Bass player Don Boyette performed with Michael Jackson for six years. He travelled with the Bad Tour, as well as the Dangerous Tour.
Today, this musician experiences that very same energy and creativity that defined the King of Pop. This is because Boyette is a member of Cirque du Soleil’s tribute to the musician.
“Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour” — opening Friday night and running through Sunday at the Verizon Center — is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Jackson’s fans to be part of his music. As part of a 61-member cast that includes 11 musicians and singers, Boyette feels that magic every night. And more.
“I think the tour represents closure; for me personally, I [feel] a lot of gratitude when I’m up on stage, because I feel his presence so much,” Boyette explained. “Every night we are up there, playing his music, celebrating his life and his legacy. It is a real joy.”
| Onstage |
| ‘Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour’ |
| » Where: Verizon Center, 601 F St. NW |
| » When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 4 p.m. Sunday |
| » Info: $50 to $205; 202-397-7328; ticketmaster.com |
“Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour” was written and is directed by Jamie King, one of the leading concert directors in pop music today. With Cirque’s trademark cast of musicians, dancers and acrobats, the show presents the unfolding story of Jackson’s life and artistry.
The opening is titled “Childhood” where, in front of the gilded gates of Neverland, a mime awakens the bronze statues that inhabit this magical place. “Ben” is a tableau that celebrates Michael’s love of animals, while “Dangerous” portrays a female acrobat performing a perilous pole-dancing act surrounded by gangsters. The show culminates with “Man in the Mirror” in a celebration of his legacy. Twenty-two scenes in all showcase incredible set designs, props, projections and costumes, with choreography worthy of Jackson’s own moves.
“I couldn’t see anyone else doing something like this, other than Cirque du Soleil,” Boyette continued. “[Jackson] always talked about doing something with them. It’s sad that he had to leave us for it to happen.”
Sad, yes, but the show is joyful and celebratory in every sense of the word.
“Michael Jackson had messages that he delivered his whole career of peace, love and unity,” said Cirque’s Artistic Director Tara Young. “When you tour this much, you have to have the same kind of sentiment to bring people together. We are all a big family together.”
