Patton Oswalt may have said it best when he once called Cirque du Soleil “catnip for old people.” Having colonized all of Vegas, the Quebec-based company years ago started taking on the dubious task of reinterpreting the music of Elvis and the Beatles. But if ever there was a showman who deserved the Cirque treatment, it was the late King of Pop. Michael Jackson The IMMORTAL Tour re-imagines the singer as an “inspirational Giving Tree” and features the trademark Cirque spectacle of flashy costumes, set, live band, singers, acrobats, aerialists and dancers. Writer-director Jamie King has directed world tours for Madonna, Britney Spears, Celine Dion, Rihanna and the Spice Girls, while musical director Kevin Antunes has worked with Madonna and Justin Timberlake. The show's whopping nine choreographers re-stage Jackson's biggest videos, including “Thriller” and “Smooth Criminal.” Come for the visuals, stay for the music spanning Jackson's entire career, from Jackson 5 frontman to solo superstar. Staples Center, 111 S. Figueroa St., dwntwn.; Fri.-Sat., Jan. 27-28, 8 p.m.; Sun., Jan. 29, 4 p.m.; $50-$175. (213) 742-7340.

Fri., Jan. 27, 8 p.m.; Sat., Jan. 28, 8 p.m.; Sun., Jan. 29, 4 p.m.; Tue., Aug. 14, 8 p.m.; Wed., Aug. 15, 8 p.m., 2012

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