Kenny Ortega: Good morning from Los Angeles. I’m Kenny Ortega, Michael Jackson’s creative partner and directing and creating the show.

Randy Phillips: And I’m Randy Phillips, the CEO of AEG Live.

Press: Great, we have a few questions for you gentlemen this morning. We’ve seen this week great pictures from rehearsals. How are the rehearsals going?

Kenny: Rehearsals are great, in a few hours this place is buzzing. You know, we have our dancers in rehearsal, our band and our singers in rehearsal, we have costume fittings going on. We’re in full swing.

Randy: For those of you, I met before when we announced these dates in the original press conference, I got to tell you personally, just watching the hub-bub in what Kenny and Michael are creating is really exciting watching it come alive.

Press: Great. The 9-minute documentary showed the hundreds of dancers that auditioned how involved was Michael Jackson in their selection?

Kenny: Michael’s involved in every step of this production, and has been from the very beginning. And when it came to the auditions Michael worked with Travis Payne, our choreographer very closely with the development of the choreography for the auditions. And was also with us, you know through the selection process, and was the main person selecting the dancers for the tour.

Press: Thank you, can you give us an idea of what set list Michael has come up with, and will each show have the same set list.

Kenny: You know the fans have been a big part on this online, voting in, but in the mean time the band is learning everything, and with the 750 millions records sold that have been sold, and all of the material that Michael is about, we’re just weighing it out, we’re trying things, we’re putting the show up on it’s feet and that information- the content of the show will come later.

Press: We understand that the date of the opening night has been moved, why did this come about and will fans be able to get refunds?

Randy: Well, first of all on behalf of AEG Live in the O2 Arena, this was a very, very tough decision to make, and I know the press are going to be looking for all kinds of reasons as to why, you know as to opposed to accepting what we say now and that’s their jobs, but the truth is okay, the show was grown in scope and complexity, size; Kenny can answer questions on the production, rigging issues, and stuff like that. But the bottom line is, one, when we went on sale we really didn’t have the show. And which I said at the press conference when we announced it that the show is still in progress, it’s a work in progress, it still is. The one thing we needed, is that we needed more time in the O2, in the arena to work; the arena is incredibly busy, we couldn’t move Madonna, James Taylor, any shows to make room for our pre-production rehearsals, okay so that is the bottom line. The real reason is we needed those 5 days in the O2 to do it. The other thing is, Kenny, who is certainly worth waiting for and Michael really wanted to work with him again because of the success in the past he’s doing “FootLoose”, he’s directing “Footloose” for Paramount and we had to work out his schedule, so we started out a little later than we’d like to. Kenny, you wanna say anything?

Kenny: Ah that’s, that’s really it. We have a massive production that is in the process of being built, and developed and rehersed. The original plan would of put us in the O2 for one night, before we opened to the world. As I became involved and heard what was going on in his mind and heart, and what he wanted this to be, it just wasn’t practical for all kinds of reasons. For safety reasons, and professional reasons, we want to open up with confidence, and securely with integrity, and give the fans the best, right at the top.

Press: Great. What do the date’s changes mean for the fans that have paid for hotels and flights to see Michael Jackson in the opening night?

Randy: Well, Needless to say we would offer refunds to anyone who cannot make it because of their personal schedule and these changes. What we’re hoping, by announcing now this far in advance from the first show we’re giving everybody enough time to change their hotels, change the travels plans and those lucky enough to have tickets we really would not want to have the to miss this spectacle.

Press: Do you expect the show dates to keep on changing?

Randy: No, no. (Kenny and Randy shake their heads) This is a one time, this is a one time event, but to be honest, I’ve always been honest with the press, you know we’re doing 50 shows over close to 6 months- if Michael were to get ill and we’ve had to move a date or reschedule, that’s possible, but there are no plans, no nefarious, promoter, director plans to change the schedule of the show, other than getting us some more time in the beginning to rehersed so that we give the fans what the show really is and what they deserve.

Press: What is the latest on Michael’s health?

Randy: Ah, uh. (To Kenny) You wanna take that?

Kenny: (Shrugs) Eh. (Laughs)

Randy: (Laughs) I’ll take that! I’ll start okay… and not that I’m a doctor okay, but Michael- like I said, I would trade my body for his tomorrow- he’s in fantastic shape and you know, words are cheap and I refuted all the crazy stories, he’s not sleeping with elephants, he’s not dying of skin cancer- everyday there is another story. I’ve never seen anything like that, he’s a magnet for these weird stories that people make up, okay, but as far as talking really about his health- his director can answer that question better than I do. (Points to Kenny)

Kenny: No, I’ll just say that physically and mentally I mean, we’re having a blast. We really are, we’re having a great time, this is a high time for Michael. He’s enjoying this- he comes to work everyday enthusi- you know, with great enthusiasm and ideas. He’s loving the creative process, the creative jousting that goes on with the creative team and the development of ideas, and we’re having a great time. We have a fantastic group of people we are working with; Michael Curry, who designed the Lion King and KA and some of the ideas for “Le Reve” and “Love” with the Cirque du Soleil. Patrick Woodruff, the Rolling Stone’s lighting designer, and Michael Cotton who did Dangerous and HIStory’s production design for Michael. Michael Beardman who has worked with Janet Jackson, and Madonna’s musical director; fantastic organization of people, there is just a tremendous amount of good energy, and a real commitment and excitement by everyone. We’re having a great time, Michael’s in great shape, and loving it as much if not more than anyone.

Press: So does the date change have anything to do with Michael Jackson or his reported health?

Kenny: (Shakes head) He’s not… he’s fine!

Randy: No… Absolutely, I mean and for those of you I know who I can’t see, look me in the eye- absolutely has nothing to do with his health, health categorically okay. The reason Kenny and I are here doing this today, is because we know this is a major upheaval for a lot of fans who bought tickets, and we take it seriously and wanted to be here to answer these questions.

Kenny: Let, let me say that I came in a little late in the game, that the concerts were booked and we were really trying to work out my arrangement, and then getting involved- I mean we really didn’t know where we would go, and as it is I think that I come to this experience having done, quite a few experiences- from two Olympic Ceremonies, and three Superbowls, and you know some pretty large productions, including being Michael collaborative partner on HIStory and Dangerous and a number of other projects. Once you get in the soup, you start to look at the hardware, you start to look at the stunts, you start to look at what’s required of the vendors of the creative team- and as a director it’s your responsibility. I know the fans are looking forward to seeing, and I want Michael to be delivered to them in great confidence and with the feeling of security, and so these choices were purely based on ther practical needs and responsible needs of putting up a first class production.

Press: Thank you, who will be the supporting act for the shows?

Randy: Well since the shows are a work in progress okay, and the set list and stuff like that, none of those decisions have been made at this time.

Press: Michael is the King of Pop, but will there be a Royal presence on the evening?

Randy: Well Michael for sure, Kenny, AEG is a company- we respect the Royal Family greatly, they will certainly be invited, and maybe you should ask the Queen if she is coming.

Press: (Laughs)

Randy: (Smile) I know the Princes are probably coming.

Press: Will Michael Jackson be moonwalking, and will any jetpacks be used?

Kenny: (Laughs) We have some fun things planned and at this point I’m not going to be talking about the content of the production, but I will say we have a great balance of ideas in motion, and we’re excited about the overall choreography and concept of show that we’re producing.

Press: Will Michael’s wardrobe feature any old favorites? The Diamond glove, the Red leather jacket?

Kenny: (Smiles) You’ll have to come and see.

Press: (Laughs)

Randy: We’re sworn to secrecy and we’re not giving anything away about the show!

Kenny: (Laughs) Lemme just say we’re working with amazing costume designers, let me just say that- with Swarovski and we’re also you know, Michael Bush whose worked with Michael for you know 3 or 4 of his world tours. Erin LaRowe who won the Emmy Award last year in television in the states. Zaldy, a young, brilliant, new fashion designer our of New York, and a number of contributing world fashion designers, that the costume of the show is certainly in the works and being realized.

Press: Thank you. The Bad World Tour is commonly held to be one of the greatest stadium spectacles of all time. 20 years later, what lengths are you going to make sure this won’t be a pale imitation?

Kenny: (Nods) We’re bringing it to the people. We are bringing it to the fans. Michael is ready for this, and really ready to do it right. All I can say is that we’ve put the best of the best in a room together, form our musicians, dancers who traveled form all over the world to audition for this show, there’s singers, every designer that’s a part of this, and we’ve all been inspired to really raise the bar on thinking and the way we do things, and execute things. So, we’re hoping this a coming together of some, you know, big brains and talented people, and this will be a concert of a lifetime.

Randy: And lemme just add that add Michael Jackson, and Kenny Ortega are creative pioneers. It’s in their blood to one up to whatever they’ve been in the past, and this show will be that.

Press: Thank you. Will each show have the same set list?

Kenny: Again, you know the band is learning everything and we are now- in these next couple of weeks are gonna start to put the show up on its feet. The content will be something that we will discover.

Press: What is the latest over insurance for the shows beyond the first 10 dates?

Randy: First of all, we have insurance for the first 23 dates in place. That binder was not a problem, we negotiated it. That’s the reason why we had the gut to go on sale without having insurance, as I’ve said before, AEG is a company that was prepared to insure, self-insure since we believe so greatly in Michael Jackson’s talent and his willingness, and his want to come back and perform for his fans again and get on the stage. We have insurance in place, we’re negotiating for better coverage and greater coverage pass the first 23 shows, but we definately have insurance. He passed his health, and you know his physical with flying colors as I’ve said in the past.

Press: The Prince twins who auditioned unsuccessfully, said they were offered two year contracts. Are there any plans to take the shows beyond London?

Kenny: (Smiles) That’s a trick question.. Wait a minute! (Counts) They’ve unsuccessfully auditioned but they’ve been offered a two-year contract. (Randy laughs) They were great actually, beautiful girls.

Randy: But to answer your question, one I’ve been asked many times- as I’ve said before when we first announced this, we have a plan for Michael that’s in phases okay, but right now, the only thing I- and when I say phases, to take him around the world, to all his fans, ’cause you know we can’t get everyone over on 50 shows in London, although we’re trying. The truth is, and I’ve said this before- the only thing Michael has committed to are these 50 shows in London at the O2 Arena, okay. So, there are no commitments past that, so I cannot say whether there will be other shows, we’re hoping. As a promoter, as a businessman, he’s the biggest star in the world, and obviously the biggest star in the history of live entertainment- so would I want him to continue? Yes. It’s up to him.

Press: Thank you. What kind of spectacle is involved here? I’ve read that in many- excuse me, I’ve read that it may have a $20 million production budget with as many as 22 sets.

Kenny: (Motions) The.. It’s huge. You know… it’s awesome, and big. Now there is tons of choreography- classic, iconic, new, refreshed. There’s amazing lighting systems, production design, special effects, media, costuming, amazing musicians, stunts- its complex and in scale, it’s as big as in anything I had ever done or attempted to do with an arena production.

Press: How long will each show last?

Kenny: Again, the show isn’t up yet, but the fans will be satisfied, we intend them to leave them fulfilled to say the least. Michael always says “I want them to have what they came for, and I want to give them on top of that…” So certainly that is our plan. Minutes? You know, right now I would just say that it’s gonna be a healthy length, and that it’s gonna involve much, if not all of what our fans are looking for.

Randy: And just to elaborate on that, okay, the one thing the fans would come to- lucky enough to come to these shows, they’re definitely going to get their money’s worth, no question about it.

Press: How much is the tour expected to gross?

Randy: Uhm… about the same as the Gross National Product of a small African nation.

Press: (Laughs) Alright…

Randy: (Smiles) Sorry to be so glib.

Kenny: (Smiles)

Press: Will Michael debut any new music at the show?

Kenny: Again, the content of our show, we would want it to remain a secret. I know that Michael has been and continues to work on new material that he’s very excited about- I’ve heard a little of it and it’s awesome, and all of that remains to be heard and seen.

Press: With Kenny’s past work with Michael in mind, how much of the choreography will be based on his old dance repertoire, can we expect to see new moves?

Kenny: There will be a dynamic balance, as I have mentioned earlier, or iconic choreography, a refreshed choreography, re-imagined and newly invented. So this is a show that will carry many dynamics with regard to the choreography production of the show.

Press: Thank you that was the last question from the press that we had received for this morning’s webcast, thank you for your time. Do you have any closing statements that you would like to make?

Kenny: Just thank you for having us in your company this morning, and that personally I wanna thank AEG for, you know, hearing me, and respecting my personal request to push the opening, to enable us the time that I see is necessary to properly open. Also I wanna just, again apologize to any inconvenience that I personally may have cause for any of the fans and ticket holders out there, we’re hope that you are able to change your plans and to work around this. We hope to see you in London, and certainly to give you a show that makes up for this, so thank you.

Randy: And for AEG, there was a question earlier for the production- it’s going to cost us well north of $20 million dollars; I know the press is interested in the actual you know, data, financial data- and It’s incredible, and I’m not just saying that, I didn’t drink any Kool-Aid before I came here okay, this is one hell of a show- okay so it’s going to be worth the wait. And again, we do not take it lightly, I’m telling the press there’s no nefarious reason, nothing to do with his health okay, it sticks strictly a production and rehearsal issue at the venue, and this show is going to be worth waiting for.

Kenny and Randy: Thank you.