MJ the Musical

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MJ
The Musical
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Broadway poster
MusicVarious artists
LyricsVarious artists
BookLynn Nottage
BasisThe life and music of Michael Jackson
PremiereDecember 6, 2021 (2021-12-06): Neil Simon Theatre, New York City
Productions2021 Broadway
2023 U.S. Tour
2024 West End
2024 Hamburg
2025 Australia
2026 Asia Tour
2027 UK Tour
AwardsFull list

MJ the Musical is a jukebox musical based on the life of the American entertainer Michael Jackson, focusing on his creative process prior to the Dangerous World Tour. It features Jackson's music, with a book by Lynn Nottage,[1][2] and direction & choreography by Christopher Wheeldon.

MJ was scheduled to premiere on Broadway in mid-2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City.[3] In November 2019, Ephraim Sykes was cast as Jackson,[4][5] but in June 2021 it was announced that he had been replaced by Myles Frost.[6] The production began previews at the Neil Simon Theatre on December 6, 2021, and officially opened on February 1, 2022.[7] It opened in the London West End on March 27, 2024 until February 28, 2026.

MJ The Musical received mixed reviews from critics but universal acclaim from audiences.[8][9] It was nominated for 10 Tony Awards including Best Musical, with the musical winning four awards, including Best Actor in a Musical for Frost, as well as Best Choreography, Best Lighting Design and Best Sound Design. The original cast recording was also nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. By December 2025 the Broadway production had grossed over $300 million and sold more than 5 million tickets worldwide.[10][11][12]

Synopsis

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Act I

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In June 1992, the cast members are preparing for rehearsals for Jackson's upcoming Dangerous World Tour; the first show in Munich, Germany is in two days. Rob, their manager, tells them to get into their places and warm up. Jackson arrives and watches the process, which leads to the opening number ("Beat It").

As Jackson shares his newest ideas with Rob, Rachel arrives with her cameraman, Alejandro, in hopes of getting an interview with Jackson. He sits with Rachel and recounts some of the terrors he suffered as a child and some of the memorable times when Berry Gordy played his family's hits on his Motown label. Jackson also discusses his collaboration with Quincy Jones and recording his albums Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad with Jones.

Rob and Nick escort Jackson to the press conference at Radio City Music Hall, where he presents his tour and hopes to raise $100 million for the Heal the World Foundation by Christmas 1993 ("Earth Song" / "They Don’t Care About Us").

Act II

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Jackson proposes new ideas for the tour ("Billie Jean"/"Smooth Criminal"), which Rob and Dave tell him are impractical and that they cannot afford it. Jackson recounts the horrific accident in 1984 when a spark ignited his hair in the making of an advertisement for Pepsi. After listening to Rob's negative feedback, Jackson reminds him of something Quincy said to him, "Keep the faith. Don't let nobody take you down".

As the rehearsal continues, Jackson tells Rachel how the songs open up to him. During a break, a commotion breaks out. Rob tries to keep Rachel away from Jackson and doesn't want her near him, but Jackson manages to find her by disguising himself as a cleaner. He explains to her that the disguise is the only way he can be seen in public, which leads to him singing "Human Nature". After the rehearsal, Jackson explains to Rachel how emotional he feels about being loved by fans and about being teased in the newspapers. He tries to blame everything sad and unusual about himself on others (especially the press) but takes sole credit for his good deeds and success.

As Rob comes to check up on him, Jackson recalls when he played at the Apollo Theater with the Jackson 5 and how he wasn't nervous. Rob tells Jackson that everything they created would be remembered for decades, but the latter replies by asking "Is it perfect?" ("Man in the Mirror"). Jackson appears on stage, prepared to start the first show of the Dangerous Tour, ("Jam (Reprise)", "Black or White" / "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' (Reprise)".

Cast and characters

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Character Broadway[13] US National Tour[14] West End[15] Hamburg[16] Australia[17]
2021 2023 2024 2024 2025
Michael Jackson Myles Frost Roman Banks Myles Frost Benét Monteiro Roman Banks / Ilario Grant
Teenage Michael / Young Adult Michael Tavon Olds-Sample Brandon Lee Harris Mitchell Zhangazha Prince Damien Liam Damons
Little Michael Christian Wilson / Walter Russell III Josiah Benson / Ethan Joseph Jaydon Eastman /
Elliot Mugume /
Ethan Sokontwe /
Dylan Trigger
Luan Kizua Blaiyze Barksdale / William Bonner / Cayden Dosoruth / Daniel Makunike
Jackie Jackson John Edwards Jay McKenzie Tavio Wright Prince Orji Kyle Kavully
Tito Jackson / Quincy Jones Apollo Levine Josh A. Dawson Rohan Pinnock-Hamilton DNPRI Conlon Bonner
Jermaine Jackson Lamont Walker II Bryson Jacobi Jackson Simeon Montague William Baugh Loredo Malcolm
Little Marlon Devin Trey Campbell Jaylen Lyndon Hunter Cristiano Cuino / Sekhani Dumezweni / Khanya Madaka / Aidan Oti Nayo Kayleb Alese / Charlie Batchelor / Zavier Pillay / Kael Smith
Marlon Jackson Zelig Williams Brion Marquis Watson Toyan Thomas-Browne Rafael Portela Xavier Gibson
Randy Jackson Raymond Baynard Malcolm Miles Young Aden Dzuda Caleaf Henson G Madison IV
Joe Jackson / Rob Quentin Earl Darrington Devin Bowles Ashley Zhangazha David Hughey Derrick Davis
Katherine Jackson Ayana George Anastasia Talley Phebe Edwards Jessica Mears Josslynn Hlenti Afoa
Berry Gordy / Nick Antoine L. Smith J. Daughtry Matt Mills Perci Moeketsi Wonza Johnson
Rachel Whitney Bashor Mary Kate Moore Philippa Stefani Eve Rades Penny McNamee
Alejandro Gabriel Ruíz Da'von Moody Matt Gonsalves Pedro Reichert Yashith Fernando
Dave Joey Sorge Matt Loehr Jon Tsouras Mario Gremlich Tim Wright

Notable cast replacements

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Broadway (2021–2025)

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Musical numbers

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Performances on October 31 also include a special Halloween closing number of "Thriller"[21]

Recordings

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Recording for the original Broadway cast album took place on February 7 and 8, 2022.[22] The original Broadway cast recording was released on July 15, 2022.[23] The original cast recording was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.[24]

Development

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The musical was announced in June 2018.[25] with backing of Michael Jackson's estate. [26] Wheeldon spoke about the musical, stating, "The show is very much anchored in one particular moment in time. I always bring up the fabulous movie that Spielberg made about Lincoln: You take one key moment, I suppose, in the history of someone's life and then sort of use that as an anchor point for past storytelling and, perhaps, some kind of prophecy of what's to come. We'll be doing that with this story." Asked about the dance and choreography, he said he "intend[s] to put quite a lot of Michael's work in the show".[27]

Productions

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Branding on the Neil Simon Theatre, Manhattan

Broadway (2021)

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MJ was originally scheduled to premiere in Chicago in 2019, at the Nederlander Theatre.[28][29] The Michael Jackson estate canceled the Chicago tryout due to "scheduling difficulties" brought about by an Actors' Equity Association strike.[30][31]

The musical was scheduled to debut on Broadway in mid-2020 but was postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The production is directed and choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, and it features a book by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage.[32][33][34] Scenery for the production is designed by Derek McLane with costuming by Paul Tazewell. Natasha Katz and Peter Nigrini are collaborating on lighting and projection designs respectively. Gareth Owen designed sound production, with hair and wig design by Charles LaPointe.[35] Elijah Johnson took over as Jackson in March 2023 until August 2025.[19] Matte Martinez then stepped into the title role of the production in September 2025.[36]

National Tour (2023)

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A national tour began in Chicago at the Nederlander Theatre on August 1, 2023, and is scheduled to run through August 3, 2025.[37][38] Jamaal Fields-Green took over as Jackson in July 2024.[39][40] Jordan Markus then stepped into the title role of the production in February 2025.[41][42]

West End (2024-2026)

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The musical opened in the West End at the Prince Edward Theatre, with previews beginning March 6, 2024 and an official opening night on March 27.[43] Frost reprised his role as Jackson.[44][45] Jamaal Fields-Green then went on to reprise the role as MJ in January 2025.[46][47] It is set to close on February 28, 2026, after running for less than two years.[48]

Hamburg (2024)

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A German production is expected to play the Stage Theater an der Elbe at Hamburg. Dialogue will be in German with the musical numbers remaining in English. Performances are scheduled to begin on December 1, 2024.[49]

Australia (2025)

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An Australian production opened at the Sydney Lyric Theatre on February 26, 2025.[50] Banks reprised his role as Jackson.[51] After the Sydney production was closed on August 23, the Melbourne production arrived at Her Majesty’s Theatre with Ilario Grant leading the role as Jackson on September 9.[52]

Asia Tour (2026-)

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The show’s first international tour is set to begin in October 2026 in major cities across Asia for an initial two-year run. More details will be revealed in the coming months.[53]

UK Tour (2027-)

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The show is set to tour across the United Kingdom in 2027. More details for the upcoming tour will be revealed in due course.[54]

Box office

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Ticket sales have averaged more than a million dollars per week on Broadway.[55][56][57] Following the Tony Awards, the weekly gross jumped to $1,661,000, with sold-out shows and brisk advance sales; it received the biggest box office jump that week on Broadway and recorded a new high for the show's sales.[58] By September 4, 2022, it broke the Neil Simon Theater's box office record five times with a total cumulative gross of $49.4 million.[59] As of January 2025, MJ the Musical on Broadway had grossed around $245 Million with a total attendance of 1,679,656 after 1,246 performances.[60] MJ The Musical has ranked amongst the top five highest grossing annual Broadway shows each year since its release.[61] By April 2024, MJ the Musical had sold more than two million tickets worldwide [62] eventually reaching sales of over 5 million by August 2025.[63]

Critical response

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MJ received mixed reviews from critics. Charles Isherwood of Broadway News criticized Lynn Nottage's book, in particular, writing, "where MJ loses its fleet footing is in the bland, exposition-heavy and often trite dialogue supplied by Nottage ... Clichés, preachy speeches, and baldly obvious dialogue abound."[64] Adam Feldman of Time Out wrote, "'Listen to my music,' says Michael to his interviewer. 'It answers any questions you might have.' Does it? I left the theater entertained, but not convinced I had seen the man in the smoke and mirrors."[65] Maya Phillips of The New York Times wrote, "The musical is inherently hollow; the opacity of Michael Jackson and his life of traumas and controversies make it difficult to find material compelling and cohesive enough to tell a story onstage".[66] The Deadline reporter Greg Evans said the musical was "visually and sonically ravishing",[67] while the Chicago Tribune called the show's scenery gorgeous and the show "beautiful to experience throughout, which one almost never can say about jukebox musicals".[68] Peter Marks of The Washington Post also praised the show and the cast, especially the "utterly persuasive" Frost, and called MJ "a riveting, adrenaline rush of a show".[69] Linda Armstrong of Amsterdam News called the production "spectacular", "stunning" and "off-the-charts".[70] Joe Westerfield of Newsweek said, "In many ways MJ is a living, breathing, even breathless, music video, but with that touch of inspiration, drive and art that only Michael Jackson can provide."[71]

Awards and nominations

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Original Broadway production

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Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
2022 Tony Awards Best Musical MJ the Musical Nominated
Best Actor in a Musical Myles Frost Won
Best Direction of a Musical Christopher Wheeldon Nominated
Best Choreography Christopher Wheeldon & Rich + Tone Talauega Won
Best Book of a Musical Lynn Nottage Nominated
Best Orchestrations Jason Michael Webb & David Holcenberg Nominated
Best Scenic Design of a Musical Derek McLane & Peter Nigrini Nominated
Best Costume Design of a Musical Paul Tazewell Nominated
Best Lighting Design of a Musical Natasha Katz Won
Best Sound Design of a Musical Gareth Owen Won
Chita Rivera Awards Outstanding Ensemble in a Broadway Show MJ the Musical Nominated [72]
[73]
Outstanding Male Dancer in a Broadway Show Myles Frost Won
Outstanding Choreography in a Broadway Show Christopher Wheeldon Nominated
Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Actor in a Musical Myles Frost Nominated [74]
[75]
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Tavon Olds-Sample Nominated
Outstanding Choreography Christopher Wheeldon, Rich and Tone Taleuega & Michael Balderrama Nominated
Outstanding Orchestrations Jason Michael Webb & David Holcenberg Won
Outstanding Lighting Design Natasha Katz Won
Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical Gareth Owen Won
Outstanding Wig and Hair Design Charles LaPointe Nominated
Drama League Awards Outstanding Production of a Musical MJ the Musical Nominated [76]
Distinguished Performance Myles Frost Nominated
Outstanding Direction of a Musical Christopher Wheeldon Nominated
Grammy Awards Best Musical Theater Album Myles Frost (principal vocalist), Tavon Olds-Sample (principal vocalist), David Holcenberg (producer), Derik Lee (producer), Jason Michael Webb (producer) Nominated [24]
Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding New Broadway Musical MJ the Musical Nominated [77]
[78]
Outstanding Actor in a Musical Myles Frost Nominated
Outstanding Direction of a Musical Christopher Wheeldon Nominated
Outstanding Choreography Christopher Wheeldon & Rich + Tone Talauega Won
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Quentin Earl Darrington Nominated
Outstanding Orchestrations Jason Michael Webb & David Holcenberg Nominated
Outstanding Lighting Design Natasha Katz Nominated
Theatre World Awards Outstanding Debut Performance Myles Frost Won [79]

Original West End production

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Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
2024 Black British Theatre Awards Best Musical MJ the Musical Won
Best Musical Director Sean Green Won
Best Graduate Kwamè Kandekore Won
Best Child Performer Dylan Trigger Nominated
Best Supporting Female Actor in a Musical Phebe Edwards Nominated
2025 Laurence Olivier Awards Best New Musical MJ The Musical Nominated [80]
Best Actor in a Musical Myles Frost Nominated
Best Theatre Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon Won

See also

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References

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