HARTLEPOOL scaffolder Ryan Wilson is looking forward to the night of his life – and it’s going to be a thriller!
Ryan, a big Michael Jackson fan and keen dancer, has decided to organise his own hometown tribute to the legendary pop star.
And the show has proved so popular that he has now added a second night!
Ryan told Life: “By day, I’m a scaffolder working away from home. By night and at weekends, I’m currently rehearsing to become Michael Jackson for two nights in front of a hometown crowd. Originally, there was only supposed to be one show. I put the idea out there not really knowing how people would respond — and the reaction completely blew me away! The first night sold out incredibly quickly and – because of the demand – we decided to take a chance and add a second night. Suddenly, my little idea had become a two-night production!”
Ryan, who hopes he’ll be starting something with the shows, continued: “Dance has been a massive part of my life for years. I have a background in street dance and have always had a huge love for Michael Jackson as a performer. I wanted to take that passion and create something that felt like much more than simply getting on stage and copying a few MJ routines. I want people to walk into that room and feel like they have come to a proper show.”
Ryan has been busy rehearsing routines with dancers from the Ruff Diamond Dance Academy for months – and he’s no intention of stopping until he gets enough!
He went on: “We’re working on costumes, choreography, lighting, sound, video, different sections of Michael’s career and some of his most iconic songs and performances – but one of the things I’m most proud of is that it has become a real ‘local production’. I’ll be joined on stage by local dancers and young performers from ‘Ruff Diamond Dance Academy’ – while a team is also working behind the scenes on the filming, sound and technical side of the production. There are a lot of people giving their time and effort to help turn what was once just an idea in my head into a real show. And somehow, in amongst all of this, I’m still going to work as a scaffolder!”
Ryan added: “I work away during the week, so a lot of my own rehearsing has been done after work before coming back to Hartlepool at weekends to continue preparing for the show with everyone else. It has been tiring, slightly crazy at times but, seeing the response from people in Hartlepool, has made every bit of it worthwhile. For me, this isn’t about pretending to ‘be’ Michael Jackson. It’s about celebrating the music, dancing and performances of somebody who inspired me enormously, while hopefully giving people in my hometown a brilliant night of entertainment. Seeing that first show sell out made me realise that people genuinely wanted to see what we were creating – and that was an amazing feeling.”
So, if you want to get off the wall and rock with Ryan, you can catch “The MJ Experience” at Owton Manor Social Club on Friday, 6 November. The show on Saturday, 7 November has completely sold out.
You can’t beat it!
