Cirque du Soleil plans second Michael Jackson show

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LAS VEGAS, Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Cirque du Soleil's new show "Michael Jackson ONE" is to begin its residency at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas this May, producers said.

Written and directed by Jamie King, it will begin preview performances May 23, while the official premiere is set for June 29.

"ONE" is the second creative project developed between Cirque du Soleil and the estate of Michael Jackson after t"Michael Jackson the Immortal World Tour," which is playing in Europe.

"This is our second project with the estate of Michael Jackson, which confirms how stimulating this creative partnership was meant to be," Daniel Lamarre, president and chief executive officer of Cirque du Soleil, said in a statement Thursday.

"Michael Jackson is an all-time phenomenal artist, both timeless and contemporary. As a creative challenge, this project is the ultimate. Through the use of cutting edge technology, we will produce a new Cirque du Soleil theatrical experience not only respectful of Michael's legacy but also very distinctive from 'Michael Jackson the Immortal World Tour.'"

"We are guided by Michael's own philosophy in all that we do. In preparing for this production, Michael's message to the cast and crew for his 'This Is It' concerts was foremost in our minds. He counseled them on what the audience experience should be: 'They want wonderful experiences. We want to take them places that they've never been before. We want to show them talent like they've never seen before. We're putting love back into the world to remind the world that love is important. We're all one. That is the message.' We feel the same, and that is what we are delivering both to lifelong fans and those just discovering his artistic genius with 'Michael Jackson ONE,'" John Branca and John McClain, co-executors of The Estate of Michael Jackson, said in a joint statement.

The Grammy Award-winning pop icon died June 25, 2009, at the age of 50.