Thriller Flashmob at Gosman's This Sunday

Visitors to Montauk's Gosman's Dock this Sunday for the Mamalee Rose & Friends concert can expect a surprise performance to take over the Gosman's Green sometime after 5 p.m.

Staff, family and friends of the dock store Homeport have decided to perform the dance to Thriller, the late Michael Jackson's 1982 hit song.

"Gosman’s is family oriented and there'll be lots of people wandering around," said shop owner Tom Flight. "The mobsters will be embedded in, and at first people will definitely think, 'What the hell is going on?,' but once they notice the synchronization I think they’ll be very impressed."

Instructions for the dance are located on YouTube, and linked from the Homeport facebook page. Though around 30 people have signed up so far, the mobsters are hoping the number of participants will swell by Sunday evening's show time.

The performance is the brainchild of middle schooler Sam Merrit, the daughter of Homeport employee Diane Merrit. "She was adamant that we put on a flashmob down here," Flight said. "We have the space for it."    

"Thriller is just such a classic that I think definitely has a 'wow' factor with both the song and the dance that goes with it," he said. "Plus if you get the dance wrong, you just sort of look like a zombie so you can blend in."

Potential participants are asked to learn the dance ahead of time by utilizing online instructions and to meet at 5:15 p.m. on Sunday at the Captain Kid Toy Store at Gosman's for a final discussion with the rest of the group.

Asked what he thought the reaction would be this Sunday, Flight said, "Humor laughter and a little bit of awe is what I’m hoping for."