ENTERTAINMENT: For-profit Jackson tributes as well
The entertainment community’s larger focus Saturday will be on “Las Vegas Celebrates the Music of Michael Jackson,” the benefit concert — for music programs in local schools — at The Palms drawing together casts of several local productions to revive and reinterpret the pop legend’s music.
But the usual shows must go on, and at least two overtly commercial celebrations of the late singer’s 51st birthday also take place Saturday.
“American Superstars” at the Stratosphere already has made an Interstate 15 billboard more Jackson-centric. On Friday and Saturday it retools the show as well, adding the Desert Angels Gospel Choir to a special tribute show expanding the role of the usual Jackson impersonator, Frederick Henry (pictured).
And the Hawaiian Tropic Zone restaurant and club inside the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood hosts an unnamed “top Michael Jackson tribute artist” as part of a night of birthday-themed festivities starting at 10 p.m. They include Jackson videos throughout the evening on a 36-foot plasma screen and a moonwalk contest for fans.
The Palms benefit at 3 p.m. Saturday will be followed by the 7 p.m. presentation of a “Brenden Celebrity Star” at Brenden Theatres at the Palms. The star will be accepted by Jackson’s father, Joe Jackson.
At 8 p.m., Brenden Theatres will host a rare screening of Michael Jackson’s 1988 film “Moonwalker,” presented by Cinevegas, followed by a question-and-answer session from some of the talents involved in the film.
