Michael Jackson Based ‘The Man’ Hits Las Vegas in Fall

“The Man,” a new musical chronicling the rise and fall of a superstar musician through the eyes of his manager, will open in Las Vegas as a pre-Broadway run.

The new musical is being produced by four men that all had business ties to Michael Jackson, so of course there is much being made about the connection as the musical is announced. However, producers say it is also inspired by the careers of Elvis Presley and Whitney Houston. Mark Lamica, the former business partner of Jackson’s manager Frank Dileo co-created “The Man” with Larry Hart, and the two will produce along with Quincy Krashna and Jerry Greenberg.

Krashna is another former partner of Dileo’s, and Greenberg was president of MJJ Music, Jackson’s record label that was distributed by Sony. Finally, Hart worked with Jackson on the pop-rock musical “Sisterella,” an updated version of “Cinderella” that debuted at the Pasadena Playhouse in 1996.

“We want this project to be a compelling, gritty, entertaining tale, that tells the story of the price of fame in a new way,” said Lamica in a statement.

The show is described as a “Dram-ical,” and is told from the perspective of the manager, who does not sing in the production. The “superstar” will sing most of the score, though no Jackson songs will be included. Lamica said he’s working with big-name artists he knows through his years in the music business to create a score of original songs.

“The Man” promises to be something of a spectacle with its estimated $35 million price tag. The producers plan to stage a tour after a Vegas engagement and then bring the show to Broadway following that time on the road.

No premiere dates, casting or venues have been announced, though the producers said they would like the Las Vegas staging to begin either this fall or in spring 2014.