The director and producer of Michael Jackson's comeback concerts want to mount a splashy tribute to the late entertainer using some of the choreography, costuming, musical staging and films Jackson created for his 50-date "This Is It" concert run at London's O2 Arena.
Plans are not confirmed, and the logistics of such an undertaking are only beginning to be explored.
But Randy Phillips, CEO of the concert promoter behind Jackson's comeback performances, AEG Live, said in an interview Monday with Britain's Sky News that a concert based on "This Is It" was likely.
He described having Jackson family members and other pop stars take part using the choreography and sets created for the London concert residency.
"At some point the world needs to see this production and I would imagine it could be done as a tribute with the family, with the brothers performing, some sisters, and the stars that were influenced by him," Phillips said. "We are discussing with the family so the sooner, the better."
Kenny Ortega, who worked with Jackson on the conception of the show and rehearsed the singer and his dance troupe for the last four months, said he hoped to find a way to pay tribute to Jackson's "mind, talent, vision and heart" in a way that would reach his global fan base.
"Maybe part of what we were planning to do in London and beyond -- maybe we can share some of these ideas in a different capacity," Ortega said last Thursday, just hours after Jackson's death.
The longtime Jackson collaborator is the choreographer-director behind such hits as "Dirty Dancing," "High School Musical" and "Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour."
Ortega said that he was "only imagining," but outlined a broad idea for a creative collaboration modeled on "We Are the World," the 1985 song written by Jackson and Lionel Richie to benefit African charities that enlisted pop superstars including Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Diana Ross.
"It wouldn't take an enlightened thinker to come up with a way," Ortega said. "There must be a hundred ways we can celebrate this man's legacy. Broadway. Movies. Vegas. I hope all his artist friends will come together and have a real 'We Are the World' where we can share stories and Michael's legacy in some great celebration. I'm sure they would love nothing more than to be a part of it."
