July

The show “Michael Jackson ONE” opened in Las Vegas (Photos and Video)

Dante, Catherine, Prince, Remi, Jermajesty, Randy Junior, and Omar

Saturday night, June 29, the show Michael Jackson ONE (MJONE) in Las Vegas officially opened with a red-carpet ceremony attended by the Jackson family.

Michael’s mother, Katherine Jackson, along with her brothers: Tito, Jackie, and Marlon, as well as several of Michael’s nephews: Randy Junior and Dante (sons of Randy) and Jermajesty (son of Jermaine) were present on the red carpet. The biggest absence of the night was Michael’s beautiful daughter, Paris Jackson, who has been hospitalized for a suicide attempt for some time now. The major guests of the event were also Michael’s two sons: Prince and Blanket, who attended with Michael’s brother Omar, who calls him “brother”—though Blanket did not walk on the red carpet.

Marlon, Tito, and Jackie with Brie Girdey, founder of Motan

Prince, who is sixteen and had testified in his father’s murder trial just a few days earlier, brought his girlfriend, Remi Al Falah, who wore a beautiful white outfit.

Jackie Jackson, Paris’s uncle—who also works closely with the Michael Jackson Foundation—when asked about Paris on the red carpet, said: “She’ll be okay. She’s improving.”

Marlon Jackson also said: “We love her. She’s been through so much—she lost her father. That’s hard for a teenager. But she’s strong.”

The brothers declined to comment on the A.J. court case, which may last until the end of summer, and Marlon limited himself to saying that “we can’t say anything about it because the case is still ongoing.” He also spoke about the show Cirque du Soleil, saying: “ ‘One’ means music, paying tribute to the people who have supported us and Michael all these years, and sharing his legacy with others.”

All three brothers, in response to a reporter from Rolling Stone, said: “It’s hard not to like this show.” Marlon added: “Your article title should be exactly that.”

Marlon said: “Of course, this show doesn’t represent Michael completely, because the circus didn’t know the real Michael. He’s more than what they’re showing. They only know what they’ve seen. But anyway, it’s been an amazing show.”

Jackie agrees: “The excitement is all over it. It’s an exciting show. Michael loved the glitz of the stage, and the circus went all out. It’s unbelievable.”

Guy Laliberté, founder of Cirque du Soleil

Daniel Lamar, president of Cirque du Soleil, said that “One” means floating in the ocean of Michael Jackson. He also said that reopening the show One in Las Vegas has had a positive effect on sales of other Cirque du Soleil shows, because tourists come to Las Vegas to see One, and when they like it, they decide to watch other Cirque du Soleil shows that are on stage all around Vegas.

Mandaly Bay’s manager, Chuck Balling, also said on the red carpet that the presence of One at this hotel will attract more tourists and make the hotel business flourish. Mandaly Bay will become a destination for tourists from all over the world. He said the show’s presence could even be permanent.

Daniel Lamar with an “E” in the middle

Among the well-known people at Saturday’s event were Justin Bieber and Neil Patrick Harris, the actor who plays Barney in the comedy series How I Met Your Mother. Bieber arrived late and missed the red carpet. Many stars who attended the event praised the show on their Twitter accounts by posting photos from the red carpet. That night, the hashtag MJONE# was extremely active on Twitter.

Neil Patrick Harris (left) and his boyfriend

Harris wrote in a tweet with the hashtag crotchgrab# (Michael’s famous and controversial dance) that he was extremely excited and pleased to watch the show.

Paris’s mother, Debbie Rowe, had told him in a tweet: “Paris wants to know how the show was.”

Before the show began, Harris considered Michael Jackson one of those artists who only happen once. He described Michael’s music and art as magical and said his songs are amazing, and their mix with the magic that Cirque du Soleil brings to the stage would be a unique experience. He said Michael himself was interested in magic that would surprise the audience, and he regretted that he wished this show had been staged during Michael’s lifetime—but he was also happy that his Foundation has put on this show so people can gather in one place to watch Michael’s art.

Justin Bieber wrote on Twitter: “Just saw the MJONE show. The big MJ was the biggest. This show reminds us. Man in the Mirror was incredible. ”

He also thanked Cirque du Soleil for inviting him to the ceremony. Justin wrote that watching the show sparked ideas in his mind, and that seeing Michael’s hologram made him emotional:

“During the song Man in the Mirror I got emotional. It was amazing. Thank you. I’m honored.”

The biggest surprise of the show was the use of a Michael Jackson hologram to perform Man in the Mirror. (What is a hologram)

Randy Jackson Jr., Randy Jackson’s son, also wrote on Twitter: “His hologram was incredible. Emotional and amazing.”

Robyn Leach, a special reporter for the Los Angeles Times, wrote: “Michael Jackson’s hologram stunned everyone. Some viewers swore that Michael Jackson’s spirit had entered his body again. It was very real.”

Roberto Cavalli, the famous fashion designer and one of Michael’s friends, was also present at the opening.

In his blog, in an article titled “A genius… a dreamer… Michael Jackson,” he wrote:

Roberto Cavalli

“I want to tell you about Michael Jackson and the wonderful show Michael Jackson ONE.

I’ve seen Michael Jackson a few times. His creative genius, his insight, and his message of unity, his harmony, and his hope for a better world have always echoed within me. I remember the moment when he told me, ‘We must love and make everyone aware of the importance of loving.’ This is an idea I have always believed in.

Michael was ahead of his time as an artist. Even today, his music is still with us; his musical genius hasn’t been affected by the passage of time. A week before his heartbreaking death, I spoke with him on the phone. He was doing well; I still hear in my ear his usual way of speaking, with that calm and gentle voice.

A design for Michael, by Roberto Cavalli

The show that Cirque du Soleil created as a tribute to him is magnificent. I have never seen anything so unique… It’s an audio-visual experience! Sounds, colors… laser lights… special effects… the collection of talented artists took me on a journey through the most valuable moments of Michael Jackson’s career. This is a show I recommend you watch… you’ll be amazed.”

Less than twenty months have passed since the opening of the Immortal Michael Jackson tour. Immortal means immortal/undying, and it is the title of the Cirque du Soleil show tour around the world. This tour is a tribute to the King of Pop and was jointly produced by his Foundation and Cirque du Soleil. Immortal took Michael’s music and dance around the world after his death. In 2011, the tour became number one on the U.S. box office charts, and the following year it achieved second place. The tour was also very successful worldwide, and in Europe it also reached number one.

Tickets

From the beginning, it was said that after the tour ends, these shows would be permanently staged in another format at the Mandalay Bay hotel in Las Vegas. Because of its huge success and the large stadiums it filled, the Immortal tour will remain on stage longer than the scheduled time in the global venues—and at the same time, One has begun in Las Vegas. Guy Laliberté says these shows will remain at Mandalay Bay for the next twenty years, and tourists will be able to enjoy watching them.

Creators of the show: King and Altidore

Some of the people involved in the show One include: Jamie King, writer and director—Kevin Antones, music—and Wely Altidore, artistic director, Zaldy Gaku, costumes—and the Talaiga Brothers, choreographers.

Michael Jackson’s hologram has been one of the biggest surprises of the Vegas shows. This hologram was unveiled on May 23 this year, coinciding with the trial opening of these shows. While there is no video of the hologram, those who have seen it say it was very real. On Saturday night, this hologram officially went on stage for the first time in front of Michael’s children and mother.

It has been said that the show One is not only the biggest show in Las Vegas, but the biggest show in Cirque du Soleil history. Daniel Lamar says that even Elvis and Beatles shows weren’t as successful and didn’t receive such widespread public acclaim.

Michael Jackson is now the King of Vegas.

More photos