The new musical inspired by the life of pop icon Michael Jackson has an official title. "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough," will premiere in Chicago beginning performances on October 29th through December 1st at the James M. Nederlander Theatre.
The musical with a book by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage with direction and choreography by Tony award winner Christopher Wheeldon is set to arrive on broadway in 2020.
“This is not a Cirque du Soleil show, nor a tribute show, nor a hagiography,” said Nottage in an interview Tuesday, referencing two prior Cirque treatments of the Jackson's work. “We are endeavoring to tell the story of one moment in the life of a very complicated man whose life was very fraught.”
“We are all very clear that we don’t want this to be a concert or an impersonation show,” Wheeldon said, in an earlier interview with the Tribune. “We want it to be a portrait of the artist, a man of contradictions that contained so much beauty. A life like Michael’s was so rich, dense and troubled. But there were these moments of great lightness. We are interested in celebrating Michael, and in breaking down his songs and really listening to them.”
Casting has yet been set nor has the number of performers playing Jackson, but there will be more than one adult performer. A young actor will play Jackson as a child, when he first became a global phenomenon.
Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710. Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough will be part of the next Broadway In Chicago subscription package, on sale this spring.
Photo: Getty