVE UK TOUR DATES
Grand Opera House, Belfast from Monday 23 - Saturday 28 September, then visit Bristol Hippodrome, 30 September - 5 October; Cardiff New Theatre, 7 - 12 October; Blackpool Grand Theatre, 14 - 19 October; Sheffield Lyceum Theatre 21 - 26 October Royal & Derngate Northampton, 28 October - 2 November; Grand Opera House York, 4 - 9 November; Southport Theatre, 11 - 13 November; Leicester De Montfort Hall, 18 & 19 November; Regent Theatre Stoke, 20 November; New Theatre Oxford, 26 November; Mayflower Theatre Southampton, 2 - 7 December; The ICC Hall 1 Birmingham, 17 December - 5 January.

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