ADVERTISEMENT













ADVERTISEMENT

Behind the Scenes of Michael Jackson's 'This is It' Concert

Canvas background demo

 

Michael Jackson was busy putting on the final touches for his 50-date London concerts at the O2 Arena when he unexpectedly died. Now, ET's Thea Andrews is with the men behind the massive production to reveal what could have been Michael's most incredible concert tour yet!

A show filled with music, dance, stunts and pyrotechnics, Michael's "This is It" concert was being directed by Kenny Ortega, the man who designed Michael's "Dangerous" tour, choreographed 'Dirty Dancing' and also brought "High School Musical" to the world. Kenny says that Michael promised "the concert of a lifetime" and was prepared to deliver.

"We [had] some fun things planned," he says, referring to gigantic spiders, 20-foot puppets, a flaming bed, a pole dancing aerialist, a 3D movie and plenty more magic. "It's complex in scale and it's as big as anything I've ever done or attempted to do for an arena production."

Michael was reportedly planning to open the show with "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" and a glass sphere would float around the King of Pop, light up, drift over the crowd and then return to his palm.

Rehearsals for the concert series began at CenterStaging in Burbank, CA, owned by Johnny Caswell, but the huge space still wasn't big enough for the production, so Michael moved to L.A.'s Staples Center downtown.

"He was intently involved in making this, along with Kenny, the greatest thing he'd ever done," says Caswell, who adds that the performance stage, just under 10,000 square feet, "was not big enough to house the set, or high enough. It was really gonna be big stuff."

The "This is It" concerts will never be, but there are reports that AEG Live, the promoters, have approximately 100 hours of rehearsal video and may turn the footage into anything from a CD to a DVD, motion picture, pay-per-view or television event.

Watch ET for all the latest Michael Jackson news

Posted July 03, 2009 7:01:00 AM
See All: music This is It Kenny Ortega michael jackson

E-Mail | Print | | RSSRSS | 

Recent Headlines

New Pics! First Family Returns to White House
November 8, 2009, 02:38 PM (PDT) 3 hours ago
Taylor Swift Blows Kiss to 'Twilight' Star Taylor Lautner During 'SNL' Monologue
November 8, 2009, 02:26 PM (PDT) 3 hours ago
Kate Winslet vs. Mariah Carey: Celebs Sport Same Red Carpet Style
November 8, 2009, 01:29 PM (PDT) 4 hours ago
Christmas Comes Early at Weekend Box Office
November 8, 2009, 01:23 PM (PDT) 4 hours ago
Rob Pattinson, Taylor Lautner and Kristen Stewart Talk 'New Moon'
November 8, 2009, 09:09 AM (PDT) 8 hours ago
Tops & Flops: A Week in Fashion!
November 8, 2009, 08:30 AM (PDT) 9 hours ago
Dennis Hopper on Cancer Battle: 'Everything's Good Right Now'
November 7, 2009, 08:10 AM (PDT) A day ago
Susan Boyle to Sing on 'Dancing with the Stars'
November 7, 2009, 07:08 AM (PDT) A day ago
Jennifer Lopez Sues Ex-Husband Over Alleged Home Videos and Movie Project
November 7, 2009, 07:02 AM (PDT) A day ago
R Family Vacations Sails On
November 6, 2009, 04:45 PM (PDT) 2 days ago

Rob Pattinson, Taylor Lautner and Kristen Stewart Talk 'New Moon'
Nov 08, 2009 09:09 AM (PDT)
 
Tops & Flops: A Week in Fashion!
Nov 08, 2009 08:30 AM (PDT)
 
Susan Boyle to Sing on 'Dancing with the Stars'
Nov 07, 2009 07:08 AM (PDT)
 
ADVERTISEMENT
  • StylistAnya: In times square- thousands of Insider fans watching the panel. What a sight! Wow!
  • StylistAnya: Tune in to THE INSIDER this week to see the most fab coats, gloves, scarves and more! It's time for WINTER FASHION!
  • BradBesseyET: In the wake of the Ro-Kelli split, we're happy that R Family Vacations will sail on with gay-family vacations - www.rfamilyvacations.com
  • StylistAnya: Have a fashion question? Style emergency? Just go to theinsider.com and click on "Ask Anya" I will answer your questions!
  • BradBesseyET: Golden Girl Hospitalized! Rue McClanahan is recovering from heart bypass surgery performed yesterday in New York. Speedy Recovery Rue!!!

Catch Hollywood's brightest stars out on the town!

View Star Sightings Gallery

Do you think your fave celeb's style is super sweet or totally beat?

View Hit or Miss Gallery

See whose glamorous style is turning heads around town!

View Glam Squad Gallery

See First Lady Michelle Obama's fabulous fashions within the first 100 days and more!

View the Michelle Obama Fashion Gallery