Hollywood, Calif. – Michael Jackson’s star power shined bright as luminaries, fans and family members alike gathered on Thursday to honor the memory of the King of Pop in front of the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, ushering in a new era of Jackson’s legacy and his extraordinary contributions to the world of music and dance.
“For me, and I think I speak for him as well, this right here is his lifetime achievement award,” said Jackson’s oldest son Prince, standing tall and proud in front of throngs of fans and media beneath Southern California’s sunny blue sky as fans cheered from the grandstands of closed-off Hollywood Boulevard. His voice strong, firm and steady, Prince added, “This is what he strived to get, and this is what we are giving him now today.”
Prince, Blanket and Paris Jackson carried the torch of their superstar dad, literally in his footsteps, immortalizing him with their their father’s signature sparkling glove and dancing shoes imprinted in cement not far from Michael Jackson’s star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.
The star-studded event marked the kick-off of Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour opening tonight at the Staples Center (January 27-29) in Los Angeles. Joining the ranks of stars paying homage to the late icon were Justin Beiber, Smokey Robinson, Quincy Jones, comedian Chris Tucker, along with Glee cast members and Access Hollywood’s Billy Bush who emceed the festivities.
Amid cheers, Bieber, introduced by Paris, took to the stage, reflecting his late great predecessor, aptly singing his own a cappella rendition of Jackson’s youthful hit song of the 1970′s Rockin’ Robin.
“He was more than an entertainer, he was an inspiration,” said an exuberant Bieber, who said he wished he could have met his pop star idol in person.
Michael Jackson’s children were accompanied by their grandmother, Katherine Jackson and uncles Tito Jackson and Jackie Jackson, former members of the famed Jackson 5, enjoying the festivities as much as the fans.
Along with Bieber’s performance and other celebrity appearances, the event featured a colorful preview of Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson The Immortal troupe, showcasing an electrifying medley of Jackson’s unforgettable hits.
Patrick D. Kennedy (Pugsley), Pippa Pearthree (Grandma), Sara Gettelfinger (Morticia), Douglas Sills (Gomez), Tom Corbeil (Lorch), Cortney Wolfson (Wednesday), and Blake Hammond (Uncle Fester) in THE ADDAMS FAMILY. Photography by Jeremy Daniel
Los Angeles Life and Style Theater News
Hollywood, Calif. – Broadway/L.A. presents THE ADDAMS FAMILY, a new musical based on the bizarre and beloved family of characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams. Now playing in its LA Premiere at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood through June 17, tickets for THE ADDAMS FAMILY may be purchased online at www.BroadwayLA.org or by phone at 1-800-982-2787.
Tickets may also be purchased in person at the Pantages Box Office and all Ticketmaster outlets. The Pantages Theatre is located at 6233 Hollywood Boulevard, just east of Vine Street, and the box office opens daily at 10am.
THE ADDAMS FAMILY features an original story and it’s every father’s nightmare. Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family, a man her parents have never met. And if that weren’t upsetting enough, she confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he’s never done before – keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents.
Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune described the production as “classic, full-tilt, fast paced, old-fashioned musical comedy!” and John Simon of Bloomberg News called it “Uproarious! A glitzy-gloomy musical entirely worthy of the macabre drawings by Charles Addams.”
In a prolific career spanning six decades, Charles Addams created several thousand cartoons, sketches and drawings, many of which were published in The New Yorker. But it was his creation of characters that came to be known as The Addams Family that brought Addams his greatest acclaim. With a unique style that combined the twisted, macabre and just plain weird with charm, wit and enchantment, Addams’ drawings have entertained millions worldwide and served as the inspiration for multiple television series and motion pictures.
Douglas Sills, a Tony Award® nominee for The Scarlet Pimpernel, and Sara Gettelfinger, last seen on Broadway in A Free Man of Color and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, star as Gomez and Morticia Addams. Also featured in THE ADDAMS FAMILY are Tony Award® nominee Martin Vidnovic as Mal Beineke, Gaelen Gilliland as Alice Beineke, Blake Hammond as Uncle Fester, Pippa Pearthree as Grandma, Tom Corbeil as Lurch, Patrick D. Kennedy as Pugsley, Brian Justin Crum as Lucas Beineke and Cortney Wolfson as Wednesday.
Rounding out the company are Ted Ely, Karla Garcia, Steve Geary, Victoria Huston-Elem, Patrick Oliver Jones, Lizzie Klemperer, Alexandra Matteo, Pilar Millhollen, Christy Morton, Brad Nacht, Jonathan Ritter, Roland Rusinek, Geo Seery, Samantha Shafer and Ethan Wexler.
THE ADDAMS FAMILY features a book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, and music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa. The production is directed and designed (sets and costumes) by Phelim McDermott and Julian Crouch with production supervision by Jerry Zaks and choreography by Sergio Trujillo.
The production features lighting design by Natasha Katz, sound design by Acme Sound Partners and puppetry by Basil Twist. The production also features music supervision by Mary-Mitchell Campbell, music direction by Valerie Gebert, orchestrations by Larry Hochman, dance arrangements by August Eriksmoen, hair design by Tom Watson, make-up design by Angelina Avallone and special effects design by Greg Meeh.
THE ADDAMS FAMILY tour is produced by Stuart Oken, Roy Furman, Michael Leavitt, Five Cent Productions, Stuart Ditsky/AdamDitsky, Stephen Schuler, Eva Price, James L. Nederlander, Stephanie P. McClelland, Pittsburgh CLO/Gutterman/Deitch, Vivek Tiwary/Jamie deRoy/Carl Moellenberg and Mary Lu Roffe, by special arrangement with Elephant Eye Theatrical. International productions have been announced for Brazil (March, 2012) and Australia (March, 2013) with others to be announced shortly.
The performance schedule for THE ADDAMS FAMILY is Tuesday through Thursday at 7:30pm, Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm & 8pm, and Sunday at 1pm & 6:30pm. Opening Night is Tuesday June 5th at 7:30pm.
THE ADDAMS FAMILY has a running time of 2 hours and 30 minutes including intermission and is recommended for ages 7 and up. (Please note that in consideration of audiences, no one under 5 will be admitted to the theatre.)
Orchestra level tickets for THE ADDAMS FAMILY start at just $25. Prices are subject to change without notice.
For more information on THE ADDAMS FAMILY, please visit www.TheAddamsFamilyMusicalTour.com.
For tickets or more information about THE ADDAMS FAMILY’s Los Angeles engagement, please visit the Pantages Theatre’s official website, www.BroadwayLA.org.
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