Cirque du Soleil has announced plans to open a permanent Michael Jackson themed show at Mandalay Bay in 2013 after launching a road-show version in October, 2011. The new production will feature Jackson's songs and, reportedly, may feature the latest in cutting edge technology that could use holograms and 3-D graphics. A nightclub, restaurants, retail operations, and even a reality show have been mentioned as part of the package. Another, separate, Cirque themed nightclub is also planned for the hotel.

It is expected that the permanent version of the show will be different than the touring version, although exactly how is TBD.

It had been rumored for years prior to his death in 2009 that Jackson was trying to launch a production of some kind in Vegas, with everything from a Cirque partnership to a show with a 50-foot, laser spouting, Michael Jackson robot wandering the desert mentioned at some point. Interesting that it took the singer's death to finally make the deal happen.

The show replaces The Lion King, which will close at the end of 2011. Construction to revise the decade old theater to support the cutting edge show will get underway in 2012 with an expected opening date of early 2013.