Previous entry: 
Next entry:
Who should play Michael Jackson on Broadway?
I LUV Michael Jackson.
The Michael Jackson of Off the Wall, Thriller, Bad.
The one that lives on in memory. (See Exhibit A pictured at left.)
Not this lighter, crazier version of the entertainer. (See Exhibit B pictured below.) 
I even have a Michael Jackson doll from my childhood. He's wearing the red pleather Thriller jacket, and pleather red Thriller pants. My daughter has discovered the doll and calls him: My Jackson. She's barely 2, and Michael isn't rolling off her tongue.
So when news broke that there are plans for musical production of Thriller, I was ecstatic. If there were pre-sales on a show that hasn't been written or cast, I would have a ticket.
The part that is stumping me -- beside the fact that Michael Jackson is now miraculous well enough to be creative director of this project -- is who would play him?
There's the reliable Usher, who's had his turn on Broadway. The talented Jeffrey Wright who would be great if he weren't too old and pudgy to be Michael circa 1982.
Who do you think should fill that werewolf grill and cigarette pants?
Gretchen Day-Bryant has a son in high school and a daughter in middle school. She’s lived to tell about the struggles of juggling little kids and work...
Joy Oglesby has an infant daughter and a sister 13 years her junior, whom she babies to the now-adult...
Cindy Kent Fort Lauderdale mother of three. Her kids span in ages from teenager to 20s...
Rafael Olmeda and his wife welcomed their first son in Feb. 2009, and he's helping raise two teenage stepdaughters...
Lois Solomon lives in Boca Raton with her husband and three daughters...
Anne Vasquez is the Online Editor in charge of overseeing SunSentinel.com. She is the mother of a 5-year-old boy and a newborn daughter.
Georgia East is the parent of a five-year-old girl, who came into the world weighing 1 pound, 13 ounces...
Brittany Wallman is the mother of Creed, 13, and Lily, 6, and is married...
Chris Tiedje is the Social Media Coordinator, and father of two boys and a girl all under the age of seven.
Comments
Use an unknown to be Michael Jackson...
Hold auditions just like American Idol.
Posted by: Franco | January 28, 2009 1:55 AM
What's this got to do with raising my kids?
Posted by: John R. | January 28, 2009 6:09 AM
Roman Polanski would be perfect.
Posted by: Dick | January 28, 2009 7:23 AM
Garry (whatchyu talkin bout Willis) Coleman.
Posted by: Tom | January 28, 2009 9:18 AM
John R. : This post has NOTHING to do with you raising your kids. And EVERYTHING to do with you raising your kids.
You could start talking to your kids about how stardom can damage some people (like Michael), you could use this to talk about the good old days when you were young and collected Michael Jackson albums. Or not.
Posted by: Joy | January 28, 2009 9:42 AM
Tom: Gary (watchyu talkin about Willis) Coleman would be a hoot in the role. You know he is spoofed in the traveling production of Avenue Q?
Posted by: Joy | January 28, 2009 9:44 AM
Franco : Your approach may be best. It works for Idol to an extent.
Thanks!
Posted by: Joy | January 28, 2009 9:45 AM