Posted by Adam

Wednesday June 10, 2009

Michael Jackson wants every youngster in the child choir for his London comeback gigs to be able to do sign language.

The request was sent to casting agents on behalf of promoters AEG Live, who are behind the 50 dates at the British capital’s O2 Arena.

In emails seen by British newspaper the Daily Mirror, Jackson demanded that all the singers are made up of “exactly equal” numbers of black, white, mixed-race and Asian children.

He is also after six marching snare drummers who are banned from having beards. Jackson says the drummers must be “young adults, clean-cut and of mixed ethnicity.”

The email adds, “They must be real drummers so please do not waste our time suggesting people who are not.”

Auditions are next week in London and the children are being paid for their time. The email states, “No past professional experience is necessary…due to children’s work permit laws we will cast more than one choir.”

But a source close to the promoters said the demands have caused a “logistical nightmare”.

“Normally when we cast choirs for acts, it’s quite a laborious task,” an insider said. “But in this case, it’s proving a near impossibility. Jacko is a perfectionist and wants it exactly right and that means every child being able to do sign language.

“AEG are desperate to keep Jacko happy and so are pulling out all the stops to make it happen. But it’s a race against time.”

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