The show must go on!
Michael Jackson’s siblings are reuniting to take over their beloved brother’s show, using 100 hours of the pop king’s rehearsal-video footage as the show-stopper centerpiece to their live tribute performances.
THE POST’S ONGOING JACKO COVERAGE
Sisters Janet and La Toya, who were never part of the Jackson 5 kid band, said they would probably join the family act on July 13, the date when the Gloved One would have opened his wildly anticipated “This Is It” concert series at London’s O2 arena.
“We might do the 13th or a date in August with Jan and Toya,” said a family member. “We may rehearse after the funeral. It’ll be good and we’ll do it right for Michael.”
The sibling rivals — who also include Tito, Jermaine, Jackie and Marlon — are putting aside their differences and are working on the choreography to back up songs and dance numbers Michael already worked on.
If all goes well, the Jacksons are looking to fill at least five of the 50 gigs their superstar brother was scheduled to perform on his sold-out comeback series.
They are even looking at a world tour after playing at the O2 arena, a family source said.
With the first concert date looming and with Jackson’s memorial-service extravaganza on Tuesday, the famous siblings are racing the clock.
“They’re working on keeping the tour going,” said another family source.
Patriarch Joe Jackson, who has had patchy relationships with his kids and was cut out of Michael’s will, was reportedly the one who came up with the idea.
Tito Jackson, 55, who played guitar and sang as a member of the Jackson 5, was already installing a customized sound studio at his home in Calabasas, Calif., but is now building a video-editing suite.
He plans to view the hours of Michael’s performance videotape shot at LA’s Staples Center by concert promoters AEG Live to go along with the dance routines, sets and costumes created for the show.
“Michael would have wanted the show to go on and that’s what we’re doing. We are not giving up on Michael because Michael would not give up on his fans,” a family source said.
Tito has also been making midnight runs to his late brother’s home in LA, loading up a U-Haul van filled with memorabilia and extra sound equipment to use in his home-studio setup, sources said.
“Tito used to park his old Bentley in there. Now it’s outside on the curb because the garage is so jammed,” a neighbor said.
Jackson matriarch Katherine, who was named as guardian of Michael’s three kids, gave the OK for her children to divvy up the treasure trove of Michael’s personal possessions, according to a family source.
AEG Live just may make a killing out of its deal instead of having to pony up $85 million in ticket refunds.