MJ the Musical

MJ the Musical,[1] also referred to as simply MJ, is a jukebox musical featuring the music of Michael Jackson with a book by Lynn Nottage.[2][3] It tells the story of American singer, songwriter, and dancer Michael Jackson.

MJ
THE MUSICAL
Broadway poster
MusicVarious Artists
LyricsVarious Artists
BookLynn Nottage
PremiereDecember 6, 2021: Neil Simon Theatre, New York City
Productions2022 Broadway

MJ was originally scheduled to premiere on Broadway in mid-2020, with direction and choreography by Christopher Wheeldon. Initial plans to open were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4] On November 21, 2019, Ephraim Sykes was cast as Michael Jackson,[5][6] but in June 2021 it was announced that the role would be played by Myles Frost.[7] The production opened at the Neil Simon Theatre on February 1, 2022, with previews beginning December 6, 2021.[8]

From its opening, MJ received mixed reviews but has been a success in the box office. The audience reception to the musical has been highly positive. MJ has also been nominated for numerous awards mainly for Myles Frost in the title role.

Synopsis

Telling the story of Michael Jackson's life, MJ features over 25 of Michael Jackson's biggest hits.

"The show takes audiences behind the scenes as Michael prepares for the 1992 Dangerous World Tour, providing an in-depth look at his process. As Michael and his collaborators rehearse their epic setlist, we are transported to pivotal creative moments from his career."[9]

Act I

Act I covers the early years of Michael Jacksons life with The Jackson 5.

Act II

Act II covers everything leading up to the Dangerous tour in 1992.

Roles and principal casts

Original production casts
Character Original Broadway Production
(2021)[10][11][12]
MJ Myles Frost
Joe Jackson / Rob Quentin Earl Darrington
Rachel Whitney Bashor
Alejandro Gabriel Ruíz
Berry Gordy / Nick Antione L. Smith
Dave Joey Sorge
Jackie Jackson John Edwards
Katherine Jackson Ayana George
Quincy Jones / Tito Jackson Apollo Levine
Michael Tavon Olds-Sample
Little Michael Christian Vance/Walter Russell III
Jermaine Jackson Lamont Walker II
Marlon Jackson Zelig Williams
Randy Jackson Raymond Baynard

Notable Broadway replacements
  • Michael Jackson – Aramie Payton (February 4, 2022 – February 26, 2022)[13]

Musical numbers

Recordings

Recording for the original Broadway cast album took place on February 7 and 8, 2022.[14]

Productions

Broadway (2021–present)

MJ was set to premiere its pre-Broadway run in Chicago, US on October 29, 2019, at the Nederlander Theatre.[15][16] The run would continue through December 1. The Michael Jackson estate decided to cancel the planned Chicago tryout, ostensibly due to "scheduling difficulties" brought about by an Actors' Equity Association strike.[17] Actors Equity wasn't shouldering the blame for the cancellation, stating "It is difficult to understand how a modest delay in February would impact a run that was scheduled for late October."[18]

The musical was expected to debut on Broadway in the summer of 2020.[19] However, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the production was postponed to 2021. The production is directed and choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, and it features a book by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage.[20][21][22] 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.[23]

The musical was first announced in June 2018.[24] 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".[25]

The musical is a collaboration between The Michael Jackson Estate and Columbia Live Stage.

North American touring productions (2023)

It was announced on March 21, 2022, that the show will kick off its national tour at the Nederlander Theatre, running from July 15 through September 10, 2023, with additional tour dates and casting for the tour to be announced at a later date.[26]

Box office and business

MJ has been very successful at the box office, averaging over a million dollars each week in Broadway.[27][28][29]

Critical response

MJ has received high praise from the general public and mixed reviews from critics.[30][31] The production, music, choreography and the cast have all been praised.[32] Ayanna Prescod of the New York Theatre Guide gave it a perfect score and called it "a flawless production".[33] Deadline reporter Greg Evans said it was "visually & sonically ravishing!"[34] Chicago Tribune called the show's scenery gorgeous and the show "beautiful to experience throughout, which one almost never can say about jukebox musicals".[35]

Peter Marks of The Washington Post also praised the show and the cast, especially the "utterly persuasive" Myles Frost, and called MJ "a riveting, adrenaline rush of a show".[36] Linda Armstrong of Amsterdam News called the production "spectacular", "stunning" and "off-the-charts".[37] Joe Westerfield of Newsweek said, "In many way MJ is a living, breathing, even breathless, music video, but with that touch of inspiration, drive and art that only Michael Jackson can provide."[38] Patrick Christiano of Theater Life called it a "thrilling tribute of - the greatest entertainer of all time" and said "If audience reaction is any indication MJ is a hit worthy of The King of Pop’s impeccable standards".[39] Brittany Crowell of The Front Row Center also almost gave it a near perfect score, stating that the show is "full of skill, craft and true entertainment".[40]

The consumer reviews of MJ have been highly positive, getting mostly rave reviews.[41][42]

Awards and nominations

Original Broadway productions

The musical and the cast is eligible for nomination at the 75th Tony Awards.[43]

Year Award Category Nominee Result
2022 Drama League Awards[44] Outstanding Production of a Musical Pending
Outstanding Direction of a Musical Christopher Wheeldon Pending
Distinguished Performance Myles Frost Pending
Outer Critics Circle Awards[45] Outstanding New Broadway Musical Pending
Outstanding Director of a Musical Christopher Wheeldon Pending
Outstanding Actor in a Musical Myles Frost Pending
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Quentin Earl Darrington Pending
Outstanding Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and Rich + Tone Talauega Pending
Outstanding Orchestrations David Holcenberg and Jason Michael Webb Pending
Outstanding Lighting Design (Play or Musical) Natasha Katz Pending

See also

References
  1. "Audition Information". MJ the Musical. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  2. Evans, Greg (January 23, 2019). "Broadway-Bound Michael Jackson Bio-Musical Gets Title And Chicago Dates". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 4, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. Portwood, Jerry (January 23, 2019). "Michael Jackson Musical to Premiere in Chicago". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 4, 2020.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. McPhee, Ryan (13 May 2020). "Michael Jackson Musical MJ Now Eyeing 2021 Broadway Bow". Playbill.
  5. Murray, Cori (November 4, 2020). "Exclusive: Ephraim Sykes Speaks About Being Cast as Michael Jackson In "MJ" The Musical". Essence. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  6. Lang, Brent (November 21, 2019). "Michael Jackson Musical Finds Its King of Pop". Variety. Retrieved March 4, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. Pedersen, Erik (2021-06-29). "Broadway's 'MJ' Has A New Michael Jackson As Myles Frost Replaces Ephraim Sykes". Deadline. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
  8. Evans, Greg (May 11, 2021). "Michael Jackson Musical 'MJ' Hits Broadway In December; Ephraim Sykes In Title Role". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  9. Wild, Stephi (December 28, 2019). "Something's Coming... What Does 2020 Have in Store For Broadway?". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  10. "MJ The Musical Cast & Creative". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
  11. "MJ the Musical Broadway Original Cast". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
  12. Gordon, David (August 10, 2021). "Broadway's Upcoming Michael Jackson Musical Sets Complete Casting". TheaterMania.com. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
  13. Huston, Caitlin (March 1, 2022). "'MJ' lead misses performances on Broadway due to injury". Broadway News.
  14. "MJ The Musical: The Original Broadway Cast Recording". MJVibe.com. February 8, 2022.
  15. Lefkowitz, Andy (January 23, 2019). "Michael Jackson Musical Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough Announces Pre-Broadway Run". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2020-03-04.
  16. Bowling, Suzanna (January 24, 2019). "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough Brings Michael Jackson to Broadway". Times Square Chronicles. Retrieved 2020-03-04.
  17. Lefkowitz, Andy (February 14, 2019). "Michael Jackson Musical Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough Will Move Straight to Broadway; Out-of-Town Run Canceled". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2020-03-04.
  18. Evans, Greg (2019-02-14). "Actors' Equity Disputes Strike's Impact On Michael Jackson Musical's Canceled Chicago Staging – Update". Deadline. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  19. Paulson, Michael (February 14, 2019). "Michael Jackson Estate Cancels Chicago Musical Run". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  20. Jevens, Darel (January 23, 2019). "Michael Jackson musical to premiere in Chicago before Broadway". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  21. "A stage musical inspired by Michael Jackson's life and music is heading for Broadway". USA Today. Associated Press. January 23, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  22. Reitman, Shelby (January 23, 2019). "Michael Jackson Musical Set for Broadway in 2020". Billboard. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  23. Huston, Caitlin (March 2, 2020). "'MJ' announces creative team for Broadway run". Broadway News. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  24. Lang, Brent (June 19, 2018). "Michael Jackson Musical Coming to Broadway in 2020". Variety. Retrieved March 4, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. Fierberg, Ruthie (September 16, 2018). "What to Expect From the Broadway-Bound Michael Jackson Musical". Playbill. Retrieved March 4, 2020.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  26. "Michael Jackson Broadway Musical to Launch 2023 National Tour". Billboard. March 22, 2022.
  27. Evans, Greg (March 22, 2022). "Broadway Box Office Climbs 19% To $26.6M; 'The Music Man' Takes $3.4M As Industry Resumes Detailed Weekly Reports". Deadline.
  28. "Grosses - MJ THE MUSICAL, Week Ending 3/20/2022". The Broadway League.
  29. "MJ THE MUSICAL Broadway Grosses". BroadwayWorld.
  30. "MJ The Musical (Broadway)". Show-Score. April 29, 2022.
  31. "MJ the Musical". Did They Like It?. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
  32. "MJ The Musical (Broadway)". show-score.com.
  33. Prescod, Ayanna (February 1, 2022). "'MJ The Musical' review — a flawless tribute to a flawed icon". New York Theatre Guide.
  34. Evans, Greg (February 1, 2022). "'MJ' Review: Michael Jackson Lives Again In Lynn Nottage's Thriller Of A Broadway Musical". Deadline.
  35. Jones, Chris (February 1, 2022). "Review: 'MJ' on Broadway elevates the art of Michael Jackson as it dances away from controversy". Chicago Tribune.
  36. Marks, Peter (February 1, 2022). "I wasn't looking forward to sitting through the new Michael Jackson musical. Then I saw it". The Washington Post.
  37. Armstrong, Linda (February 25, 2022). "'MJ' reveals The Man In The Mirror with great grace". Amsterdam News.
  38. Westerfield, Joe (February 1, 2022). "'MJ,' the Michael Jackson Musical, Is a Thriller on Broadway". Newsweek.
  39. Christiano, Patrick (April 29, 2022). "MJ". Theaterlife.
  40. Crowell, Brittany (April 29, 2022). "MJ". The Front Row Center.
  41. "MJ THE MUSICAL REVIEWS". New York City theatre. April 29, 2022.
  42. "MJ The Musical on Broadway Ticket". Trip Advisor. April 29, 2022.
  43. Geier, Thom (March 9, 2022). "Tony Awards Return to CBS and Paramount+ in June for First Live Coast-to-Coast Broadcast". The Wrap.
  44. Culwell-Block, Logan (April 15, 2022). "Kenita R. Miller, Bonnie Milligan, Jaquel Spivey Among 2022 Drama League Award Nominees; See the Full List". Playbill.
  45. Gans, Andrew (April 26, 2022). "Nominees for 71st Annual Outer Critics Circle Awards Announced". Playbill. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
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