1,500 inmates dancing to Michael Jackson hit on YouTube inspire Filipino Canadian musical
In 2007, a video of 1,500 Filipino prisoners dancing to Michael Jackson’s Thriller went viral. Now it's the basis for a new musical that is being hailed as the first fully realized Filipino Canadian musical.
![1,500 inmates dancing to Michael Jackson hit on YouTube inspire Filipino Canadian musical](https://i.cbc.ca/1.7039723.1700862693!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/prison-dancer.jpg)
![Prison Dancer, a musical inspired by a viral YouTube post from 2007, has started a run at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. Its creators, and members of the Filipino community, say that's important. A group of performers dance onstage in brightly coloured outfits.](https://i.cbc.ca/1.7039723.1700862693!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/prison-dancer.jpg)
In 2007, a video of 1,500 Filipino prisoners dancing to Michael Jackson’s Thriller went viral. Now it's the basis for a new musical that is being hailed as the first fully realized Filipino Canadian musical.