Tribute show coming
Updated show has the best of Michael Jackson’s music
The internationally acclaimed tribute The Michael Jackson HIStory Show will be coming to Paraparaumu this month. After a successful 2018 New Zealand tour, the show is set to perform at 19 venues throughout the country.
This will be the production’s first national tour since 2022 when former lead star Dantanio was farewelled at his final performance.
The accomplished impersonator toured extensively with the production. However, he chose to retire from international touring after the close of the 2022 season.
This left producer and director Johnny Van Grinsven with the task of recasting the role.
“Michael Jackson is a really tricky role,” he said. “You have to be able to dance and sing and act and hold that character convincingly, and you have to do it all really well, or fans just won’t get on board.
“Michael Jackson fans are very loyal and they want to see their favourite artist represented in the right way, so it’s important we get it right.”
After auditioning thousands of Michael Jackson impersonators across seven countries, he eventually
landed on Garth Field to take on the role.
With training in various dance styles including hip-hop and tap, a musical background in jazz, his love of Michael Jackson and his own successful Michael Jackson production running in Europe for the past five years, Field was immediately picked as a promising candidate.
“Garth had the very rare combination of vocal talent, dance talent, the right looks and, most importantly, the drive and ambition
to rise to the role, to work at being the best in the business,” Van Grinsven said.
“Getting all those things in one person is extremely hard to find but we’re pretty convinced we have the right person and we’re sure that fans of the show will feel the same once they’ve seen him in action.”
Joining Field on stage will be a new roster of dancers and musicians. The updated production still includes all of Jackson’s biggest pop hits but now features a
redesigned lighting and effects show.