MJ The Musical sets Broadway dates and theatre

The world premiere of MJ The Musical is set to begin previews at the Neil Simon Theatre on July 6, 2020, ahead of an official opening on August 13.

Columbia Live Stage and The Michael Jackson Estate have now confirmed that the world premiere of MJ The Musical (previously titled Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough) will begin previews at the Neil Simon Theatre on July 6, 2020, ahead of an official opening on August 13.

As previously reported, MJ The Musical is a new bio-musical based on the life and career of the late music icon Michael Jackson and will feature a book by two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage. Tony Award winner Christopher Wheeldon is set to direct and choreograph the production.

Ms. Nottage made her Broadway debut in 2017 with Sweat and her numerous off-Broadway credits include Intimate Apparel, Ruined, Mlima's Tale, and By the Way, Meet Vera Stark, among others. Mr. Wheeldon is perhaps best known for his Tony Award-winning choreography of An American in Paris, which he also directed, and he made his Broadway debut in 2002 as the choreographer of Sweet Smell of Success.

Michael Jackson's greatest hits, to be showcased in the eagerly anticipated bio-musical, include the likes of "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough," "Rock with You," "Billie Jean," "Beat It," "Thriller," "Bad," "Man in the Mirror," "Smooth Criminal," "Black or White," "Heal the World," "You Are Not Alone," and "You Rock My World."

Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29, 1958 and died on June 25, 2009 at the age of 50. Over the course of his career in the music industry as "The King of Pop," he released a total of 10 studio albums, sold an estimated amount of over 350 million records worldwide and won 13 Grammy Awards. He also famously starred as Scarecrow in the 1978 film adaptation of The Wiz.

A musical revue by the name of Thriller Live has been running in London's West End since January 2009, which celebrates the music of Michael Jackson and The Jackson 5, and is set to play its final performance there on April 26, 2020.

Casting and additional creative team information for MJ The Musical will be announced in the coming months.