A musical inspired by the life of the King of Pop, “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough,” is set to premiere at the James M. Nederlander Theatre in Chicago beginning October 29 to December 1 before it heads to Broadway in 2020. News of the said musical first surfaced through the Michael Jackson Estate and Columbia Live Stage in June.
According to Rolling Stone, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage will be writing the book while Christopher Wheeldon, a Tony Award-winning choreographer, will be choreographing and directing the show. Nottage said that the musical will take its audiences behind the scenes of the “Dangerous World Tour” that took place from 1992 to 1993. This tour performed before about 3.5 million in 70 stadiums raising money for Michael Jackson’s Heal the World charity.
Michael Jackson Musical: Not a Cirque du Soleil Show
In an interview with Chicago Tribune, Wheeldon stressed that the show will not be a tribute show, a hagiography, nor a Cirque du Soleil show, referring to two prior Cirque treatments of the Jackson collective. It will, instead, be a “portrait of the artist, a man of contradictions that contained so much beauty,” telling the story of one moment in the life of a very complicated man whose life was very fraught.” They are particular at not making this a concert nor an impersonation show.
Nottage also said that they chose the events of the said tour because it was the “pinnacle of Michael’s career,” featuring his songs from “Thriller,” “Bad,” “Off the Wall,” and other material during the earlier time of his career. The playwright stated that they wanted to delve into the life of Michael that caused him to select his list of songs. Essentially asking, “What were the ingredients of his genius?” Nottage really wants to unpack who the artist was as a businessman, producer, songwriter and designer.
So far, casting is not yet set, but it is revealed that there will be a young performer who will play the role of Jackson as a young child before his fame.