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Director of Jacko’s comeback tour reveals singer was ‘beaming with gladness’ the night before he died
Posted in Concert, Michael Jackson on the June 29, 2009
The director of Michael Jackson’s planned comeback tour has revealed the pop star was ‘beaming with gladness’ the night before he died.
Kenny Ortega, a choreographer and movie director whose career highlights include High School Musical, Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour and Dirty Dancing, was with Jacko as he rehearsed at the Staples Centre on Wednesday night.
Ortega, who began working with the singer on the intricate staging four months ago, said he was ‘bursting with enthusiasm’ and personally invested in the production’s most minute details.
He said Jacko did a full run-through of his planned comeback concert with his company - dancers, musicians, singers, aerial performers, choreographers and costumers - who planned to fly to England early next week for final dress rehearsals at London’s O2 Arena, ready for the 50-night sold-out run.
Ortega said: “There were a couple of times when Michael stood at my side and we looked at the stage together and were just beaming with gladness that we had arrived at this place.
“And he was happy. We all felt that and shared that. We were four or five days from finishing in Los Angeles and heading to London and feeling in really good shape.”
Ortega said he had no knowledge of the singer taking any drugs or medication.
He also denied that the slender performer had physically overextended himself by working out four hours a day, six days a week in preparation for the physically taxing concerts.
Randy Phillips, chief executive of AEG Live, the concert promoter that will forfeit the more than $20 million it put into staging Jackson’s comeback, was also among those at Staples Center on Wednesday.
He recalled Jackson being in great spirits, adding: “It was fantastic, he was so great. I got goose bumps.
“It made me realize why I got into this business.
“I take great solace in the pride and confidence he exhibited during production rehearsals on Wednesday night.
“That is the memory I will cherish for the rest of my life.”
Source: Splash News