Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour

Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour
Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour logo/brand
Company	Cirque du Soleil
Genre	Contemporary circus
Show type	Touring show (2011-2012) Resident (starting 2013)
Date of premiere	October 2, 2011
Location	Touring (starting 2011) Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada (residential starting 2013)
Creative team
Writer and director	Jamie King
Creation director	Chantal Tremblay
Musical designer	Kevin Autunes
Musical director	Greg Phillinganes
Music by	Michael Jackson
Remixed by	Kevin Antunes
Set designer	Mark Fisher
Props and scenic designer	Michael Curry
Costume designer	Zaldy Goco
Acrobatic performance designer	Germain Guillemot
Rigging and acrobatic equipment designer	Scott Osgood
Projection designer	Olivier Goulet
Lighting designer	Martin Labrecque
Sound designer	François Desjardins
Other information
Preceded by	Iris (2011)
Succeeded by	Amaluna (2012)
Official website

Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour is the official theatrical production by Cirque du Soleil which uses the music and vision of Michael Jackson along with Cirque du Soleil's signature acrobatic performance style to create a realistic concert experience. The show was produced in partnership with the Estate of Michael Jackson. The arena show—which is very similar to a rock concert—began its tour October 2, 2011. After touring North America for about two years, it will continue on to Europe and the rest of the world. At the point in time it leaves North America, a resident show—which will be more theatrical in nature—will open in early 2013 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino located in Las Vegas, Nevada. In addition to the resident show at the Mandalay Bay, Cirque du Soleil will also be opening up a Michael Jackson-inspired lounge.

The Michael Jackson estate has partnered with Cirque du Soleil in order to create this concert experience. As part of the $250 million contract with Sony allowing music publishing until 2017, an album titled Immortal was produced. The first show kicked off in October 2011. As of December 2011, just two months after it was launched, the show had sold out over $100 million tickets and became the top touring act in America according to Forbes.

History

On November 2, 2010, Cirque du Soleil and his estate announced the development of The Immortal World Tour through Michael Jackson's official website. In a press release, the company stated, "A riveting fusion of visuals, dance, music and fantasy that immerses audiences in Michael’s creative world and literally turns his signature moves upside down, Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour unfolds Michael Jackson’s artistry before the eyes of the audience. Aimed at lifelong fans as well as those experiencing Michael’s creative genius for the first time, the show captures the essence, soul and inspiration of the King of Pop, celebrating a legacy that continues to transcend generations".

Jamie King, the director and writer who had previously spearheaded tours by Britney Spears, Madonna and Rihanna, stated that he wanted to include Jackson's "giving tree" as the focus of the tour.

As noted during an interview with Daniel Lamarre, within 24 hours of opening ticket sales for the show, Cirque du Soleil sold 200,000 tickets.

Acts

The acts of The Immortal World Tour are staged to the music of Michael Jackson. Cirque gathered a creative team of 10 high-profile choreographers, some of whom worked with Michael, to design the acts.

• Childhood: The Mime awakens the inhabitants.
• Wanna Be Startin' Somethin': Dance and acrobatic number.
• Fanatics - Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground): Five fanatics take pictures of the audience and try to get into the gates of Neverland.
• Dancing Machine: Welders perform on motorized cables.
• Ben: A celebration of Michael's love of animals.
• This Place Hotel: Aerial tango.
• Smooth Criminal: Dance routine.
• Dangerous: Pole-dancing act.
• Fanatics - The Jackson 5 Medley: The fanatics are in a competition and are granted access to Neverland.
• Mime: Mime gains the talents of Michael and performs beatbox.
• Human Nature: Aerial hoops.
• Scary Story - Is It Scary: Contortion act.
• Bats - Threatened: Aerial act.
• Thriller: Free-running parkour act.
• Swans - I Just Can't Stop Loving You: Straps duo act.
• Beat It: The Fanatics manipulate Michael's iconic accessories.
• Jam: Hip-hop dance choreography with basketballs.
• Earth Song: Mime is tangled in the tree, which is now turned upside down.
• Scream: Tumbling (men's rhythmic gymnastics) and aerial act.
• Gone Too Soon: The Mime cradles four horses in this ballad.
• They Don't Care About Us: Dance choreography.
• Heal the World - Will You Be There: Artists descend onto the stage with glowing red hearts.
• I'll Be There: The young 11-year-old voice of Michael, and a single piano track.
• Megamix - Can You Feel It/Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough/Billie Jean/Black or White: Swiss rings act, dance choreography, and world dance styles.
• Man in the Mirror: Finale is a celebration of Michael Jackson.

Setlist

There is a twenty minute intermission between the two acts.

Act 1

1. Opening Megamix
   • Dirty Diana
   • Get On The Floor
   • P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)
   • Heartbreaker
   • The Way You Make Me Feel
   • You Rock My World
   • Unbreakable
   • Blood on the Dance Floor
   • Baby Be Mine
   • Rock with You
   • Lovely One
   • Burn This Disco Out
2. Workin' Day and Night
3. The Immortal Intro (Video Interlude)
4. Childhood
5. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
6. Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground) (performed only on certain shows)
7. Dancing Machine (samples Blame It On The Boogie, features the guitar intro from Why You Wanna Trip on Me)
8. Ben
9. Cello Solo Interlude (provides transition into This Place Hotel)
10. Gangster Medley
    • This Place Hotel
    • Smooth Criminal
    • Dangerous (samples In the Closet)
11. Mime Segment: Another Part Of Me (samples (I Like) The Way You Love Me, Stranger in Moscow, Speed Demon, Hollywood Tonight, and This Is It)
12. The Jackson 5 Medley
    • I Want You Back
    • ABC
    • The Love You Save
13. Human Nature (intro samples Speechless)
14. Scary Story Medley
    • Is It Scary
    • Threatened (samples Monster, Ghosts, and Somebody's Watching Me)
    • Thriller

Act 2

15. You Are Not Alone / I Just Can't Stop Loving You (samples its Spanish version, "Todo Mi Amor Eres Tu")
16. Beat It / Jam (samples State of Shock and Bad)
17. Earth Song (beginning features the poem Planet Earth)
18. Scream (ending samples Little Susie)
19. Gone Too Soon (performed only on certain shows)
20. They Don't Care About Us (samples Scream)
21. Will You Be There (beginning samples Heal the World)
22. I'll Be There Video Interlude
23. Immortal Megamix
    • Can You Feel It
    • Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough
    • Billie Jean
    • Black or White (samples Can You Feel It)
24. Man In The Mirror
25. Exiting Music: Remember the Time / Bad

Costumes

Zaldy Goco, The Immortal's costume designer, said the following in regards to his inspiration for the collection of 252 costumes: ”My approach has been to draw upon and respect Michael’s iconic style while creating something new and fresh. I placed subtle references throughout the costumes in the show." The color palette chosen for the show is rich, lively, and ornate such as through the usage of gold and crystals. The design team explored such technologies as 3D printing and LED lighting for the many different colored pieces.

Highlights of the costumes range from 3D printing techniques to pyrotechnics being built into the designs.

• Gangster types have 3D-printed surreal guns that shoot pyrotechniques when the triggers are pulled. The shoulder pads are also 3D-printed.
• The straps duo costumes are covered in Swarovski crystals, and were inspired by Michael's corseted wrist in the Black and White video.
• The bat costumes are created using ultra lightweight paper used for shipping parcels.
• The soldiers' costumes are primarily made of mytex on a polyester frame with padding.
• All the costumes in the Human Nature act are equipped with over 275 LED lights.
• The costumes for the welders were inspired by the red, zipper-clad jacket in Beat It.

Music

Main article: Immortal (Michael Jackson album)

On October 3, 2011, Sony Music Entertainment announced that over 40 Jackson's original recordings were redesigned and reimagined by the Justin Timberlake and Rihanna producer Kevin Antunes throughout a year-period work in the studio with original multi-track master recordings. Hence it's expected that Immortal will continue a similar mixing production to the soundtracks to previous Cirque du Soleil's shows: 2006's Love, with the remixed music of The Beatles (to the show of the same name), and 2010's Elvis Presley-themed remix soundtrack Viva Elvis (to the show of the same name).

Being released by Epic Records in conjunction with estate of Michael Jackson, Immortal features an alternative version of The Jackson 5 song "ABC", as well as a series of mashups and remixes such as a choir-assisted rendition of "They Don't Care About Us". Despite over 60 songs had been used for the stage show, the album release will be available as a 20-track album or a deluxe 27-track album only.

Tour dates

Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour

Tour by Michael Jackson & Cirque du Soleil
Start date	October 2, 2011
End date	Ongoing
Legs	3
No. of shows	178 in North America 34 in Canada 38 in Europe 250 in Total

Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour premiered in Montréal, as all touring Cirque du Soleil shows do, on October 2, 2011.

Tour dates

Date	City	Country	Venue
North America
October 2 & 3, 2011	Montreal	Canada	Bell Centre
October 7 & 8, 2011	Ottawa		Scotiabank Place
October 12 & 13, 2011	Hamilton		Copps Coliseum
October 15 & 16, 2011	Detroit	United States	Joe Louis Arena
October 18 & 19, 2011	London	Canada	John Labatt Centre
October 21 – 23, 2011	Toronto		Air Canada Centre
October 26 & 27, 2011	Winnipeg		MTS Centre
October 29 & 30, 2011	Saskatoon		Credit Union Centre
November 1 & 2, 2011	Edmonton		Rexall Place
November 4 – 6, 2011	Vancouver		Rogers Arena
November 9 & 10, 2011	Seattle	United States	KeyArena
November 12 & 13, 2011	Spokane		Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena
November 15, 2011	Eugene		Matthew Knight Arena
November 18 – 20, 2011	Portland		Rose Garden Arena
November 28 & 29, 2011	Salt Lake City		EnergySolutions Arena
December 3 – 27, 2011	Las Vegas		Mandalay Bay Events Center
December 30 & 31, 2011	Phoenix		US Airways Center
January 3 & 4, 2012	Boise		Taco Bell Arena
January 6 – 8, 2012	Denver		Pepsi Center
January 10 & 11, 2012	Sacramento		Power Balance Pavilion
January 13 – 15, 2012	San Jose		HP Pavilion at San Jose
January 17 – 19, 2012	Oakland		Oracle Arena
January 21 & 22, 2012	San Diego		Valley View Casino Center
January 24 & 25, 2012	Anaheim		Honda Center
January 27 – 29, 2012	Los Angeles		Staples Center
February 7 & 8, 2012	St. Louis		Scottrade Center
February 10 – 12, 2012	Houston		Toyota Center
February 15 & 16, 2012	New Orleans		New Orleans Arena
February 18 & 19, 2012	Tulsa		BOK Center
February 21 & 22, 2012	Kansas City		Sprint Center
February 24 & 25, 2012	Indianapolis		Bankers Life Fieldhouse
February 28 & 29, 2012	Orlando		Amway Center
March 2 – 4, 2012	Miami		American Airlines Arena
March 7 & 8, 2012	Jacksonville		Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
March 10 & 11, 2012	Raleigh		RBC Center
March 13 & 14, 2012	Charlotte		Time Warner Cable Arena
March 16 & 17, 2012	Milwaukee		Bradley Center
March 20 – 22, 2012	Montreal	Canada	Bell Centre
March 24 & 25, 2012	Quebec City		Colisée Pepsi
March 27 & 28, 2012	Minneapolis	United States	Target Center
March 30 & 31, 2012	Newark		Prudential Center
April 3 – 5, 2012	New York City		Madison Square Garden
April 7 & 8, 2012	Long Island		Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
April 10 & 11, 2012	Philadelphia		Wells Fargo Center
April 13 – 15, 2012	Pittsburgh		Petersen Events Center
April 24, 2012	University Park		Bryce Jordan Center
April 27 & 28, 2012	Columbia		Colonial Life Arena
May 2 & 3, 2012	Hartford		XL Center
May 5 & 6, 2012	Baltimore		1st Mariner Arena
May 8 & 9, 2012	Hampton		Hampton Coliseum
May 11, 2012	Greenville		BI-LO Center
May 16 & 17, 2012	Worcester		DCU Center
May 19 & 20, 2012	Quebec City	Canada	Colisée Pepsi
May 22, 2012	Albany	United States	Times Union Center
May 25, 2012	Cincinnati		U.S. Bank Arena
June 6 & 7, 2012	Dayton		Nutter Center
June 9 & 10, 2012	Columbus		Value City Arena
June 12 & 13, 2012	Nashville		Bridgestone Arena
June 15, 2012	Austin		Frank Erwin Center
June 20, 2012	Memphis		FedExForum
June 23, 2012	San Antonio		AT&T Center
June 26 & 27, 2012	Dallas		American Airlines Center
June 29 & 30, 2012	Atlanta		Philips Arena
July 6 & 7, 2012	Montreal	Canada	Bell Centre
July 11, 2012	Hershey	United States	Giant Center
July 13 – 15, 2012	Washington, D.C.		Verizon Center
July 17 & 18, 2012	Cleveland		Quicken Loans Arena
July 20 & 21, 2012	Chicago		United Center
July 24 & 25, 2012	Ottawa	Canada	Scotiabank Place
July 27 & 28, 2012	Toronto		Air Canada Centre
August 3 & 4, 2012	Boston	United States	TD Garden
August 10 & 11, 2012	Vancouver	Canada	Rogers Arena
August 14 & 15, 2012	Los Angeles	United States	Staples Center
August 24 – 31, 2012	Mexico City	Mexico	Palacio de los Deportes
Europe
October 12 – 19, 2012	London	England	The O2 Arena
October 24 & 25, 2012	Herning	Denmark	Jyske Bank Boxen
October 27 & 28, 2012	Copenhagen		Parken Stadium
November 2 & 3, 2012	Stockholm	Sweden	Ericsson Globe
November 5 & 6, 2012	Helsinki	Finland	Hartwall Areena
November 16 & 17, 2012	Frankfurt	Germany	Festhalle Frankfurt
November 20 & 21, 2012	Oberhausen		König Pilsener Arena
November 24 & 25, 2012	Munich		Olympiahalle
November 28, 2012	Hanover		TUI Arena
December 1 & 2, 2012	Vienna	Austria	Wiener Stadthalle
December 5 & 6, 2012	Mannheim	Germany	SAP Arena
December 8 & 9, 2012	Leipzig		Leipzig Arena
December 11 & 12, 2012	Hamburg		O2 World Hamburg
December 15 & 16, 2012	Cologne		Lanxess Arena
December 19 & 20, 2012	Berlin		O2 World Berlin
December 26 – 29, 2012	Madrid	Spain	Palacio de Deportes de la Comunidad

Box office score data

Venue	City	Tickets Sold / Available	Gross Revenue
Taco Bell Arena	Boise	5,647 / 6,525 (87%)	$1,303,818
Pepsi Center	Denver	23,078 / 25,614 (90%)	$2,952,443
Power Balance Pavilion	Sacramento	13,507 / 19,948 (68%)	$2,323,679
HP Pavilion	San Jose	27,537 / 32,976 (84%)	$3,981,784
Oracle Arena	Oakland	34,785 / 35,814 (94%)	$3,948,610
Valley View Casino Center	San Diego	18,928 / 19,844 (89%)	$2,709,176
Honda Center	Anaheim	18,279 / 18,528 (95%)	$2,481,242
Staples Center	Los Angeles	34,632 / 35,814 (95%)	$4,867,569
Scottrade Center	St Louis	19,989 / 20,508 (95%)	$2,161,543
Toyota Center	Houston	30,548 / 33,018 (93%)	$3,627,938
New Orleans Arena	New Orleans	22,097 / 23,278 (95%)	$2,264,312
BOK Center	Tulsa	20,212 / 21,818 (94%)	$1,156,139
Conseco Fieldhouse	Indianapolis	18,975 / 20,844 (85%)	$2,707,418
Amway Center	Orlando	20,288 / 21,780 (90%)	$2,900,201
American Airlines Arena	Miami	35,105 / 37,974 (92%)	$4,296,135
Bell Centre	Montreal	35,504 / 38,415 (90%)	$3,946,620
Colisee Pepsi	Quebec City	17,890 / 18,238 (90%)	$2,719,960
Target Center	Minneapolis	19,404 / 20,098 (97%)	$2,775,154
Prudential Center	New York	30,452 / 32,709 (91%)	$3,962,658
Madison Square Garden	New York City	32,807 / 33,081 (98%)	$4,994,245
Nassau Veterans Memorial	Uniondale	21,935 / 22,470 (90%)	$2,823,742
Wells Fargo Center	Philadelphia	22,174 / 23,732 (90%)	$3,363,651
Petersen Events Center	Pittsburgh	18,745 / 19,821 (94%)	$1,301,898
Bryce Jordan Center	University Park	10,575 / 11,003 (89%)	$982,617
Colonial Life Arena	Columbia	14,979 / 15,500 (88%)	$1,207,395
XL Center	Hartford	18,030 / 20,770 (87%)	$2,571,574
1st Mariner Arena	Baltimore	17,819 / 21,526 (83%)	$2,086,549
Hampton Coliseum	Hampton	9,289 / 10,832 (87%)	$1,902,757
BI-LO Center	Greenville	7,215 / 7,466 (90%)	$997,280
DCU Center	Worcester	16,223 / 17,022 (98%)	$2,220,535
Colisee Pepsi	Quebec City	11,879 / 11,972 (98%)	$1,823,305
Times Union Center	Albany	8,475 / 9,376 (89%)	$1,916,663
U.S. Bank Arena	Cincinnati	8,431 / 8,510 (98%)	$1,908,376
TOTAL		598,435 / 608,466 (94%)	$105,312,187

External links

• Tour tickets
• Official site
• Michael Jackson official site
• Cirque du Soleil Promotional Video