LEGACY Has A New Stage Manager

I would like to announce that I’ve selected a permanent Stage Manager to step in as the tribute shows’ shot-caller in the control booth for the LEGACY show. 

Cecilia ‘Ceci’ Huffman has been with LEGACY since 2010. She began following the show as a show-goer and before you knew it, she became part of the LEGACY family. Ceci has worn many hats in the production in the last five years. She has served as photographer, audio operator during theatre shows, costuming assistant for myself and later became one of two stage managers alongside Gloria Kiffmeyer. 

As of January 1, 2016, Ceci will begin her new role with LEGACY as the only stage manager for the production. Ceci understands our culture, our mission, the challenges and the production that LEGACY is. More importantly, Ceci understands me artistically, which is a whole different challenge in itself. I need to be able to trust the person in the control booth at the same time I’m running onstage in complete darkness. While I’m standing in the spotlight with 400+ stares on me, I need to trust that she will not let me down on the next lighting queue at the slightest physical gesture that I make… and time after time, she reminds me that I can trust her.

I’ve always admired Cecilia for being very mature for her young age, logical and thorough when making decisions. That is a very important thing to consider when you have one person controlling 100% of the show. Many think that I hold the most power (figuratively speaking) during the live show but the truth is that technically and literally, I am the most vulnerable. A Stage Manager holds the best cards as they control your stage timing, change time, volumes, monitors, backstage crew, dancer positioning, everything. It’s a scary feeling unless you have someone you trust.

 I’m proud to run this show alongside a friend that I adore and trust. I was very sad to see Gloria and Marques go but I was left with the comfort of knowing Ceci would step in and run this show like nothing has changed.  Let’s keep them tight, Alexandria-Style, lady. I’m so proud of you and excited to do this with you. I couldn’t be happier.   -LC

"Trust your instincts, and make judgments on what your heart tells you. The heart will not betray you" -David Gemmell

Two Founding Members Say Goodbye To LEGACY

This was a very difficult Blog post to write but I got it done... and here it is....

The show that took place at Treasure Island Resort and Casino marked a very important time in our short history.

On October 6, 2015, G.L. Berg Entertainment & LEGACY Live Entertainment, LLC brought the full-scale show to Treasure Island which was very exciting for us. We played a 90min. non-stop show on the main stage at the T.I. Event Center. Unlike the theatre version of this show, we had no intermission, no pauses, nothing. It was a very cardio-intensive show to say the least.

This show also marked what was a sad day for the production as my long-time friend and Stage Manager, Gloria Kiffmeyer was calling her last show with LEGACY. Gloria was one of the founders of LEGACY. She's seen the show grow from an amateur show to a more professional production. As a matter of fact, Gloria was actually the person who gave LEGACY its name. I'll never forget the day we were sitting around the table (her, Marques and I) coming up with ideas for a name. Originally, I was going to title the show "Who's Bad" but they felt it left us with a very narrow and stereotypical scope. "LEGACY- A Tribute to Michael Jackson!!!" She said. I recall feeling excited about a name so iconic and so long-lasting. "yes!!!" LEGACY it is". Before we made it a legal name, we took out the "Michael Jackson" and replaced it with "The King of Pop" which is just as identifiable as MJ. This was to avoid any future issues involving using Michael's name in our actual title. 

Gloria, calling the show in St. Cloud, MN (2014)

Gloria has since been married and has a family to tend to. LEGACY can be time consuming and I completely respect her decision and I will miss her dearly. She has always been my "advice-central". She's a very intelligent lady who I always look up to for reassurance when making big decisions for the group. She's always brutally honest and is quick to put me in my place if I become too demanding. I will miss that very, very much.

On the other hand, my best friend, my little brother from another mother and the third founding member of LEGACY will be leaving the show. Marques Mathhias who was the Production Manager accepted a position at sea (literally) and will no longer be part of the show. He will be working as Entertainment Staff for a big cruise liner and I can't think of a better job for him. He is AMAZING at managing and understands entertainment and client-relations. He has skills that are valuable and hard to find in someone who not only manages the back-end of an entertainment buisness but also gets onstage and kicks ass. 

LC & Marques (2013)

Marques has been with me since 2001 and has always been one of the main pillars for the show. He's the person I trust the most both, personally and professionally. He's the person who's stopped me from brining in pyro-technics and dangerous things into the show; he's Mr. Safety First.  I'm still trying to figure out how LEGACY will function without him, let alone how I will function without him. If there have been times when I've cried onstage or off, he's always there. If I need help working with clients, dancers, volunteer staff, students, he's there. If I make questionable dating decisions, he's there to lecture me and give me my dose of reality. If I need frickin' amino acid pills during a brutal show week, you know who I go to... and he's there. 

These two special people are so important to me and as devastated as I was when I learned about their departures from the show, I am happy for them. Each have their own, personal and important reasons for departing and I need to be there and support their decisions. I love them and will miss them onstage and in the control booth.

Gloria and Marques at dancer auditions (2011)

What they didn't realize is that by both of them leaving at the same time they leave one crazy alter-ego (LC Jackson) making all the creative decisions without consulting!!! Uh oh.... 

They always opted for no explosions, no cherry pickers, no rising platforms with fans and things like that...  Hehe... O..M..G...

I'll be announcing our new, permanent Stage Manager soon as I will need to fill Gloria's spot. In the interim, I will pick up the managing of the production. 

Marques, Gloria and I at our very last show, together. Treasure Island (10/6/2015)

2015 = TOO MUCH FOR ME TO JAM!!!

In 2015, LEGACY has been so busy I’ve had no time to Blog and share with you all what’s been going on with the show. Where to begin… Where to begin!!!

As some of you know, we rolled out a brand new show in the spring of 2015, which has been a complete hit amongst MJ and LEGACY fans. We added new dance songs to the show such as “This Place Hotel”, full version of “Working Day and Night” and other sexy rock songs such as “Dirty Diana” and “Give In To Me”. In addition, we added new costuming by Sue Saari Designs and awesome lighting by designer Ian Knodel.

This year alone, LEGACY was featured on radio, and scored a full page, full color article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune and was also placed on a commercial billboard recently as a result of advertising the early October Thriller performances in Burnsville, MN.

In May, we broke attendance records at SteppingStone Theatre with over 1,900 tickets sold in just two weekends. That is incredible for the size of our show.  But most importantly, LEGACY had the opportunity to play key stages such as the Saloon’s main stage during the Pride celebration in downtown Minneapolis, Treasure Island Resort & Casino, Gay 90’s and The Muse.

I cannot express how thankful and lucky I am to have such a great artistic family who is dedicated, committed and passionate about what they do. This success would not be possible without their input, their ideas and their talent.

This year has placed us right back on the top of the game and I plan to continue outputting high quality work that is tasteful and pays homage to Michael in a very positive light.  There are few MJ tribute shows in the country this size and I am very proud of the product LEGACY has become.

There is some re-structuring that is going on internally with roles and responsibilities within the production team and for those of you who follow us closely, you may be surprised (as was I) but change doesn’t necessarily have to mean ‘bad’. It’s just different. I’ll be making those announcements soon via blog as well so for those of you who follow us “Blog-Closely” can be in the know.

Thank you to all the MJ fans, facebook followers all over the world and to all the people that come see our shows! We do this for YOU. 

-LC JACKSON

Wig Hunting...

One of the most popular questions that I get as an impersonator is:

"Is that your real hair?" The answer is always "yes, why yes it is!!" That's not because I grew it myself but because I bought it. The truth is, like most MJ impersonators, I wear a wig/hair piece. MJ had very unique hair regardless of what era you're shooting for. He always managed to make it his own and it was a very original look. This is one of the reasons it's hard to simply grow hair and try to make it look like his. It's easier to find the right hair, cut and style it as needed and TADA!!! Right? Nope. It's not that simple.

Finding the right wig has always been a big problem for me. You have to find the right texture, color, length and durability. I have always used human hair wigs because they provide a very natural look, natural movement and they're great to clean.

The downside to human hair wigs is that it's hard to predict their reaction to heavy sweat, constant cleaning and lights always shining on it, which will cause it to dry and frizz eventually. I've had a human hair wig last me 30+ shows and some have lasted only 2-5 shows because the hair itself was not resilient to the wear; it can be very frustrating. In addition, wig manufacturers are not consistent with their wigs so before you know it, they discontinue the "perfect" one and the hunt begins all over again.

Needless to say, for the new 2015 shows, I'm still in the process of finding the right one(s). While I still have previously used hair pieces, I think a new one is overdue. While looking for the right set of hair is my least favorite part of putting the aesthetics together, it's one of the most important ones next to costuming and makeup. The hair quality and look is what sets you apart from simply 'wearing a costume' to being a professional, high[er] caliber entertainer.

Until I find the right hair, I will continue my search in Minneapolis, Chicago, Atlanta and San Francisco. One of these cities must give in... And as long as I don't show up with a mop on my head when the curtains open in May, I think we'll all benefit.

-LC

The Set List

The set list for a show is by far one of the hardest things to put together for many reasons. There are many things to consider such as: the costuming, lighting, dancers, transitions etc. Not to mention, you need to keep a good balance in a show so that it’s assertive, yet fun and emotional at the same time. You’d be surprised how long it takes to build a set list. To this day, I have not completed the final set list for the May shows. Part of the reason is because I let my feelings, my moods drive that. Granted, I need to take into account that people MUST have songs like Thriller, Beat It, Smooth Criminal and Billie Jean. These songs are the ‘untouchables’ and will be in the show, regardless. The rest is up to balance, feeling and emotion.

While I am not going to give away the set list, you can definitely expect a very intense show, overall. When I define it as intense I do not mean aggressive or anything like that. I mean intense in an approach type of way. Interestingly enough, this show is coming together after much turbulence between the last show and this one. Believe it or not, the feelings, emotion and personal undertones carry into the work. It sounds very cliché but this (my art) is my way expressing my feelings and emotions. Lyrics fill in for the things I cannot, or choose to not express in words or actions. MJ wrote incredible songs that carry so much weight in their lyrical content.  There are also songs that are very fun, light, feel-good classics like “Black or White”, “The Way You Make Me Feel” and “Remember the Time”, which always make people dance, smile, jump off their seats and scream off the top of their lungs.

The heavy songs tend to make audiences (and myself at times) lose it and cry. From the stage, I sometimes see people reaching for tissue to wipe off the tears. Other times they just ball, literally! They lose it. Performances create a connection that I cannot explain. There exists a  unique relationship betwen the performer and the observer. When it's done right, a feeling and a message is communicated which in turn produces a reaction on both sides. It’s quite beautiful. There is no feeling like it. It’s something I cannot understand nor do I care to as long as that feeling is present. Sometimes the most beautiful feelings we don’t have to understand and that's when we need to learn to let go of our insecurities and torment. Easier said that done. 

-LC

Lyrics carry weight. Songs express and do for the soul more than years of therapy ever could.  

-“You’re kicking me down, I got to get up. As jacked as it sounds the whole system sucks.”

-“Beat me, bash me, you can never trash me, hit me, kick me you can’t ever get me.”

-“You and your friends were laughing at me in town. But it’s okay. You won’t be laughing girl, when I’m not around”

-“So I’ve learned that love is not possession. And I’ve learned that love won’t wait. Now I’ve learned that love needs expression but I learned too late and she’s out of my life.”

-“Just promise me whatever we say or whatever we do to each other for now we’ll make a vow to  keep it in the closet.”

Back On The Map

On January 31, 2015, Legacy Live Entertainment, LLC launched the new website for the show "LEGACY- A Tribute to the King of Pop" (www.legacymjtribute.com) as well as a series of nine (9) shows over two weekends in the Twin Cities.

After the last "big" show in St. Cloud, MN in May(2014), some were wondering what happened to LEGACY. Others thought we quit and the truth is, we never left nor did we quit. Our passion to entertain and bring happiness to others through art is far too great for us to let it die. 

After a few months of laying low and taking personal time,  I decided to re-organize our production team, acquire new dancers, hire a dedicated costumer and invest time, money and resources in order to bring LEGACY back to the top and re-introduce this new, great production to the public. 

The website is up and running and has had nothing but positive reviews. Tickets have began to sell and there are 15,000 advertisements being shipped from California to be distributed in the Twin Cities in order to promote the upcoming shows. It's a very exciting time for all of us and we're very happy to be back with this new show. 

See you in May. 

-LC