Las Vegas to Permanently House Michael Jackson Show

While Michael Jackson diehards are still keeping their fingers crossed for a Neverland theme park, Las Vegas is becoming the one-stop shop for all things King of Pop.

The Cirque du Soleil production 'Michael Jackson: The Immortal Tour' will plant itself permanently in Las Vegas, following its North America trek, which runs October 2011 thru June 2012. Mandalay Bay will host the spectacle starting in 2013, but the hotel and casino has plans to offer more than just the usual dancing acrobats.

For the first two-week run of shows at Mandalay this December, the venue will hold a mini expo -- dubbed the Michael Jackson Fan Fest -- for four hours prior to each performance. The fest will house Jackson memorabilia and items from Neverland Ranch -- the setting of the production.

Sets from Jackson's iconic videos will be recreated for photo opportunities and 'Michael Jackson: The Experience' video game dance-offs will be held, although we cannot confirm if these dance-offs will be held inside the recreated music video sets, which would definitely add a little "shamone!" to the "hee-hee!" Installations that give behind-the-scenes glimpses of the making of the Jackson-themed Cirque du Soleil show will also be attached to the exhibit.

When the show returns to the venue in 2013, the Estate of Michael Jackson and Cirque du Soleil will collaborate on the Michael Jackson All Access area and a Michael Jackson Lounge that will creatively keep the 'Smooth Criminal' singer's legacy alive with "the most state-of-the-art interactive technology."

This positive MJ news comes at an interesting time. The BoomBox ran a story this morning (April 28) about Jackson's 82-year-old father plugging a new line of perfumes and ice cream seemingly inspired by the late pop star, but most headlines are focused around the trial of the junior Jackson's personal physician at the time of his unexpected 2009 death. Dr. Conrad Murray will stand trial for the manslaughter of Jackson beginning May 9 in Los Angeles, and, if convicted, faces up to four years in prison. The trial is expected to last two months and might get nasty.