July 11, 2001 - The stupefying-est gala of the year just got more stupefying: Marlon Brando, a close pal of Michael Jackson's for the past 20-plus years, has agreed to participate in The Show, which, in case you haven't been paying attention, is the big deal happening Sept. 7 at New York's Madison Square Garden (with a follow-up, same place, on Sept. 10) celebrating M.J.'s 30th anniversary as a solo performer. Brando, of course, never does this sort of thing. For anyone. He does for Michael. And besides Brando promising to be there, so have dozens of others, from Sean Connery and Muhammad Ali to Magic Johnson, Jennifer Jones and Vanessa Redgrave - plus, as has been mentioned before, the likes of Gregory Peck, Elizabeth Taylor and Liam Neeson (HR 4/17). Something else worth noting: Between the two shows, being produced and directed by David Gest and taped for a later airing on CBS, Michael will not only be musically reunited with his brothers, he'll also be joining 'N Sync on that cavernous MSG stage to do "Dancing Machine," he'll duet with Britney Spears on "The Way You Make Me Feel," and he'll sing with Whitney Houston a ballad they're keeping a secret. Also performing at one of the two shows, or both, will be, to mention only a few: Marc Anthony, Ray Charles, Deborah Cox, Gloria Estefan, Al Jarreau, Quincy Jones, Gladys Knight, Ricky Martin, Mya, Diana Ross, Jill Scott, Usher, Luther Vandross, Dionne Warwick and a 200-member gospel choir. Gest tells me he's also flying in a huge contingent of celebs to witness the shows and to join Michael & Co., following the first performance, at a combination champagne dinner/dance/carnival at Tavern on the Green. Among those who've already R.S.V.P.'d: Snoop Dogg, Liza Minnelli, Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon with Bijou Phillips, Master P, Reggie Miller, Dr. Dre, Chris Tucker, Jane Powell & Dick Moore, Willem Dafoe, Jane Russell, Kobe Bryant, Esther Williams, Ann Miller, Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, Angie Dickinson, Mary J. Blige and the list goes on. -- ※ Origin: 交大机械工厂 ◆ From: c121.h203149220.is.net.tw --