The Michael Jackson Musical: 'MJ'

again sold out-the next performance is Thursday.
https://twitter.com/KingofPopTweets/status/1483596246329745408/photo/1

I just got back home from today's performance. I specifically went today because January 24, 2022 is the 50th anniversary of MJ's first solo album, Got To Be There.

I thought it was great, but not perfect. Myles Frost was out tonight, but his understudy (Aramie Payton) did a great job in his place. The actor who played teenage/young adult Michael (Tavon Olds-Sample) and the actress who played Katherine (Ayana George) were my personal favorites.

SPOILER ALERT FOR THE NEXT PARAGRAPH:
The only major thing that irked me were a few of the song choices/placements that I thought were questionable. Keep The Faith is played twice, in two different scenes with separate contexts, and it just came off as redundant. Also, there are a few songs that are from other artists (e.g. "Higher and Higher" by Jackie Wilson) that make sense in context because Michael is talking about his idols. But "For The Love Of Money" by the O'Jays is randomly put in one scene as if it's a regular MJ song, which it isn't. They also did not include certain, rather obvious songs that could have easily fit into the narrative, like "Childhood", "Scream", and "Heal The World".

Technically it's still in previews, so its possible that more changes to the show will be added by the time it "officially" opens. We'll have to wait and see.

Got tickets for mid February.
Hope it's good.

@stevenbriggsuk
· 25. Jan.
Very cold weather nor covid could stop people coming together to watch @MJtheMusical in New York last night. A superb cast! Last night's MJ understudy was insane! After seeing Immortal & Michael Jackson One about 12 times in total, the bar was pretty high, but they reached it!

One week to the official Broadway premiere of
@MJtheMusical
. During previews, fans are finding Myles Frost as Michael to be incredible – see for yourself like in this image from “Beat It”! Get your tickets now: https://mjthemusical.com/tickets/

I know this might be a dumb question, but how long is the MJ Musical expected to stay at Broadway? Is there a time limit as to how long musicals are a part of Broadway before they are discarded and replaced with newer musicals?

Nite Line said:

I know this might be a dumb question, but how long is the MJ Musical expected to stay at Broadway? Is there a time limit as to how long musicals are a part of Broadway before they are discarded and replaced with newer musicals?

Click to expand...

It depends on public demand. Some musicals close before their preview period ends; others will run for a few months to a few years; others go on for decades and thousands of performances. The Phantom of the Opera, for example, debuted in 1988 and hasn’t closed. If people keep supporting it, it could go on for a LONG time.

Everything you need to know about 'MJ The Musical' on Broadway

Can you feel it? It's the burst of energy coming from the Neil Simon Theatre every night during performances of MJ The Musical on Broadway.

www.newyorktheatreguide.com

Everything you need to know about 'MJ The Musical' on Broadway​

We've made it as easy as ABC to learn all about this Broadway musical about Michael Jackson.

January 26, 2022
Gillian Russo


Can you feel it? It's the burst of energy coming from the Neil Simon Theatre every night during performances of MJ The Musical on Broadway. Tabloid junkies, smooth criminals, and dancing machines will all find something to love in this new show about the groundbreaking career of Michael Jackson. The show's pre-Broadway run was canceled and its original Broadway premiere postponed, making this production the musical's world premiere.
Set during rehearsals for his Dangerous World Tour, the show has the energy and flow of a Michael Jackson concert. There are over two dozen hit songs from his solo career and his time with the Jackson 5, which first launched him and his brothers to fame. Not to mention that the choreography, all inspired by Jackson's famous moves (and taught by the men who actually danced with Jackson!), moves the show along more smoothly than a moonwalk. After seeing the cast perform, you might want to sing and dance in your seat! So if the man in the mirror is telling you to see MJ The Musical, listen — the show is a thriller.
MJ The Musical tickets will be available on New York Theatre Guide soon.

What is MJ The Musical about?​

MJ The Musical is all about the historic life and works of Michael Jackson, charting key moments in his career that eventually led him to be crowned the "King of Pop" and become one of the bestselling and most awarded musical artists of all time. The musical centers around Jackson in 1992, as he's rehearsing for his Dangerous World Tour. Amid his songs from the Dangerous album, like "Black or White," he's also preparing to sing his greatest career hits from the previous three decades. He creates on the spot as he rehearses, changing choreography and the set list as it feels right to him. He's on a quest to make the tour perfect — to the occasional chagrin of his tour director and business manager.
While in rehearsal, a reporter and cameraman arrive from MTV, hoping for an exclusive interview with Jackson that will shine light on his life and creative process. Though he hasn't done an in-depth interview in 14 years, Jackson hesitantly agrees. The interview prompts him to share the memories tied to the creation, release, and success of his music. As he rehearses each song, these memories come to life on stage, beginning with his time leading the Jackson 5 with his brothers and going through pivotal moments in his professional and personal life up to that point.

Where is MJ The Musical playing?​

MJ The Musical is at the Neil Simon Theatre. The theatre is located at 250 W 52nd St. between Seventh and Eighth Avenues. The theatre is located across the street from the August Wilson Theatre and around the corner from the Broadway Theatre.

How long is MJ The Musical?​

MJ The Musical runs 2 hours and 30 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission. This is a typical Broadway musical length, though musicals can run anywhere from 90 minutes to 3 hours. Intermission is also a standard length at 15 minutes long.

What days is MJ The Musical playing?​

MJ The Musical plays eight performances a week at the Neil Simon Theatre. For the complete performance schedule and most up-to-date show times, please visit the MJ The Musical page to learn more.

When did MJ The Musical premiere?​

MJ The Musical played its first-ever performance on December 6, 2021, after multiple changes to its journey. The musical was originally scheduled to make its world premiere at Chicago's Nederlander Theatre in October 2019 as a lead-up to its Broadway run. However, that production was canceled, with MJ then slated to go straight to Broadway in summer 2020. But that start date, too, was postponed by over a year due to the pandemic.

• 2018: MJ The Musical is first announced
• 2021: MJ The Musical premieres on Broadway

Who wrote MJ The Musical?​

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage wrote the book for MJ The Musical. The songs in the musical are attributed to Michael Jackson, as they include about 25 of his biggest hits, but Jackson had multiple co-writers than can be said to be composers and lyricists as well.

MJ The Musical characters​

Many of the major characters in MJ The Musical include the members of Michael Jackson's family, as he got his start as a musician while singing with his brothers in the Jackson 5. Though he had eight siblings, only Michael Jackson and his five brothers in the Jackson 5 are featured; his sisters — including Janet Jackson, who launched her own successful music career — are not featured. The characters also include Jackson's parents and multiple figures from the recording and media industry during Jackson's lifetime, and many actors hold multiple roles. Here are some of the major characters in MJ The Musical.

• Michael Jackson: A singer/songwriter and dancer who would eventually have one of the most successful music careers of all time. Three actors play Jackson in his childhood, young adulthood, and adulthood.
• Rob: The director of the Dangerous tour. He and Michael often come into conflict when Michael asks to make major changes to the tour at the last minute.
• Rachel: An MTV reporter who interviews Michael about his life and music during tour rehearsals.
• Alejandro: The MTV cameraman who accompanies Rachel to get video footage of rehearsal to go with the interview. He is a huge Michael Jackson fan.
• Joe Jackson: The patriarch of the Jackson family and the manager of the Jackson 5. He pushed his sons into the music industry and helped them land a record deal with Motown, but he showed them very little affection in his quest to make them perfect.
• Katherine Jackson: The mother of the Jackson family. Later in the Jackson 5's career, she joined the group's management team with her husband.
• Jackie Jackson: One of Michael's older brothers and one of the founding members of the Jackson 5.
• Tito Jackson: One of Michael's older brothers and one of the founding members of the Jackson 5.
• Jermaine Jackson: One of Michael's older brothers and one of the founding members of the Jackson 5. He and Michael were co-lead singers of the group.
• Marlon Jackson: One of Michael's older brothers and one of the founding members of the Jackson 5.
• Randy Jackson: The youngest Jackson brother, who replaced Jermaine when the group left Motown for CBS Records.
• Berry Gordy: The founder of Motown Records, who launched the careers of many Black singers and groups, including the Jacksons.

MJ The Musical songs​

MJ The Musical incorporates 37 songs, including over 25 of Jackson's greatest hits. You'll also hear snippets of other popular songs from his era and even some classic showtunes. Some aren't just confined to one act: Melodies of some songs are heard early in the show and their full versions are performed later, and many of the musical numbers are medleys, with one song flowing seamlessly into another. Not all of Jackson's hits are performed in full, but between "Beat It" as the opening number and "Man in the Mirror" as the finale, there's plenty to make you want to groove along. Here are all the songs featured in MJ The Musical in alphabetical order.

• 2 Bad
• ABC
• Bad
• Black Or White
• Blame It on the Boogie
• Can You Feel It
• Climb Ev'ry Mountain
• Dancing Machine
• Don't Stop Til You Get Enough
• Earth Song
• Ease on Down the Road
• For the Love of Money
• Higher and Higher
• Human Nature
• I Can't Help It
• I'll Be There
• I Want You Back
• Jam
• Keep the Faith
• The Love You Save
• Man in the Mirror
• Money
• Papa's Got a Brand New Bag
• Price of Fame
• Rock With You
• She's Out of My Life
• Shout
• Smooth Criminal
• Stranger in Moscow
• Tabloid Junkie
• Soul Train Theme Song
• They Don't Care About Us
• Thriller
• Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
• You Can't Win

Major productions of MJ The Musical​

The current Broadway production of MJ The Musical is the first and only run of the show, marking the musical's world premiere. A pre-Broadway production in Chicago was originally scheduled for October 2019, but that run was ultimately canceled. No other productions of MJ The Musical have been announced yet.

Fun facts about MJ The Musical​

• The curtain in front of the stage has handwritten notes projected on it that audiences can see before each act starts. These notes, mainly about choreography ideas, are copied from Jackson's actual notes and are in his handwriting.
• Michael Jackson and the Dangerous World Tour were actually featured on MTV in 1992. The resulting TV miniseries, called The Dangerous Diaries, included backstage footage and snippets of his live performances. MJ The Musical isn't a direct retelling of that event, however; the MTV reporters are fictional, and their interview is inspired by multiple of Jackson's media appearances.
• The MJ The Musical creative team includes Rich and Tone Talauega as movement consultants. The Talauega brothers began as dancers on Jackson's HIStory World Tour and went on to dance and choreograph with him for years. They worked with director/choreographer Christopher Wheeldon to make the choreography in MJ The Musical authentic to how the real Jackson actually danced.
• Michael Jackson is famous for naming and popularizing the "moonwalk" dance move, but did you know he also popularized the robot?
• Jackson has nearly 70 awards and honors to his name, including 15 Grammy Awards, 6 Brit Awards, a Golden Globe Award, 39 Guinness World Records, and inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame. He is also the only music artist to be inducted into the Dance Hall of Fame.

How to get MJ The Musical tickets​

MJ The Musical is the perfect show for all fans of Michael Jackson and his music. Audiences will get to hear all their favorite Jackson hits performed live, complete with Jackson's signature costumes and iconic choreography. And although the songs shine on their own and you'll have fun rocking out to them, the dancing drives MJ The Musical and brings just as much energy — and you won't get that on a Michael Jackson CD! If you love shows with lots of dancing, want to feel like you're watching a bona fide Michael Jackson concert, or are just looking for a fun, upbeat show, this is the musical for you.
MJ The Musical tickets will be available soon. Check back for information on tickets to MJ The Musical on New York Theatre Guide.

See Myles Frost Take the Stage as Michael Jackson in Broadway's MJ: The Musical Photos​

https://people.com/theater/michael-...al-first-look-photos-opening-night-exclusive/

MJ: The Musical, which officially opens Tuesday on Broadway, features more than 25 of Michael Jackson's biggest hits
By Benjamin VanHoose January 31, 2022 03:01 PM



CREDIT: MATTHEW MURPHY
The music of Michael Jackson is being celebrated on Broadway.
MJ: The Musical, produced by Lia Vollack Productions and The Estate of Michael Jackson, is ready for opening night at the Neil Simon Theatre in New York City Tuesday after beginning previews in early December.

In first look photos shared exclusively with PEOPLE, newcomer Myles Frost makes his Broadway debut starring as Jackson.
The show takes audiences inside Jackson's creative process, depicting the singer rehearsing for his 1992 Dangerous world tour. It features over 25 of the singer's biggest hits and is directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Christopher Wheeldon with a book by Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage.

According to a press release, the musical "goes beyond the singular moves and signature sound of the star, offering a rare look at the creative mind and collaborative spirit that catapulted Jackson into legendary status."

RELATED: Prince Jackson Attends MJ Show on Broadway: He 'Loved the Energy,' Says Source

CREDIT: MATTHEW MURPHY
Grammy-winner Jackson went from child star to chart-topping King of Pop, with hits like "Beat It" and "Billie Jean." He was arrested on charges of child molestation back in 2003, though he was acquitted of those charges in 2005. Jackson was accused of sexual abuse by two people after his death in 2013 at age 50. A 2019 documentary revisited the allegations.

In an April 2019 interview with The New York Times, Wheeldon said about writing the musical at the time, "We're sensitive to what's going on and we'll see whether it works into the show or not. But the primary focus of our show has always been focusing on Michael's creative process." The musical reportedly does not address the scandal.

CREDIT: MATTHEW MURPHY

Nottage added in that interview, "We want this to be a musical that everyone can come to, regardless of how they feel about Michael Jackson, and they will leave with a better understanding of who he was as a human being."

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Prince with his girlfriend Molly Schirmang and Bigi were pictured preparing to board a flight in Los Angeles.
It has been reported that the family were coming to the opening of MJ the Musical.
Paris was not spotted at the airport.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">OPENING NIGHT for <a href="https://twitter.com/MJtheMusical?ref_src=twsrc^tfw">@MJtheMusical</a> ! For the First time in <a href="https://twitter.com/playbill?ref_src=twsrc^tfw">@playbill</a> history- there are four different covers being handed out tonight and entire month of Feb. The cover also celebrates <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlackHistoryMonth?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc^tfw">#BlackHistoryMonth</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSNewYork?ref_src=twsrc^tfw">@CBSNewYork</a> <a href="https://t.co/GW57D53z7v">pic.twitter.com/GW57D53z7v</a></p>&mdash; Lisa Rozner (@LisaRoznerTV) <a href=" ">February 1, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Michael Jackson's Children - Paris, Prince & Blanket - Attend Opening Night of 'MJ: The Musical'​

ichael Jackson's Children - Paris, Prince & Blanket - Attend Opening Night of 'MJ: The Musical'​

John Branca and Linda Branca attend "MJ" The Michael Jackson Musical Opening Night at Neil Simon



Tone Talauega and Rich Talauega



Kenny Ortega

Spike Lee



Mario Van Peebles (C) and Max Van Peebles

Brenda Vacarro

Freddie Jackson, Al Sharpton and Aisha McShaw

Tamron Hall

Joel Grey

Myles Frost

Lynn Nottage, MJ the Musical Playwright

Review Roundup: MJ Opens on Broadway- See What the Critics Are Saying!​

MJ is the new Broadway musical that takes audiences inside the creative process of one of the greatest entertainers in history.​

by Review Roundups Feb. 1, 2022
https://www.broadwayworld.com/artic...way--See-What-the-Critics-Are-Saying-20220201
https://www.broadwayworld.com/shows/multimedia.php?showid=333029
Tonight's the night! Inspired by the life and art of Michael Jackson, MJ officially opens on Broadway tonight, February 1, 2022 at the newly refurbished Neil Simon Theatre (250 W 52nd Street).

MJ features a book by two-time Pulitzer Prize® winner Lynn Nottage and a score made up of some of the best-loved, top-selling songs in recording history. Tony Award winner Christopher Wheeldon will direct and choreograph.
MJ is the new Broadway musical that takes audiences inside the creative process of one of the greatest entertainers in history. Featuring over 25 of Michael Jackson's biggest hits, MJ allows us to rediscover the man in the mirror - with an explosion of music, choreography and theatricality as unforgettable as the artist himself.

---

Naveen Kumar, Variety: The demons that Jackson battles in "MJ," his father and the media, are figured as monstrous. But if there was darkness behind the angelic falsetto, a mix of light and shadow that made Michael Jackson a singular artist, "MJ" enacts a sleight of hand, insisting it didn't belong to him. It's a renouncement worthy enough of a smooth criminal.

Chris Jones, The New York Daily News: COVID means a lack of tourists, short-term. But the show has all kinds of artistic beauties to offer the artist's global fans. Thanks in no small part to the gorgeous palate created by Derek McLane, Natasha Katz, Paul Tazewell and Peter Nigrini, the show is genuinely beautiful to experience throughout, which one almost never can say about jukebox musicals. Aside from a few clanging scenes, it's a gorgeously executed celebration of a pained subject's artistry.

https://www.showbiz411.com/2022/02/...g-ovations-happy-audiences-and-cranky-critics

Broadway: “MJ” Michael Jackson Musical Opens to 3 Standing Ovations, Happy Audiences, and Cranky Critics​

• ■Theater

by Roger Friedman - February 2, 2022 2:54 am
0 285

The Michael Jackson musical, “MJ,” opened on Broadway last night to standing ovations and cheering during the show, an extremely enthusiastic, and cranky critics looking for a reason to pan it.

Top to bottom, “MJ” is a high end jukebox musical with terrific songs, dancing, performers who deserve better than to be dismissed for snark.
The show covers Jackson’s life from the Jackson 5 through the 1992 rehearsals for his Dangerous tour. It stops there because after that Michael’s life became overwhelmed with accusations of child molestation, pay offs and settlements, general weirdness, and a tragic end. Do you want to see that in a musical? Or do you want to see his insanely good, still very popular hits woven into a story? This is not “Sweeney Todd” and it doesn’t have to be.

If Michael were alive, of course, he couldn’t get away with this. As a journalist who covered him, I’d be all over it. But Michael is dead. His story is over. He was never convicted of anything. He was acquitted in 2005 of child molestation and kidnapping. So he leaves a clean record. He became incredibly eccentric, but this photo shows him working and still regimented as an artists. And the hits, and the famous dancing.

Director Christopher Wheeldon and dramatist Lynn Nottage have created a very entertaining piece of theater that hints at Michael’s problems and issues, but concentrates on the music. The cast, led by Myles Frost, is terrific. Frost has never appeared before on Broadway, but he swoops and sways like Michael at the peak of his career. He’s got the falsetto and middle range og his singing down, too. His performance I’d compare to Adrienne Warren’s Tony Award turn as Tina Turner. Frost is fully committed and it shows.

Derek McLane’s sets are superb. “MJ” is set in a rehearsal hall, but there are set pieces –like the Walking Dead of “Thriller– that are spine tingling. “Bad,” “Beat It,” “Billie Jean” are all there, as are songs like “Human Nature” that come alive on stage. And all this work leads up to a stunning finale of “Man in the Mirror.”

A few shout outs– to Quentin Earl Darlington, who plays Joseph Jackson as well as “Rob,” director of Michael’s tour, and a pretty convincing chief Zombie. And to Ayana George, who I cited in a previous column, with a spectacular voice. She plays Katherine Jackson and Tavon Olds-Sample as teenage to young 20s Michael.

“MJ” is a photograph, a moment in time. If you want a drama, with a courtroom setting, that’s a different show. If you want that, read all my old columns. I could tell you a different story, but it’s not this story. This is the story of music everyone still loves, especially well constructed. Celebrate this talent on Broadway.