David King (theatre producer)
Encyclopedia
David King is an English composer
and producer
of musical theatre
.
King has achieved international popular success in musical theatre, and his management of 20 theatre companies performing around the world has been referred to as "one of the biggest dance
organisations in Britain
, and certainly the largest in light entertainment."
His first musical Spirit of the Dance has been running for almost 15 years in theatres across the globe since its debut at Bristol Hippodrome
in September 1996. Spirit of the Dance soon became one of the world's biggest dance shows and, in the period 1998 to 2000, there were 14 different troupes simultaneously performing the show in 14 different countries. It has received nine global awards, including best choreography
and best international production, and has been seen by 30 million people worldwide. It has broken box office records in 15 countries. King has been said to be on a mission to bring musicals to the masses.
His international production company, Spirit Productions, currently has around 20 shows on global tour.
He employs around 500 dancers, singers and technical crew
and owns two theatres in which his companies play for most of the year; the 2,600 capacity Palace Theatre in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and the Branson Variety Theatre in Branson, Missouri. King's American operations are handled from his US headquarters, located at his theatre in Myrtle Beach. King has several ongoing contracts to supply major casino
s in the US with entertainment. He is also one of the principal suppliers of entertainment
to the Casino de Monte Carlo in Monaco
and he has recently produced an erotic burlesque
show which is running indefinitely at the adjoining Cabaret nightclub
. King's companies tour the US, Europe
, Australia
and the Far East
constantly.
In 2011, he was the subject of a six episode
television documentary
about his work producing shows. Dancing King: Man in the Mirror was commissioned by Discovery Networks UK
. In September 2011, the show was broadcast on ABC2 in Australia.
district of Leeds
, the only son of Stanley and Trudie King. His parents were both performers, having met when his father worked as a music hall
comedian
and his mother was a dancer. From the age of seven, King was considered a classical protege on the piano
and gave concerts in Leeds Town Hall
. However, at 12 years old he turned his back on the rigours of classical training in favour of playing with his friends. With his sisters Wendy and Linda, he grew up in a household full of music and every weekend family members would gather to perform in or watch concerts which King organised.
King attended Roundhay School
in Leeds until the age of 15 when he left to become a self employed market trader.
He sold ladies clothing and, later, moved into jewellery
retail. He maintained an interest in music and wrote musical compositions.
at the Hammersmith Apollo
theatre, starring Michael Flatley
. Struck by the phenomenal success of the show, he decided to capitalise on demand for Irish dance
and put together his own musical performance, which he called Spirit of the Dance.
Riverdance was not scheduled to go to provincial theatres around the UK at that time but the show had created a huge demand and Spirit of the Dance, which also incorporated tango
, flamenco
and salsa
, would step in to meet the demand.
As an unknown, King could not secure financial backing and needed to raise £250,000 to launch his dream. He sold all his possessions, including his house, car and family silver to raise the funds. King singlehandedly wrote the plot and used musical score and songs he had written and boxed away in his younger years. He developed the entire show within three months and tickets for the first week at the Bristol Hippodrome sold out within four hours. He credits his working class
Jewish background with giving him determination, good salesmanship and the skills to persuade people to work for him when he could not afford to pay them.
At the end of a four month tour of UK theatres, Spirit of the Dance was declared the season's box office
winner in Pollstar, an international trade magazine, and calls from around the world for the show began to flood in. King invested the money he had made to polish the show and take it to the US, Australia, the Far East and South Africa
. Within two years, there were 14 companies of Spirit of the Dance appearing in 14 different countries at the same time and the show became one of the biggest dance shows in the world.
After four years of concentrating on Spirit of the Dance, King went on to broaden his portfolio of musical productions. There are currently 22 shows in King's portfolio, all of which he created, financed and produced himself.
Man in the Mirror - The Michael Jackson Show - celebrates three decades of music from the King of Pop, Michael Jackson
, including all his number one hits. The show does not attempt to stitch the songs together with a storyline unlike some other tribute shows and has been described as an evening of crowd-pleasing Jackson numbers, energetically performed and pumped out at high volume. Screen tributes come from singers Janet Jackson
, Liza Minnelli
, Justin Timberlake
, Quincy Jones
, and Whitney Houston
.
In March 2011, a TV documentary, Dancing King: Man in the Mirror, was shown on the DMAX channel. The six part series from Mighty Fine Productions followed King for six months and showed him working on his latest production and auditioning cast members in London
, New York
and Monte Carlo
. King was joined on the audition panel by TV actress Claire Sweeney
and King's own daughter Sophie from popular girl band The Dolly Rockers
. A clip from the show which included his family was shown on Harry Hill's TV Burp
, a British television comedy
programme on ITV
hosted by comedian Harry Hill. King has readily admitted that when he creates a new production, it is not necessarily his love of the particular music that drives him but whether the show idea can be financially viable. In April 2011, King offered Jackson fan Mohamed Al-Fayed
a role in the musical. The offer followed Fayed's unveiling of a statue
of the singer at the Fulham Football Club
ground which he owns in south London
.
In November 2011, King paid tribute to his close friend Sir Jimmy Savile
, the disc jockey and Jim'll Fix It
television presenter who died two days short of his 85th birthday. Both men were born in Leeds and had known each other for 35 years. King repeated Savile's wish to be buried in his favourite tracksuit and with one of his trademark cigars.
'Le Grand Cirque' is an acrobatics
and stunt show drawing on the traditions of circus
acts from Russia
, China
and Eastern Europe
. It has a cast of 39, featuring performers from China, Mongolia
, Russia, Mexico
, the United States, Great Britain and Australia. In 2008-2009 it twice broke box office records after opening at the Sydney Opera House
, Australia. It has been referred to as a theatrical blend of eye-popping feats of human endeavour and a modern day indoor circus.
King also operates an international management and agency company, Spirit Artists, which supplies music acts to corporate events and private clients. He has worked with major acts including Sir Elton John, Leona Lewis
, Andrea Bocelli
, Vanessa Mae, Liza Minnelli
, Simply Red
, Lily Allen
, Duffy
, Lionel Ritchie, Gloria Estefan
and Jamie Cullum
.
on 22 July 2011. The award was presented as part of the university’s annual graduation celebrations and more than 300 performing arts students received their degree certificates during the same ceremony. King described the honorary doctorate as a great honour and encouraged students to be focused and determined in pursuing their careers. The Middlesex University vice chancellor, Michael Driscoll, presented King with his award and said King's skill and determination made him an example for graduates to follow.
Irish dance combined with tango, flamenco and salsa. King's first show opened in September 1996 at the Bristol Hippodrome and is still running today in theatres across the world.
Man in the Mirror
A tribute to Michael Jackson, the King of Pop. Songs include Bad, Thriller
, Beat It
, Black or White and Earth Song
. After premiering in May 2010 at Kings Palace Theatre in Myrtle Beach where the show was made, the production transferred to the UK where it opened in Leeds, King's hometown. It then moved to the Casino de Monte Carlo where it headlined their summer season. It now tours internationally.
Le Grand Cirque
An acrobatics and stunt show, Le Grand Cirque opened a UK tour at the Festival Theatre, Edinburgh
, in March 2007. In 2008-2009 it twice broke box office records after opening at the Sydney Opera House, Australia.
Spice - the Show
King's burlesque show is a resident production at the cabaret theatre adjoining the Casino de Monte Carlo in Monaco. It opened in December 2010 and King conducted auditions for the show in London in April 2011. None of the names of the 14 women and two men in the cast for the two hour topless show are revealed.
Debbie Reynolds
: 'Alive and Fabulous'
US movie star Debbie Reynolds' tour of the UK in 2010 culminated in a season at the Shaftesbury Theatre
in London's West End
. The show was produced, directed and promoted by King.
Rock around the Clock
A parade of 1950s
rock and roll
classics including music made famous by Buddy Holly
, Bill Haley
, Chuck Berry
and Elvis Presley
. Touring since 2009, there are touring troupes of this show in the UK and US, and a resident version at King's Branson Variety Theatre in Branson, Missouri, USA.
Dancing Queen
A cast of 20 dancers and singers perform Abba
hits and party classics from the 1970s
.
It was first made in 2006 and has toured the UK several times, as well as having been performed in casinos in Atlantic City, Reno, and Niagara Falls
, Canada
.
Solid Gold Motown
A tour of the classics by Motown artists. Songs include Dancing in the Street
, Reach Out I'll Be There
and Stop in the Name of Love. The show was first conceived in 2005 and has toured ever since with a cast of 16 performers plus a live band.
The Twelve Irish Tenors
Irish classics, opera
, pop
and swing. Songs include Danny Boy
, Cockles and Mussels, My Way
and Hey Jude
. The show has toured Europe and the US and a resident version is performed at the Branson Variety Theatre.
Twist and Shout
A musical journey through the 1960s
which toured the UK in 2009 and 2010. The cast is made up of four singers and 10 dancers and songs include Twist and Shout
and Can't Buy Me Love
.
Strictly Tap Dance Fever
A celebration of tap dance
, jive
and swing. The show has been touring since 2009 and features tap dance routines made popular in the 1920s
through to modern tap from the year 2000. The show includes tributes to Fred Astaire
and Gene Kelly
.
Red Hot Broadway
A tribute to Broadway productions including Phantom of the Opera, Cabaret
, Chicago
, Cats
, 42nd Street
, Hairspray
, and Les Miserables
. It was first made in 2002 and has toured the world, including venues in China, South Africa and Europe. A cast of four singers and 12 dancers recreate show tunes including 'One' from Chorus Line
and All that Jazz
from Chicago
.
The Spirit of Christmas
A New York
style festive show including White Christmas
, and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
. The show premiered in 2002 and is performed each year in November and December in theatres across the US. It is based on the format of the Radio City Rockettes in New York.
I Can't Stop Loving You
A recreation of the music of Ray Charles
. The show was first produced in 2007 at the Eldorado Casino in Reno, Nevada, USA. It transferred to London's West End, and played at the Theatre Royale, Haymarket. It then went on to tour the UK, Europe and the US. The show has an eight piece live band, eight dancers and six singers.
A corporate show modelled on the success of Il Divo
. Seven of the 12 Irish Tenors perform at private functions.
Frank, Dean and Sammy
A tribute to the Rat Pack
, featuring three American 'lookalikes' of Frank Sinatra
, Dean Martin
and Sammy Davis Jr. The three stars perform with three back-up female singers and an eight-piece swing band. The show has appeared in casinos in the US and has toured the UK and Europe since 2004. Songs include My Way
and That's Amore.
Celebration
A 1970s and 1980s disco
show. The anthem songs include "Footloose
", "Night Fever
", "Fame
", "Car Wash
", "Relax
", "Eye of the Tiger
", "What a Feeling" and "YMCA
".
Cirque Hilarious
A mix of surreal comedy and acrobatic mayhem. The show first appeared in 2007 and was the first comedy production amongst King's productions.
Erotiq de Paris
A late night casino production for adult audiences only. This show was the prototype for his new production 'Spice- the Show' in Monte Carlo.
Sin City Rocks
An adult-only rock party show.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and producer
Theatrical producer
A theatrical producer is the person ultimately responsible for overseeing all aspects of mounting a theatre production. The independent producer will usually be the originator and finder of the script and starts the whole process...
of musical theatre
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
.
King has achieved international popular success in musical theatre, and his management of 20 theatre companies performing around the world has been referred to as "one of the biggest dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
organisations in Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, and certainly the largest in light entertainment."
His first musical Spirit of the Dance has been running for almost 15 years in theatres across the globe since its debut at Bristol Hippodrome
Bristol Hippodrome
The Bristol Hippodrome is a theatre in the centre of Bristol, England with seating on three levels giving a capacity of 1,951. It frequently features West End theatre shows when they tour the UK as well regular visits by Welsh National Opera, and an annual pantomime.- History :The theatre was...
in September 1996. Spirit of the Dance soon became one of the world's biggest dance shows and, in the period 1998 to 2000, there were 14 different troupes simultaneously performing the show in 14 different countries. It has received nine global awards, including best choreography
Choreography
Choreography is the art of designing sequences of movements in which motion, form, or both are specified. Choreography may also refer to the design itself, which is sometimes expressed by means of dance notation. The word choreography literally means "dance-writing" from the Greek words "χορεία" ...
and best international production, and has been seen by 30 million people worldwide. It has broken box office records in 15 countries. King has been said to be on a mission to bring musicals to the masses.
His international production company, Spirit Productions, currently has around 20 shows on global tour.
He employs around 500 dancers, singers and technical crew
Technical crew
The Technical crew, often abbreviated to "tech crew" or "technicians", are the individuals employed behind the scenes who control all the technical aspects of creating a concert, play, musical, opera or other live performance...
and owns two theatres in which his companies play for most of the year; the 2,600 capacity Palace Theatre in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and the Branson Variety Theatre in Branson, Missouri. King's American operations are handled from his US headquarters, located at his theatre in Myrtle Beach. King has several ongoing contracts to supply major casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
s in the US with entertainment. He is also one of the principal suppliers of entertainment
Entertainment
Entertainment consists of any activity which provides a diversion or permits people to amuse themselves in their leisure time. Entertainment is generally passive, such as watching opera or a movie. Active forms of amusement, such as sports, are more often considered to be recreation...
to the Casino de Monte Carlo in Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
and he has recently produced an erotic burlesque
Burlesque
Burlesque is a literary, dramatic or musical work intended to cause laughter by caricaturing the manner or spirit of serious works, or by ludicrous treatment of their subjects...
show which is running indefinitely at the adjoining Cabaret nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
. King's companies tour the US, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
constantly.
In 2011, he was the subject of a six episode
Episode
An episode is a part of a dramatic work such as a serial television or radio program. An episode is a part of a sequence of a body of work, akin to a chapter of a book. The term sometimes applies to works based on other forms of mass media as well, as in Star Wars...
television documentary
Television documentary
Documentary television is a genre of television programming that broadcasts documentaries.* Documentary television series, a television series which is made up of documentary episodes....
about his work producing shows. Dancing King: Man in the Mirror was commissioned by Discovery Networks UK
Discovery Networks UK
Discovery Networks UK was a branch of Discovery Networks responsible for overseeing Discovery Networks Europe's channels in the United Kingdom and in the Republic of Ireland....
. In September 2011, the show was broadcast on ABC2 in Australia.
Early life
David King was born in the AlwoodleyAlwoodley
Alwoodley is a civil parish and suburb of Leeds in West Yorkshire, England. It is north of central Leeds. The name Alwoodley is said to be a corruption of 'Aethelwaldley', as it was originally known in the Middle Ages, meaning the woodland clearing , at Aethelwald's farm...
district of Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, the only son of Stanley and Trudie King. His parents were both performers, having met when his father worked as a music hall
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
and his mother was a dancer. From the age of seven, King was considered a classical protege on the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and gave concerts in Leeds Town Hall
Leeds Town Hall
Leeds Town Hall was built between 1853 and 1858 on Park Lane , Leeds, West Yorkshire, England to a design by architect Cuthbert Brodrick.-Background:...
. However, at 12 years old he turned his back on the rigours of classical training in favour of playing with his friends. With his sisters Wendy and Linda, he grew up in a household full of music and every weekend family members would gather to perform in or watch concerts which King organised.
King attended Roundhay School
Roundhay School
Roundhay School is a specialist Technology College and Language College in Roundhay, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.-Admissions:...
in Leeds until the age of 15 when he left to become a self employed market trader.
He sold ladies clothing and, later, moved into jewellery
Jewellery
Jewellery or jewelry is a form of personal adornment, such as brooches, rings, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.With some exceptions, such as medical alert bracelets or military dog tags, jewellery normally differs from other items of personal adornment in that it has no other purpose than to...
retail. He maintained an interest in music and wrote musical compositions.
Professional career
In the spring of 1996, King was struggling to forge a successful career in stage management and as an agent in entertainment when he went to see the Irish dance musical RiverdanceRiverdance
Riverdance is a theatrical show consisting of traditional Irish stepdancing, notable for its rapid leg movements while body and arms are kept largely stationary. It originated as an interval performance during the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, a moment that is still considered a significant...
at the Hammersmith Apollo
Hammersmith Apollo
Hammersmith Apollo is a major entertainment venue located in Hammersmith, London. Designed by Robert Cromie in Art Deco style, it opened in 1932 as the Gaumont Palace cinema, being re-named the Hammersmith Odeon in 1962...
theatre, starring Michael Flatley
Michael Flatley
Michael Ryan Flatley is an American Irish dancer, choreographer, actor, musician and occasional television presenter. He became internationally known for Irish dance shows Riverdance, Lord of the Dance, Feet of Flames, and Celtic Tiger...
. Struck by the phenomenal success of the show, he decided to capitalise on demand for Irish dance
Irish dance
Irish dancing or Irish dance is a group of traditional dance forms originating in Ireland which can broadly be divided into social dance and performance dances. Irish social dances can be divided further into céilí and set dancing...
and put together his own musical performance, which he called Spirit of the Dance.
Riverdance was not scheduled to go to provincial theatres around the UK at that time but the show had created a huge demand and Spirit of the Dance, which also incorporated tango
Tango (dance)
Tango dance originated in the area of the Rio de la Plata , and spread to the rest of the world soon after....
, flamenco
Flamenco
Flamenco is a genre of music and dance which has its foundation in Andalusian music and dance and in whose evolution Andalusian Gypsies played an important part....
and salsa
Salsa (dance)
Salsa is a syncretic dance form with origins in Cuba as the meeting point of Spanish and African cultures.Salsa is normally a partner dance, although there are recognized solo forms such as solo dancing "suelta" and "Rueda de Casino" where multiple couples exchange partners in a circle...
, would step in to meet the demand.
As an unknown, King could not secure financial backing and needed to raise £250,000 to launch his dream. He sold all his possessions, including his house, car and family silver to raise the funds. King singlehandedly wrote the plot and used musical score and songs he had written and boxed away in his younger years. He developed the entire show within three months and tickets for the first week at the Bristol Hippodrome sold out within four hours. He credits his working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
Jewish background with giving him determination, good salesmanship and the skills to persuade people to work for him when he could not afford to pay them.
At the end of a four month tour of UK theatres, Spirit of the Dance was declared the season's box office
Box office
A box office is a place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through an unblocked hole through a wall or window, or at a wicket....
winner in Pollstar, an international trade magazine, and calls from around the world for the show began to flood in. King invested the money he had made to polish the show and take it to the US, Australia, the Far East and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. Within two years, there were 14 companies of Spirit of the Dance appearing in 14 different countries at the same time and the show became one of the biggest dance shows in the world.
After four years of concentrating on Spirit of the Dance, King went on to broaden his portfolio of musical productions. There are currently 22 shows in King's portfolio, all of which he created, financed and produced himself.
Man in the Mirror - The Michael Jackson Show - celebrates three decades of music from the King of Pop, Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
, including all his number one hits. The show does not attempt to stitch the songs together with a storyline unlike some other tribute shows and has been described as an evening of crowd-pleasing Jackson numbers, energetically performed and pumped out at high volume. Screen tributes come from singers Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson
Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years...
, Liza Minnelli
Liza Minnelli
Liza May Minnelli is an American actress and singer. She is the daughter of singer and actress Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli....
, Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician and actor. He achieved early fame when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate JC Chasez...
, Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones
Quincy Delightt Jones, Jr. is an American record producer and musician. A conductor, musical arranger, film composer, television producer, and trumpeter. His career spans five decades in the entertainment industry and a record 79 Grammy Award nominations, 27 Grammys, including a Grammy Legend...
, and Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
.
In March 2011, a TV documentary, Dancing King: Man in the Mirror, was shown on the DMAX channel. The six part series from Mighty Fine Productions followed King for six months and showed him working on his latest production and auditioning cast members in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo is an administrative area of the Principality of Monaco....
. King was joined on the audition panel by TV actress Claire Sweeney
Claire Sweeney
Claire Jane Sweeney is an English actress, singer and television personality best known for playing the role of Lindsey Corkhill in the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside and her appearance on the first series of the Reality TV show Celebrity Big Brother.-Early Life:Sweeney was born in Walton, Liverpool...
and King's own daughter Sophie from popular girl band The Dolly Rockers
The Dolly Rockers
The Dolly Rockers are an English girl group from London, Leeds and Manchester. The group currently consists of Lucie Kay, Sophie King and Daniele Owen. They first became known when they competed in UK talent show The X Factor in 2006, making it through to the "judges' houses" stage, however they...
. A clip from the show which included his family was shown on Harry Hill's TV Burp
Harry Hill's TV Burp
Harry Hill's TV Burp is a British television comedy programme produced by Avalon Television for ITV and hosted by comedian Harry Hill. The show presents a satirical look at the week's television, including extracts from TV shows with added sketches, observational voice-overs, and guest appearances...
, a British television comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
programme on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
hosted by comedian Harry Hill. King has readily admitted that when he creates a new production, it is not necessarily his love of the particular music that drives him but whether the show idea can be financially viable. In April 2011, King offered Jackson fan Mohamed Al-Fayed
Mohamed Al-Fayed
Mohamed Abdel Moneim Al-Fayed is an Egyptian businessman and billionaire. Amongst his business interests are ownership of the English Premiership football team Fulham Football Club, Hôtel Ritz Paris and formerly Harrods Department Store, Knightsbridge...
a role in the musical. The offer followed Fayed's unveiling of a statue
Statue
A statue is a sculpture in the round representing a person or persons, an animal, an idea or an event, normally full-length, as opposed to a bust, and at least close to life-size, or larger...
of the singer at the Fulham Football Club
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
ground which he owns in south London
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
.
In November 2011, King paid tribute to his close friend Sir Jimmy Savile
Jimmy Savile
Sir James Wilson Vincent Savile, OBE, KCSG was an English disc jockey, television presenter and media personality, best known for his BBC television show Jim'll Fix It, and for being the first and last presenter of the long-running BBC music chart show Top of the Pops...
, the disc jockey and Jim'll Fix It
Jim'll Fix It
Jim'll Fix It was a long-running British television show, broadcast by the BBC between 1975 and 1994. It was presented by Jimmy Savile. It was produced by Roger Ordish, who also worked on other BBC shows, including A Bit of Fry & Laurie...
television presenter who died two days short of his 85th birthday. Both men were born in Leeds and had known each other for 35 years. King repeated Savile's wish to be buried in his favourite tracksuit and with one of his trademark cigars.
'Le Grand Cirque' is an acrobatics
Acrobatics
Acrobatics is the performance of extraordinary feats of balance, agility and motor coordination. It can be found in many of the performing arts, as well as many sports...
and stunt show drawing on the traditions of circus
Circus
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
acts from Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
. It has a cast of 39, featuring performers from China, Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
, Russia, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, the United States, Great Britain and Australia. In 2008-2009 it twice broke box office records after opening at the Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
, Australia. It has been referred to as a theatrical blend of eye-popping feats of human endeavour and a modern day indoor circus.
King also operates an international management and agency company, Spirit Artists, which supplies music acts to corporate events and private clients. He has worked with major acts including Sir Elton John, Leona Lewis
Leona Lewis
Leona Louise Lewis is a British singer and songwriter. Lewis first came to prominence in 2006 when she won the third series of the British television series The X Factor....
, Andrea Bocelli
Andrea Bocelli
Andrea Bocelli, is an Italian tenor, multi-instrumentalist and classical crossover artist. Born with poor eyesight, he became blind at the age of twelve following a soccer accident....
, Vanessa Mae, Liza Minnelli
Liza Minnelli
Liza May Minnelli is an American actress and singer. She is the daughter of singer and actress Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli....
, Simply Red
Simply Red
Simply Red were a British soul band that sold more than 50 million albums over a 25-year career. Their style drew influences from blue-eyed soul, new romantic, rock, reggae and jazz...
, Lily Allen
Lily Allen
Lily Rose Beatrice Cooper , better known as Lily Allen, is an English recording artist and fashion designer. She is the daughter of actor and musician Keith Allen and film producer Alison Owen. In her teenage years, her musical tastes evolved from glam rock to alternative...
, Duffy
Duffy (singer)
Aimée Ann Duffy , known as Duffy, is a Welsh singer-songwriter. Her 2008 debut album Rockferry entered the UK Album Chart at number one. It was the best-selling album in the United Kingdom in 2008 with 1.68 million copies sold...
, Lionel Ritchie, Gloria Estefan
Gloria Estefan
Gloria María Milagrosa Fajardo García de Estefan; known professionally as Gloria Estefan is a Cuban-born American singer, songwriter, and actress. Known as the "Queen Of Latin Pop", she is in the top 100 best selling music artists with over 100 million albums sold worldwide, 31.5 million of those...
and Jamie Cullum
Jamie Cullum
Jamie Cullum is an English pop and jazz-pop singer-songwriter. Though he is primarily a vocalist/pianist he also accompanies himself on other instruments including guitar and drums. Since April 2010, he has been presenting a weekly jazz show on BBC Radio 2, broadcast on Tuesdays from 19:00.- Early...
.
Honours
King was awarded an honorary doctorate for his major contribution to the performing arts industry by Middlesex UniversityMiddlesex University
Middlesex University is a university in north London, England. It is located in the historic county boundaries of Middlesex from which it takes its name. It is one of the post-1992 universities and is a member of Million+ working group...
on 22 July 2011. The award was presented as part of the university’s annual graduation celebrations and more than 300 performing arts students received their degree certificates during the same ceremony. King described the honorary doctorate as a great honour and encouraged students to be focused and determined in pursuing their careers. The Middlesex University vice chancellor, Michael Driscoll, presented King with his award and said King's skill and determination made him an example for graduates to follow.
Spirit Shows productions
Spirit of the DanceIrish dance combined with tango, flamenco and salsa. King's first show opened in September 1996 at the Bristol Hippodrome and is still running today in theatres across the world.
Man in the Mirror
A tribute to Michael Jackson, the King of Pop. Songs include Bad, Thriller
Thriller (song)
"Thriller" is a song recorded by American recording artist Michael Jackson, composed by Rod Temperton, and produced by Quincy Jones. It is the seventh and final single from his sixth studio album Thriller. It was released on January 23, 1984 by Epic Records...
, Beat It
Beat It
"Beat It" is a song written and performed by American recording artist Michael Jackson, and produced by Quincy Jones . It is the third single from the singer's sixth solo album, Thriller . Eddie Van Halen was hired to add the song's distinctive overdriven guitar solo, but was prevented by his...
, Black or White and Earth Song
Earth Song
"Earth Song" is the third single from Michael Jackson's album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I. It is the fifth song on the second disc of the album. It is a ballad that incorporates elements of blues, gospel and opera. Jackson had a long-standing history of releasing socially conscious...
. After premiering in May 2010 at Kings Palace Theatre in Myrtle Beach where the show was made, the production transferred to the UK where it opened in Leeds, King's hometown. It then moved to the Casino de Monte Carlo where it headlined their summer season. It now tours internationally.
Le Grand Cirque
An acrobatics and stunt show, Le Grand Cirque opened a UK tour at the Festival Theatre, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, in March 2007. In 2008-2009 it twice broke box office records after opening at the Sydney Opera House, Australia.
Spice - the Show
King's burlesque show is a resident production at the cabaret theatre adjoining the Casino de Monte Carlo in Monaco. It opened in December 2010 and King conducted auditions for the show in London in April 2011. None of the names of the 14 women and two men in the cast for the two hour topless show are revealed.
Debbie Reynolds
Debbie Reynolds
Debbie Reynolds is an American actress, singer, and dancer.She was initially signed at age 16 by Warner Bros., but her career got off to a slow start. When her contract was not renewed, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer gave her a small, but significant part in the film Three Little Words , then signed her to...
: 'Alive and Fabulous'
US movie star Debbie Reynolds' tour of the UK in 2010 culminated in a season at the Shaftesbury Theatre
Shaftesbury Theatre
The Shaftesbury Theatre is a West End Theatre, located on Shaftesbury Avenue, in the London Borough of Camden.-History:The theatre was designed for the brothers Walter and Frederick Melville by Bertie Crewe and opened on 26 December 1911 with a production of The Three Musketeers, as the New...
in London's West End
West End of London
The West End of London is an area of central London, containing many of the city's major tourist attractions, shops, businesses, government buildings, and entertainment . Use of the term began in the early 19th century to describe fashionable areas to the west of Charing Cross...
. The show was produced, directed and promoted by King.
Rock around the Clock
A parade of 1950s
1950s
The 1950s or The Fifties was the decade that began on January 1, 1950 and ended on December 31, 1959. The decade was the sixth decade of the 20th century...
rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
classics including music made famous by Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
, Bill Haley
Bill Haley
Bill Haley was one of the first American rock and roll musicians. He is credited by many with first popularizing this form of music in the early 1950s with his group Bill Haley & His Comets and their hit song "Rock Around the Clock".-Early life and career:...
, Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
and Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
. Touring since 2009, there are touring troupes of this show in the UK and US, and a resident version at King's Branson Variety Theatre in Branson, Missouri, USA.
Dancing Queen
A cast of 20 dancers and singers perform Abba
Abba
ABBA is the name of a former Swedish pop music group.Abba may also refer to:* ABBA , a self-titled album by the Swedish pop music group ABBA* "Abba ", a song by Christian pop and rock artist, Rebecca St...
hits and party classics from the 1970s
1970s
File:1970s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: US President Richard Nixon doing the V for Victory sign after his resignation from office after the Watergate scandal in 1974; Refugees aboard a US naval boat after the Fall of Saigon, leading to the end of the Vietnam War in 1975; The 1973 oil...
.
It was first made in 2006 and has toured the UK several times, as well as having been performed in casinos in Atlantic City, Reno, and Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls
The Niagara Falls, located on the Niagara River draining Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, is the collective name for the Horseshoe Falls and the adjacent American Falls along with the comparatively small Bridal Veil Falls, which combined form the highest flow rate of any waterfalls in the world and has...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Solid Gold Motown
A tour of the classics by Motown artists. Songs include Dancing in the Street
Dancing in the Street
"Dancing in the Street" is a 1964 song first recorded by Martha and the Vandellas. It is one of Motown's signature songs and is the group's premier signature song.-Martha and the Vandellas original:...
, Reach Out I'll Be There
Reach Out I'll Be There
"Reach Out I'll Be There" is a 1966 hit song recorded by the Four Tops for the Motown label. Written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland, the song is one of the most well-known Motown tunes of the 1960s and is today considered The Tops' signature song...
and Stop in the Name of Love. The show was first conceived in 2005 and has toured ever since with a cast of 16 performers plus a live band.
The Twelve Irish Tenors
Irish classics, opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
, pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
and swing. Songs include Danny Boy
Danny Boy
-Background:The words to "Danny Boy" were written by English lawyer and lyricist Frederic Weatherly in 1910. Although the lyrics were originally written for a different tune, Weatherly modified them to fit the "Londonderry Air" in 1913, after his sister-in-law in the U.S. sent him a copy. Ernestine...
, Cockles and Mussels, My Way
My Way (song)
"My Way" is a song popularized by Frank Sinatra. Its lyrics were written by Paul Anka and set to music based on the French song "Comme d'habitude" composed in 1967 by Claude François and Jacques Revaux, with lyrics by Claude François and Gilles Thibault. Anka's English lyrics are unrelated to the...
and Hey Jude
Hey Jude
"Hey Jude" is a song by the English rock band The Beatles, written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The ballad evolved from "Hey Jules", a song widely accepted as being written to comfort John Lennon's son, Julian, during his parents' divorce—although this explanation is not...
. The show has toured Europe and the US and a resident version is performed at the Branson Variety Theatre.
Twist and Shout
A musical journey through the 1960s
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
which toured the UK in 2009 and 2010. The cast is made up of four singers and 10 dancers and songs include Twist and Shout
Twist and Shout
"Twist and Shout" is a song written by Phil Medley and Bert Russell. It was originally titled "Shake It Up, Baby" and recorded by the Top Notes and then covered by The Isley Brothers. It was covered by The Beatles with John Lennon on the lead vocals and originally released on their first album...
and Can't Buy Me Love
Can't Buy Me Love
"Can't Buy Me Love" is a song composed by Paul McCartney and released by The Beatles on the A-side of their sixth British single, "Can't Buy Me Love"/"You Can't Do That".-Interpretation:...
.
Strictly Tap Dance Fever
A celebration of tap dance
Tap dance
Tap dance is a form of dance characterized by using the sound of one's tap shoes hitting the floor as a percussive instrument. As such, it is also commonly considered to be a form of music. Two major variations on tap dance exist: rhythm tap and Broadway tap. Broadway tap focuses more on the...
, jive
Jive (dance)
In Ballroom dancing, Jive is a dance style in 4/4 time that originated in the United States from African-Americans in the early 1930s. It was originally presented to the public as 'Jive' in 1934 by Cab Calloway. It is a lively and uninhibited variation of the Jitterbug, a form of Swing dance...
and swing. The show has been touring since 2009 and features tap dance routines made popular in the 1920s
1920s
File:1920s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: Third Tipperary Brigade Flying Column No. 2 under Sean Hogan during the Irish Civil War; Prohibition agents destroying barrels of alcohol in accordance to the 18th amendment, which made alcoholic beverages illegal throughout the entire decade; In...
through to modern tap from the year 2000. The show includes tributes to Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire was an American film and Broadway stage dancer, choreographer, singer and actor. His stage and subsequent film career spanned a total of 76 years, during which he made 31 musical films. He was named the fifth Greatest Male Star of All Time by the American Film Institute...
and Gene Kelly
Gene Kelly
Eugene Curran "Gene" Kelly was an American dancer, actor, singer, film director and producer, and choreographer...
.
Red Hot Broadway
A tribute to Broadway productions including Phantom of the Opera, Cabaret
Cabaret (musical)
Cabaret is a musical based on a book written by Christopher Isherwood, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. The 1966 Broadway production became a hit and spawned a 1972 film as well as numerous subsequent productions....
, Chicago
Chicago (musical)
Chicago is a musical set in Prohibition-era Chicago. The music is by John Kander with lyrics by Fred Ebb and a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse. The story is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice and the concept of the "celebrity criminal"...
, Cats
Cats (musical)
Cats is a musical composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot...
, 42nd Street
42nd Street (musical)
42nd Street is a musical with a book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, lyrics by Al Dubin, and music by Harry Warren. The 1980 Broadway production, directed by an ailing Gower Champion and orchestrated by Philip J. Lang, won the Tony Award for Best Musical and became a long-running hit...
, Hairspray
Hairspray (musical)
Hairspray is a musical with music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman and a book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, based on the 1988 John Waters film Hairspray. The songs include 1960s-style dance music and "downtown" rhythm and blues...
, and Les Miserables
Les Misérables (musical)
Les Misérables , colloquially known as Les Mis or Les Miz , is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo....
. It was first made in 2002 and has toured the world, including venues in China, South Africa and Europe. A cast of four singers and 12 dancers recreate show tunes including 'One' from Chorus Line
Chorus line
A chorus line is a substantial group of dancers who together perform synchronized routines, usually in musical theatre. Sometimes, singing is also performed. Chorus line dancers in Broadway musicals and revues have been referred to by slang terms such as ponies, gypsies and twirlies...
and All that Jazz
All That Jazz (song)
"All That Jazz" is a song from the 1975 musical Chicago. It has lyrics by Fred Ebb and music by John Kander, and is the opening song of the musical...
from Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
.
The Spirit of Christmas
A New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
style festive show including White Christmas
White Christmas (song)
"White Christmas" is an Irving Berlin song reminiscing about an old-fashioned Christmas setting. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the version sung by Bing Crosby is the best-selling single of all time, with estimated sales in excess of 50 million copies worldwide.Accounts vary as...
, and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" is a song introduced by Judy Garland in the 1944 MGM musical Meet Me in St. Louis. Frank Sinatra later recorded a version with modified lyrics, which has become more common than the original. The song was written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane...
. The show premiered in 2002 and is performed each year in November and December in theatres across the US. It is based on the format of the Radio City Rockettes in New York.
I Can't Stop Loving You
A recreation of the music of Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
. The show was first produced in 2007 at the Eldorado Casino in Reno, Nevada, USA. It transferred to London's West End, and played at the Theatre Royale, Haymarket. It then went on to tour the UK, Europe and the US. The show has an eight piece live band, eight dancers and six singers.
- The Tenors
A corporate show modelled on the success of Il Divo
Il Divo
Il Divo is a multinational operatic pop vocal group created by music manager, executive, and reality TV star Simon Cowell. Formed in the United Kingdom, they are also signed to Cowell's record label, Syco Music...
. Seven of the 12 Irish Tenors perform at private functions.
Frank, Dean and Sammy
A tribute to the Rat Pack
Rat Pack
The Rat Pack was a group of actors originally centered on Humphrey Bogart. In the mid-1960s it was the name used by the press and the general public to refer to a later variation of the group, after Bogart's death, that called itself "the summit" or "the clan," featuring Frank Sinatra, Dean...
, featuring three American 'lookalikes' of Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
, Dean Martin
Dean Martin
Dean Martin was an American singer, film actor, television star and comedian. Martin's hit singles included "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You", "Sway", "Volare" and "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?"...
and Sammy Davis Jr. The three stars perform with three back-up female singers and an eight-piece swing band. The show has appeared in casinos in the US and has toured the UK and Europe since 2004. Songs include My Way
My Way (song)
"My Way" is a song popularized by Frank Sinatra. Its lyrics were written by Paul Anka and set to music based on the French song "Comme d'habitude" composed in 1967 by Claude François and Jacques Revaux, with lyrics by Claude François and Gilles Thibault. Anka's English lyrics are unrelated to the...
and That's Amore.
Celebration
A 1970s and 1980s disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
show. The anthem songs include "Footloose
Footloose (song)
"Footloose" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins. It was released in January 1984 as the first of two single by Loggins from the 1984 film of the same name. The song spent three weeks at number one, March 31—April 14, 1984 on the U.S. Billboard...
", "Night Fever
Night Fever
"Night Fever" is a disco song, written and performed by The Bee Gees. It first appeared on the soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever. Producer Robert Stigwood wanted to call the film Saturday Night, but singer Robin Gibb expressed hesitation at the title. Stigwood liked the title Night Fever but was...
", "Fame
Fame (Irene Cara song)
"Fame" is a pop song, written by Michael Gore and Dean Pitchford that was released in 1980, and achieved chart success as the theme song to the Fame film and TV series. The song was performed by Irene Cara, who played the role of Coco Hernandez in the original movie...
", "Car Wash
Car Wash (song)
"Car Wash" is a 1976 soul music single by Rose Royce for MCA Records, the group's debut single and one of the most notable successes of the disco era. Written and produced by the band's main producer Norman Whitfield, "Car Wash", the theme of the 1976 film Car Wash, was Rose Royce's most successful...
", "Relax
Relax (song)
"Relax" is the debut single by British dance group Frankie Goes to Hollywood, released in the UK by ZTT Records in 1983. The song was later included on the album Welcome to the Pleasuredome ....
", "Eye of the Tiger
Eye of the Tiger
"Eye of the Tiger" is a single by American rock band Survivor, from their third album Eye of the Tiger. It was released as a single on May 29, 1982, the same year as the album. It was written at the request of actor Sylvester Stallone, who was unable to get permission for Queen's "Another One Bites...
", "What a Feeling" and "YMCA
YMCA (song)
"Y.M.C.A." is a song recorded by American disco group Village People. It was released in 1978 as the only single from the album Cruisin. The song reached No. 2 on the U.S. charts in early 1979 and reached No.1 in the UK around the same time, becoming the group's biggest hit...
".
Cirque Hilarious
A mix of surreal comedy and acrobatic mayhem. The show first appeared in 2007 and was the first comedy production amongst King's productions.
Erotiq de Paris
A late night casino production for adult audiences only. This show was the prototype for his new production 'Spice- the Show' in Monte Carlo.
Sin City Rocks
An adult-only rock party show.