We can all identify “Careless Whispers” from that first saxophone riff. Somehow, we all know the lyrics to “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,” even if we’ve never made an effort to learn the peppy pop tune.
In other words, we know the hits — and not much more. On Feb. 24, “The Life and Music of George Michael” comes to Capitol Theater for a show that celebrates Michael as more than a chart-topping sensation. Sure, the audience will hear (and dance to) those iconic tunes, but they’ll also witness Michael go from the young, exuberant performer of his Wham! era to the expert musician and lyricist of his later solo career.
“The guy was a genius,” says Dean Elliot, the show’s director and creator. “I didn’t come from a place of being a huge fan, [but] being able to go through that body of work and really do a deep dive into the music, the lyrics, the rhythm patterns — and also his story! I went from being sort of a casual fan to being a super fan.”
The touring show’s cast of seven is made up of a full band and two “George’s.”