So I’ve refrained from most of the Michael Jackson talk simply because, well, I don’t believe in hyping out someone’s death like it’s the most tragic event to happen in the history of humankind. But I thought this news from Universal Studios was pretty cool and free! If you can’t make it for the MJ celebration, be sure to check out the rest of the summer on the CityWalk for really cool performances, bands, and other summer goodness.
Universal CityWalk will become “Universal MoonWalk” for one night with Southern California’s largest outdoor public celebration of Michael Jackson’s life and music on Thursday, July 9, as part of CityWalk’s ongoing Summer Block Party free summer marathon of movies and music.
CityWalk’s tribute to the King of Pop will begin at 7:00 pm and will include screenings of “The Wiz” and “Michael Jackson’s Thriller,” plus a “live” dance retrospective of Michael Jackson’s phenomenal musical history, from his days as the youngest sibling in The Jackson Five to his history-making solo career as the world’s most renowned pop music star. Admission is free.
CityWalk’s Summer Block Party provides seven-nights-a-week of non-stop entertainment, featuring top tribute band concert performances, the ever-popular outdoor movie night, swing dance lessons, star-making talent competitions and Latin entertainment nights. Summer Block Party continues through August 30.
In “The Wiz,” an updated version of “The Wizard of Oz,” Dorothy gets whisked from her neighborhood to the mystical and nightmarish Land of Oz. Oscar(R)-winning director Sidney Lumet adapted the screen version of “The Wiz” from the smash Broadway musical which depicts Dorothy as a shy 24-year-old Harlem kindergarten teacher who is brought by a snowstorm to the mysterious Land of Oz, a sprawling, decaying and dangerous large U.S. city. “The Wiz” stars Diana Ross as Dorothy, Michael Jackson as Scarecrow Nipsey Russell as Tinman, Lena Horne as Glinda the Good and Richard Pryor as The Wiz.
“Michael Jackson’s Thriller” is a ground-breaking 14-minute music video for the song of the same name, released in 1983 and directed by John Landis who co-wrote the screenplay with Jackson. In the video, Michael Jackson transforms into both a zombie and a “werecat” and performs dazzling dance sequences. In 2006, Guinness World Records listed it as the “most successful music video,” citing sales over 9 million units.
More information on CityWalk’s “Summer Block Party” is available at www.CityWalkHollywood.com or by calling 818-622-1111.
