Michael Jackson musical to have world premiere on Broadway in 2020

Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough cancels its pre-Broadway world premiere in Chicago and will open directly on the Great White Way.

Columbia Live Stage and the Michael Jackson Estate have announced that the upcoming biographical musical Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough will now stage its world premiere directly on Broadway.

The musical is based around the life and career of Michael Jackson, who became known as "The King of Pop," releasing 10 studio albums throughout his career. The show's title is taken after the singer's number one hit, released on July 28, 1979.

Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough will feature a book written by Lynn Nottage, who is a double Pulitzer Prize-winning writer for her 2009 play Ruined and the 2017 play Sweat, with the latter also receiving three Tony Award nominations.

Christopher Wheeldon, who won a Tony Award in 2015 for his choreography for An American in Paris, will direct and choreograph the production.

The score will feature the greatest hits of Michael Jackson, with some of the artist's biggest-selling tracks including "Thriller," "Smooth Criminal," and "Billie Jean".

It was previously announced that the musical would receive its world premiere at Chicago's James M. Nederlander Theatre, which has now been cancelled due to "scheduling difficulties brought about by the recent Actors Equity strike," and the production will now be staged for the first time on Broadway. Producers have also promised that the show's First National Tour will be launched in Chicago instead.

A venue, exact dates and casting information for Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough will be announced in the coming months. A developmental work session for the musical will take place later in the year.