Ilario Grant is headed to Perth next year, as the star of MJ: The Michael Jackson Musical. Lisa & Russell asked how long Ilario has been a fan of MJ, his audition process and what audiences can expect from show. Tune in to hear the full interview.
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Episode Transcript
He's one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Now
Michael Jackson's unique and unparalleled artistry is set to thrill
audiences in Perth and the multiple Tony Award winning MJ
The Michael Jackson Musical. It's going to be at Crown
Theater from June seven to twenty eight. Tickets are available
through Ticketmaster. Alaria Grant is Michael and he's joining us now.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Good morning, Good morning, a Lario.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Good morning, good morning. How you guys doing good?
Speaker 1 (00:25):
So, I mean it is a it is a long career.
So tell us about what the show focuses on.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
There's a lot to get through.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Yeah, yeah, okay, So the show is a two day
and it's yeah, no, that's all this show is this
that's all a two day that focuses on the build
or the process of the Dangerous Tour, that takes us
through his life as a child all the way up
into the Dangerous Tour, and we get we get glimpses of,
(00:57):
you know, how he became who he is, you know,
the artistry, the people that inspired him. And it's kind
of narrated by MJ and Rachel who is the MTV reporter.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Ah, right, gotcha.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Have you always been a Michael Jackson fan or did
you just sort of catch on a little bit later
to take on the role.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
It's crazy. So I was ten years old and Atlanta,
Georgia was my twin brother, and I'm watching the Thriller
music video. I don't I can't recall like why we
put the Thriller music video on it, but we put
it on, and my life and my artistry has changed
ever since. Then. That's when I became a true, true
Michael Jackson fan and kind of dove into who he
was as an artist. And that's how I became or
(01:39):
how he has shaped me as who I am as
an artist. So teen years old and Atlanta, Georgia is
when I can recall that Michael Jackson became a part
of my life.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
So fast forward, you're working as in shows and the
opportunity to play Michael comes up. What was the audition process?
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Like, oh my gosh, okay. So I submitted an open
call in twenty twenty three amongst hundreds of other people.
And so after submitting the open call, they called me
back to New York at the time and they say, hey,
we want you to, like, you know, come in and
do the role, and I'm like, oh, like great, let's
do this thing. So the process was I had to
sing a couple of songs, I had to you know,
(02:16):
do a couple of dance moves, and I think that,
of course, it all worked out in the end.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
We actually always liked to ask people where you were
when you got the cold, to say you got the roll.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
Yeah, that that call was that that car was crazy.
I was in my manager's office at the time. She
called me in, and she liked to play this game
to where she goes like, hey, so I got some
news for you, you know, in the downward tone, in
the downward tone, and I'm like, oh man, so they're
not gonna take me. She's like, yeah, so it's been
(02:48):
a hard process and we was trying really hard and
you got the role of Michael Jackson and I just
I just was screaming. I was running around her office building.
It was crazy, started crying. I immediately started.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
Of course you did expected. Now the show is jam
packed full of Michael's songs. What are your favorite ones
to perform?
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Wow? This changes It's like it's like acting my mom, Mom,
who's your favorite child? You know? Exactly. I would have
to say today it would have to be beat It. Okay,
that song and the energy that that number brings to
us as performers is like electric It's electricity every time.
(03:33):
So that number, I would have to say, is the
one I love to perform.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Yeah, obviously you're right into Michael Jackson. You're you're you're
a true fan, you follow, you know everything that he's done.
But you're not Michael Jackson all the time. But how
do you become Michael Jackson on show days? How do
you get into character?
Speaker 3 (03:53):
Wow? So that that's a process. I get to the theater,
I kind of just step my mood and my tone
for the day for the show, and so I get
in there in silence for about three to five minutes,
and then I start to warm up and I start
to watch Michael Jackson live, and I started to watch
his interviews and watch him as he's being a normal person.
And that's kind of how I like channel the energy
of Michael Jackson. And then I just start singing his music,
(04:14):
you know what I mean. I start seeing his music
backstage as the makeup is going on, as the wig
is going on, and it's kind of like this transformation
that happens before I walk on stage, I say a
prayer and I ask God to kind of just allow
me to be used. And then after that, I just
let it happen. I don't even question it. I just
let it go.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
And yeah, I have this imagery be slipping on the
glove and transform complaint and then.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
You put on the glove and then you tip the hat.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
You gotta tip the hat exactly exactly the loafers.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
Yes, I can see it all pass before we caught
white to welcome you to town.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
No, I have not been to person, and I'm so excited.
I heard the beaches are amazing. Well, and I cannot wait.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
You are coming in with of course, but the beaches
are still amazing.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
We'll send you a photo of the beach today.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Okay, yeah, please, all right, well this will come around
very quickly, indeed, June seven to twenty eight at Crown Theater,
Michael Jackson the musical Alaria. Thank you for joining us
this morning. We look forward to welcome you to town properly.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
Thank you so much, of course, thank you guys much.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
You
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