Moonwalk to Colombo- reliving the Michael Jackson legend By Sanath Weerasuriya The King of Pop is set to return to the stage in Colombo, this time through the electrifying performance of Lenny Jay, in ‘This Is Michael – Relive the Legend’, coming to ‘The Podium’ at City of Dreams Sri Lanka on November 8 and [...]
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The King of Pop is set to return to the stage in Colombo, this time through the electrifying performance of Lenny Jay, in ‘This Is Michael – Relive the Legend’, coming to ‘The Podium’ at City of Dreams Sri Lanka on November 8 and 9, 2026.
Presented by the ‘Cinnamon Box Office’, the internationally acclaimed Michael Jackson tribute ‘This Is Michael – Relive the Legend’ promises to take audiences on a nostalgic journey through the music, movement and unmistakable stage presence of one of the world’s most iconic performers.
Fronting the production is Brazilian-born, Milan-based performer Lenny Jay, whose vocals and choreography have earned praise from members of the Jackson family.
For Jay, Michael Jackson has been part of his life since he was seven years old. Growing up in Brazil, he listened to Michael Jackson’s music, studied his vocals and copied his famous dance moves. What began as a childhood fascination eventually became a career.
Since 2010, Jay has been performing professionally as a Michael Jackson tribute artiste, taking his show to audiences around the world. His performance goes beyond simply looking like the King of Pop. He focuses on capturing Jackson’s distinctive voice, iconic dance moves and the energy that made his live shows unforgettable.
With ‘This Is Michael’, Jay brings together these elements to recreate the magic of a Michael Jackson concert for a new generation of fans.
For Sri Lankan fans who grew up with hits such as ‘Billie Jean’, ‘Beat It’, ‘Thriller’, ‘Smooth Criminal’, ‘The Lady in My Life’, ‘Liberian Girl’, ‘You Are Not Alone’, ‘Heal the World’, ‘She’s Out of My Life’, ‘Human Nature’, ‘Earth Song’ and ‘Man in the Mirror’, the show is expected to be more than a tribute concert. It is an invitation to revisit the songs and moments that helped define an era of popular music.
Cinnamon Box Office (CBO), the strategic ticketing engine connecting audiences, event partners and world-class productions, introduced its ‘Destination Event Calendar’ at the official launch event held on 6 August 2026 at City of Dreams Sri Lanka, marking a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s evolving entertainment landscape and reinforcing Colombo’s ambition to emerge as a vibrant regional hub for culture, creativity and entertainment.
The launch of the ‘Destination Event Calendar’ also signals a wider move towards bringing more international entertainment experiences to Colombo. With a growing calendar of events, Cinnamon Box Office aims to give audiences access to a mix of music, culture and live entertainment while creating new opportunities for the local creative industry.
‘This Is Michael – Relive the Legend’ is one of the key events on the calendar, giving local fans the chance to experience a production that has already captivated audiences internationally.
For Cinnamon Box Office, the event is also part of a larger vision of making Colombo a destination for international entertainment. By bringing recognised productions to Sri Lanka, the platform hopes to add more colour to the city’s entertainment calendar while connecting local audiences with artists and shows from around the world.
Over the years, Cinnamon Box Office has brought a wide range of entertainment and lifestyle experiences to Sri Lankan audiences. Its portfolio includes Broadway productions such as Mamma Mia the Musical and The Sound of Music, as well as events featuring internationally known chefs including Nigella Lawson, George Calombaris, Gary Mehigan and Marco Pierre White.
Beyond entertainment, the platform has also hosted a number of knowledge and lifestyle experiences. These include the ‘Future of Tourism Conferences’, ‘Travel Bloggers Conference of Asia’, ‘Cinnamon Summer Camp’ and ‘Cinnamon Island Weddings’, along with celebrity-led experiences featuring Manushi Chhillar and Jacqueline Fernandez.
The platform has also brought global voices to local audiences, including Mo Gawdat, former Chief Business Officer of Google X, through thought leadership engagements.
More recently, Cinnamon Box Office supported ‘La Bamba’: ‘The Song of Veracruz’, presented by City of Dreams Sri Lanka and John Keells Foundation, adding another international cultural experience to its growing portfolio.
Speaking at the launch, Dileep Mudadeniya, Senior Vice President – Global Alliances and Partnerships and Head of Corporate Affairs, John Keells Group, said the launch of events such as ‘This Is Michael – Relive the Legend’ reflects the group’s commitment to bringing internationally acclaimed productions to Sri Lanka.
He said such events would also help strengthen Colombo’s position as a destination for culture, creativity and live entertainment.
Kamal Munasinghe, General Manager, Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams Sri Lanka and Senior Vice President – Colombo Hotels, Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts, said City of Dreams Sri Lanka marks a new chapter for Colombo by bringing together hospitality, entertainment, business and culture.
He noted that entertainment has an important role to play in attracting both local and international visitors, giving them more reasons to visit the city and experience what Sri Lanka has to offer.
The production has also been making its way across international stages. ‘This Is Michael – Relive the Legend’ is scheduled to perform at the Abadi Al Johar Arena in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on August 21, followed by a show at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, on August 22.
The international run adds to the growing profile of the production ahead of its arrival in Sri Lanka in November, giving local audiences the opportunity to experience the tribute show soon after its performances in the Middle East.
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Print Edition – The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka
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