Filed under: News, Theater, Celeb Updates
Before his tragic death, Michael Jackson was eager to lend his name as executive producer to Larry Hart's award-winning musical 'Sisterella.'
In its first incarnation, the show opened in Los Angeles and took home eight NAACP Theatre Awards, including Best Play. It was also voted "Show of the Decade by European theater fans.
Before his death, Jackson apparently wanted to commit to the theatrical stage production for eight performances a week. Now, the role that was being crafted for the King of Pop will be played by Jackson's nephew, T.J.
"He did something extraordinary by putting his stamp of approval on 'Sisterella.'" Hart told BlackVoices.com in a phone interview yesterday. "'Sisterella' is the only musical production that Michael was involved in with the financing, that he executive produced and that he presented that was not a Michael Jackson project. And besides the business relationship that we had, Michael was a dear friend."
T.J., who is Tito's son, came onto the music scene as one-third of the boy band T3. Michael mentored the group, and Hart says casting T.J. was an easy fit because "he immediately came to mind and was the right man for the role."
Choosing the theater novice had little to do with his pop icon uncle and everything to do with his ability to shine as a singer, performer and dancer, said Hart.
Also joining the cast is 'Love Will Lead You Back' singer Taylor Dayne. The platinum-selling songstress, who will play the role of an evil stepmother named Dahlia, previously appeared in Broadway's 'Aida' and also has a Jackson connection, having served as MJ's background singer during his 'Bad' world tour.
As if having Jackson's nephew and former background singer as principal characters in the show weren't enough, Jackson's former managers Frank Dileo and Jerry Greenberg, who presided over his jointly owned record label with Sony Music, MJJ Music, are both on board as 'Sisterella' executive producers.
Hart, a Grammy Award-winning recording artist and composer who has penned the 'Sisterella' book, music and lyrics, hopes to open the show in late April or early May.
Still, says Hart, the past two years of bringing the show back have been bittersweet since Jackson isn't around to see the final project.
"This time, I'm joyous and bittersweet, because I would really like Michael to be here. He enjoyed the show and had a wonderful sense of humor," Hart shared. "We cherish Michael, his memory and the legacy of Michael's association to' Sisterella.' T.J., Jerry, Frank and I feel it is a fitting tribute to Michael and his family for T.J. to carry Michael's legacy."
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