Mandalay Bay, Cirque du Soleil and The Estate of Michael Jackson confirm plans

LAS VEGAS, April 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino President and Chief Operating Officer, Chuck Bowling, Cirque du Soleil President and CEO, Daniel Lamarre and Estate of Michael Jackson Co-Executor, John Branca
confirmed the venue for a permanent Michael Jackson production at
Mandalay Bay and announced new aspects of the creative relationship in a
press conference held today at the resort.  Production has begun to
evaluate the transformation of the resort’s theater and identification
of the creative team for the show, which is slated to open in the spring
of 2013.

Chuck Bowling
said: “The world may never again know a force in entertainment of the
caliber of Michael Jackson. On behalf of the entire Mandalay Bay and MGM
Resorts International teams, we are deeply honored and humbled to be
home to incredible entertainment celebrating his legacy for new
generations to come.”

Daniel Lamarre
added: “We are excited about creating this new Michael Jackson
production for Mandalay Bay.  Michael Jackson is creatively inspiring
for Cirque du Soleil artisans and creative teams.  There are so
many common creative elements between us that it is a pleasure to
imagine this new production.  It is also very exciting that we will be
presenting Michael Jackson The IMMORTAL World Tour at Mandalay Bay for an extended run this December and Jamie King and the creative team are promising us a pop rock spectacular to kick things off grandly.”

In
addition to the permanent show opening in 2013, the extensive
relationship will include many facets certain to mesmerize new and
lifelong Michael Jackson fans alike:

MICHAEL JACKSON THE IMMORTAL WORLD TOUR

Opening December 3 at Mandalay Bay, Michael Jackson The IMMORTAL World Tour will perform in Las Vegas
for an extended run on its highly anticipated North American tour.
 This extended stop will allow fans from all over the world to converge
on Las Vegas , the perfect
international destination for visitors to discover the new home of
Michael Jackson, and experience the pop rock extravaganza imagined by Jamie King.  

THE MICHAEL JACKSON FAN FEST

To kick-off the tour stop in Las Vegas,
fans will have the chance to experience the legacy of Michael Jackson
in a whole new way during the first ever Estate-authorized Michael
Jackson Fan Fest taking place for a limited time only at Mandalay Bay
beginning December 3, 2011.  This
experience is expected to include a wide variety of elements such as an
up-close look at Michael Jackson memorabilia, items from Neverland
Ranch, photo opportunities in recreated sets from historic Michael
Jackson videos, a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Michael
Jackson The IMMORTAL World Tour, a main stage featuring contests,
Q&A sessions with members of the creative team from Michael Jackson
The IMMORTAL World Tour as well as other associates of Michael Jackson,
giveaways and more.  In addition, the Fan Fest will give attendees the
chance to compete against one another in contests centered around the
recently released UBISOFT video game “Michael Jackson The Experience.”  

An
interactive, engaging, and immersive design will create a
larger-than-life environment for all Fan Fest goers and promises to be a
unique event.  The Fan Fest will be open for 4 hours before Michael
Jackson The IMMORTAL World Tour shows on December 3,
4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, and 14 in Mandalay Bay’s Bayside Exhibit
Halls.  In the case of two-show nights, the Fan Fest will have two
sessions open to the public at separate starting times.  Ticket and
session information will be announced in the coming weeks and www.MichaelJacksonFanFest.com will offer up-to-the-minute updates on the Fan Fest.

Said John Branca and John McClain,
Executors of The Estate of Michael Jackson: “We are thrilled to
establish Michael’s home away from home at Mandalay Bay. Because of its
remote location, few people will ever get to visit Michael’s Neverland
Ranch. But millions of Michael’s fans will be able to hear Michael’s
music and experience him in tangible and exciting new ways at Mandalay
Bay. We are especially excited that the Estate has authorized the first
Michael Jackson Fan Fest, something Michael’s fans have been calling for
and something Michael always wanted for his fans. We look forward to
working with our partners – Mandalay Bay, Cirque du Soleil and MGM Resorts International – in implementing these exciting projects.”

MICHAEL JACKSON ALL ACCESS

Mandalay Bay also will be the permanent home of a creative collaboration from The Estate of Michael Jackson and Cirque du Soleil
aimed at giving fans a unique encounter with Michael’s artistic genius,
sense of wonder and humanitarian spirit. Just as Michael Jackson The
IMMORTAL World Tour and the newly announced permanent show at Mandalay
Bay will open the eyes and ears of the world to experiencing Michael’s
music in a whole new way, this permanent exhibit will take fans, new and
old, on a journey to the next level by giving them the opportunity to
access Michael Jackson – the consummate performer, the philanthropist
and the person – in entirely new ways, in part using the most
state-of-the-art interactive technology. This experience is expected to
spark memories, inspire hope and help us discover new things about
Michael and ourselves, engaging minds and inspiring hearts.

MICHAEL JACKSON LOUNGE

The Michael Jackson Estate and Cirque du Soleil
will create the Michael Jackson Lounge – a space that will bring to
life Michael’s music in an atmosphere celebrating his career and legacy.

About Cirque du Soleil

From
a group of 20 street performers at its beginnings in 1984, Cirque du
Soleil is now a major international organization providing high-quality
artistic entertainment.  Since its founding, Cirque du Soleil has
thrilled over 100 million spectators in close to 300 cities on five
continents. In Las Vegas, Cirque du
Soleil has a privileged partnership with MGM MIRAGE to create and
present unique and innovative productions.  In addition to The Beatles
LOVE at The Mirage, these productions include Mystere at Treasure
Island, “O” at Bellagio, Zumanity, the Sensual Side of Cirque du Soleil at New York-New York Hotel & Casino, KA at MGM Grand, CRISS ANGEL Believe
at Luxor, and Viva ELVIS at ARIA Resort and Casino at CityCenter.  For
more information, visit the Cirque du Soleil website at www.cirquedusoleil.com/lasvegas.

About Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino

Mandalay
Bay, a AAA Four Diamond award-winning destination resort, is set on 60
lush acres with 4,752 rooms and suites and THEhotel, a stand-alone
all-suite hotel which offers 1,117 luxurious one-bedroom suites. 
Mandalay Bay Beach, an 11-acre tropical pool paradise, features real
sand, a wave pool and the only climate-controlled, poolside gaming in
the city.  Other property highlights include performances of Disney’s
THE LION KING, world-class entertainment at the 12,000-seat Mandalay Bay
Events Center, award-winning dining by celebrity chefs and
restaurateurs, exhilarating nightlife, Shark Reef Aquarium and the
1.7-million-square-foot Mandalay Bay Convention Center.  Mandalay Bay’s
offerings also include BATHHO– — USE Spa, House of Blues Concert Hall and
restaurant, and The Shoppes at Mandalay Place, a collection of unique
boutiques and restaurants.  Mandalay Bay is a wholly owned subsidiary of
MGM Resorts International™.  For more information and reservations,
visit www.mandalaybay.com or call toll free at (877) 632-7800.

Cirque du Soleil