It’s back on like popcorn.
A musical on the life of Michael Jackson in his heyday originally called Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough, has morphed—like Jackson did many, many times in his life—into MJ. It’s scheduled to hit Broadway in the summer of 2020, according to Playbill.
A spokesman for the show announced the new title, saying it was a “better and stronger choice than relying on the title of any one individual song,” reports Variety.
Last winter, the musical’s producers reportedly pulled out of Chicago after the controversial and explosive allegations of child sexual abuse against Jackson were recounted in the HBO doc, Leaving Neverland.
Jackson may have lost some fans, but still remains wildly popular around the world, backed by a rabid fanbase (they make the Beyhive look like rank amateurs, see post below) and celeb friends. Clearly, with Jackson’s enormous catalog of hits during his 20s and 30s, the show will likely keep those seats packed, to the tune of millions.
What we all can agree on is that acclaimed two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage (By The Way Meet Vera Stark, Sweat) is an exciting choice to write MJ’s book. The music (although who will sing it?) reportedly includes many of Jackson’s contemporary hits, like “Beat It,” “Billie Jean,” “The Way You Make Me Feel,” and “Smooth Criminal.” Tony Award-winner Christopher Wheeldon will direct and choreograph.