Thriller Live

The concert revue, Thriller Live, first captivated audiences with initial previews at the Dominion Theatre in August 2006. Conceived by Adrian Grant, a close associate of the Jackson family and author, the production drew from Grant’s history. He established a British fan club for Michael Jackson in 1988, which led to annual tribute shows in the UK starting in 1991; Michael Jackson himself attended the tenth-anniversary event. Grant also authored three Jackson books, including ‘Michael Jackson – The Visual Documentary,’ receiving Jackson’s personal well wishes for Thriller Live.

Its global footprint expanded rapidly with performances in international markets including Scandinavia, the Netherlands, China, South Africa, Singapore, Japan, Egypt, Israel, Macau, and Saudi Arabia, cementing its worldwide appeal. The West End run commenced on January 21, 2009, at London’s Lyric Theatre, following open auditions that cast six principal performers to portray Michael Jackson at different career stages, supported by a cast of 21, including Denise Pearson. Gary Lloyd served as the director and choreographer for the London debut. The premiere attracted significant attention, with Tito Jackson among notable attendees and La Toya Jackson at the after-show party.

However, its tenure was brought to an early close on March 15, 2020, as theaters globally ceased operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, marking the end of its 11-year, record-breaking run.