Thriller Live, the popular musical spectacular based on the hits of King of Pop Michael Jackson, will moonwalk its way into 2014 with a new extension to its run at the Lyric theatre.
The single glove-wearing, fedora-flinging, dance rules-rewriting extravaganza, which first flung open its London doors with a celebratory “hee hee” in January 2009, is now taking bookings until 16 March 2014.
In contrast to story-telling book-based musicals, Thriller Live uses high energy dance, eye-popping graphics, video and song to take audiences on a journey through the career and music of Michael Jackson, from ABC and Blame It On The Boogie through Thriller and Bad to Smooth Criminal and Earth Song. The production is regularly updated to keep it feeling fresh, and has recently added an exciting new opening.
Speaking about the extension, producers Paul Walden and Derek Nicol of Flying Music said: “London theateregoers and visitors to the city have truly embraced Thriller – Live. It is incredibly heartwarming that Thriller Live, now in its fifth year, is playing to some of the most enthusiastic audiences of its West End run. Performances were packed over the Easter holidays and sales have exceeded our expectations, telling us that the West End does not want to say goodbye to Thriller – Live any time soon!”
With this extension announcement, Thriller Live closes in on the record of the longest running show in the Lyric theatre’s 125-year history. The accolade is currently held by Five Guys Named Moe, which ran at the Shaftesbury Avenue venue from December 1990 to March 1995.