Photo Flash: THRILLER LIVE Becomes West End's 20th Longest-Running Show!

There was champagne and a massive cake on stage last night as the cast, producers and backstage crew celebrated Thriller Live entering the record books as the 20th longest running musical in West End history.

Nica Burns, owner of the Lyric Theatre, home to Thriller Live since 2009, led the onstage celebrations at the 2,399th performance in front of an excited, capacity audience.

To tumultous applause, she announced: "Ladies and gentlemen, tonight you are all part of making West End theatre history because Thriller Live has entered the record books as the 20th longest running musical ever in West End theatre history. And why? It's all because of one man - Michael Jackson and his wonderful musical legacy."

The show's creator Adrian Grant, said: "I was very fortunate to work with Michael Jackson for over 21 years and that's why this show is here today. I wanted to continue his legacy and celebrate his music around the world. To date we have played in 28 countries to over three million people. Now we are one of the biggest West End shows of all time. I know Michael would be very proud and honored that we have achieved that. But it takes a very talented cast to replicate the magic that Michael brought to the stage and we have some of the most fantastic singers and dancers, together with great musicians who replicate his music day after day and a very hard working crew.

"I'd like to thank Producers Paul Walden and Derek Nicol at Flying Music. I came to them in 2006 with the idea for this show. It started life as a tribute show and Michael Jackson came to see the 10th anniversary show in 2001 and he loved it. I also have to thank Gary Lloyd, the Director and Choreographer because without his amazing work we wouldn't be here today."

Producer Paul Walden added: "I want to thank the most important people in many ways - you the audience. You have helped us to celebrate over the past six years - and for many more in the future, we hope - the man who was and will always be the King of Pop."

Recently Thriller Live overtook the records set by the legendary stage musicals The Sound of Music and My Fair Lady, who have now dropped forever out of the Top 20 longest runners of all time.

Thriller Live has played 2399 perfornances at the Lyric Theatre (as at Wednesday September 24). It is just 130 performances away from overtaking the record set by the 1993 revival of Grease (which ran 2529 performances before closing) and just 219 from leap frogging the original 1960 production of Oliver! (2,618 performances). In 2015 it will beat the record set up Evita, which closed after 2,900 performances at the Prince Edward Theatre.

As it continues its sensational record-breaking 6th year in the West End, the producers of Thriller Live announced earlier this month that the show was further extending its booking period to 6 September 2015. It had been booking to 26 April.

Thriller Live continues to set and break records and new territories around the globe. To date it has now performed to standing ovations in 28 countries from South Korea to Norway, and South America to China. The latest world tour will take in Australia and New Zealand for the first time. In October, Thriller Live will open in the UK, playing Eden Court Theatre, Inverness (20 - 25 October), Festival Theatre, Edinburgh (27 October - 1 November), Alhambra Theatre, Bradford (3 - 8 November), Grand Theatre, Wolvehampton (11 - 15 November). The cast then move to Australia in December where Thriller Live will premiere in Perth then play Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, then stop off for two weeks in New Zealand. More dates will be added in the region.

In London, Thriller Live is also the longest-running production in the Lyric Theatre's 125-year history. It first moonwalked into the West End in January 2009 after three acclaimed UK tours. When Michael Jackson died, the Lyric became a focus for fans from all over the world, who created a massive shrine of flowers, candles, and tributes.

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.