Fans get to play Michael Jackson

By Chi Chi Izundu
Newsbeat reporter

Open auditions have been taking place to find a boy who can sing and dance like a young Michael Jackson. Thriller Live is a new musical opening in London's West End in the New Year. The show features some of the singer's most famous songs.

Young Jackson hopefuls audition for a part in new stage show, Thriller

Outside the Lyric Theatre, in the heart of London's West End, a queue of boys forms orderly in the snow.

They are there to prove that they have what it takes to be the next Michael Jackson. That means voice, moves and attitude.

13-year-old Daniel thinks he'll impress.

He said: "I've always been doing Michael Jackson since I was younger, so I thought it would be good to try and do it in the theatre."

So, once in and registered, the proper hard work begins.

In every space of the theatre - toilets, bars, stairwells - boys practised their song choices.

Auditions were held to find a boy who could sing and dance

They were given three options to wow the judges; Ben, I'll be There and I Want You Back.

Now, imagine X Factor; the auditions and boot camp rolled into one, very long afternoon.

And, of course, there was no Simon, Louis, Cheryl or Dannii on hand to give feedback.

Instead there was Gary Lloyd, who's director, John Marr, the musical supervisor, producer Paul Walden and Adrian, who's the other producer as well as creator of the show.

Gary said they were hoping to spot someone who has a hint of stardom that they could develop.

"We're looking for that special something that Michael had when he was 12, you know, bursting onto the scene with his brothers. You knew he was the special one."

"We can hear, when they're singing one at a time, there are one or two voices and there are a couple of movers in there as well. It's looking very promising."

Nerves on stage

Stage one was singing one of the three chosen songs.

Then the boys were either told to hang around for part two or asked to find their parents because it was time to head home.

Things didn't go so well for 13-year-old Ronald.

It was his fourth time auditioning for the role but he couldn't quite hit the notes the judges wanted to hear.

Everyone who turned up had a chance to impress the director

After his performance he burst into tears on stage and then went to gather his stuff.

He wasn't pleased when we asked him how his audition went.

"Terrible. It was rubbish. I was too nervous. There was nothing wrong with the key, I think my nerves got to me, they got to my voice," he said.

Thirteen-year-old Ashley was one who managed to get through to the second round despite a few hiccups and a bout of forgetfulness.

He said: "In my performance I kind of flopped it, because I forgot the words, I went blank.

"But then they gave me a chance and I sang The Girl is Mine which I knew the words to."

The second round was all about the moves.

Sadly for some, there was no moon-walking involved, but the 22 who got through had to learn some choreographed steps to I Want You Back.

They weren't easy but some managed to pull it off better than others.

Final choice

The judges then whittled them down to 12.

They went off to learn yet another Michael Jackson song that they sang as a group, before singing solo.

For 10-year-old MJ, it was his mum who was showing the nerves.

"I'm really excited, so we're hopeful. It's some really good experience for him," she said.

The final 12 had to learn an extra Michael Jackson song on the day

"His initials are MJ. He idolises Michael Jackson, so this part was made for him. And his agency keep ringing.

"He's only 10 and they're actually looking for 11 to 15-year-olds and he's been waiting for this part since he was eight."

Leyton's 14 and is starring in the stage production of Billy Elliot up the road in the West End.

He said: "I think it went really well, yeah. It was exciting. I'm full of a cold and I thought I'll just try my best and drink loads of water."

But who's going be the next MJ? Tony Rex, the show's manager, dropped the bombshell to all those waiting in the wings.

He said: "To be honest the standard has been amazing. We didn't know what to expect today and it's been incredibly difficult and we actually haven't made a decision yet.

"We need overnight to think about it. It's just so competitive."

The show opens in January.