Michael Jackson reinvents Thriller into a musical
Michael Jackson will help develop his groundbreaking "
Thriller" video into a musical theater production, producers said today.
The theater production will recreate the tale of the 14-minute horror film spoof based on the title song. In the video, a young couple are on a date when the boy -- played by
Jackson -- becomes a werewolf.
"This musical will be the exclusive
Michael Jackson authorized version of '
Thriller' and
Jackson will participate in every aspect of the creative process," said the
Nederland Organization, which has acquired the rights to the musical.
"
Thriller The Musical" will include songs from the 1982 album "
Thriller" and its 1979 predecessor, "
Off the Wall."
The "
Thriller" video, featuring dancing zombies and horror film star
Vincent Price, was first aired in 1983 and became a staple of
MTV. It was directed by filmmaker
John Landis, who said it cost $500,000 -- about 10 times the cost of the standard music video of the time.
Jackson's spokesman,
Dr. Tohme Tohme, said in the
Nederland Organization statement, "
The Nederlanders and
Michael Jackson represent live theater and musical excellence, so let the music begin."
Link to the story: http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/michael-jackson-taking-thriller-to-theater-1003934467.story