CLEO Higgins will return to the Grand Opera House, York, in February in the ten-month British and European tour of Thriller Live, the concert celebration of Michael Jackson's music.

Lead singer of the Nineties' girl group Cleopatra, she previously starred as one of four lead vocalists performing Michael Jackson's songs in the 2013 tour of Thriller Live, since when she has had a year in the show in the West End.

The latest tour is a fresh version, with four songs new to the repertoire, a new opening and new production elements, such as new video footage, new costumes and special effects.

“I’m a huge Michael Jackson fan and I identify with him,” says Birmingham-born Cleo, who like Jackson was a child star, having signed to Madonna's Maverick label at the age of 13 when lead singer of Cleopatra.

Like Jackson too, she sang with her siblings and was managed by her parents, clocking up three top five hits and two television series, singing for the Pope and supporting The Spice Girls on tour. In 2013, she was mentored by Will.i.am on BBC One's The Voice.

 

“I’m an Eighties baby. When Michael Jackson died I literally cried every day for a year," says Cleo. "His death reminded me how connected I felt to him as a person and musician, but I didn’t recognise how strong those links were until then.

 

"My favourite song I perform is They Don’t Really Care About Us. I get to feel the energy Michael gave when he sang when it was recorded. I get right into that zone and I feel every word. We celebrate his incredible legacy in Thriller Live. His songs will never die.”

The West End concert spectacular has taken more than $150million at the global box office, where Egypt has become the 32nd country to premiere the show. On December 13, at the 2,901st performance at the Lyric Theatre, Thriller Live overtook vita to become the 17th longest-running West End musical of all time after an unbroken seven-year London run.

“This is proof positive that the music of Michael Jackson is still one of the hottest tickets on the planet," says producer Paul Walden. "We're privileged to continue his musical legacy in Thriller Live, and to have taken it to theatres, concert halls and arenas in 32 countries around the world.

“We're extremely proud of the hard work and dedication of all of the creative team, dancers, singers, musicians and crew who have entertained the world as part of the Thriller Live family. But we're certainly not resting on our laurels, so we have the brand new version on tour and in the West End."

Tickets for York are on sale on 0844 871 3024 or at atgtickets.com/york