Reviewed by Amalisha HuEck
MJ The Musical is a wondrous show about the King of Pop Michael Jackson. Without reference to his later troubles, the story tells how the prize of fame puts every moment of his life on public display and lets the music be the driving force of the play. The audience is immersed in
MJ's main focus - listening to the music which created inspiration and the need to be himself; therefore, allowing the imagination to take him to the highest points of freedom and success.
As a musical biography, the story is told through singing, dancing and flashback scenes, captivating the major events and the focal points of his upbringing. The audience experiences Michael keeping true to himself, inspired by the dancing and moves of the Nicholas Brothers, Fred Astaire and Marcel Marceau, and sees his career unfold as he puts on the white glove and glittery jacket and creates the mega hit that his Thriller album became a work of unstoppable greatness.
A captivating and wonderfully talented cast go through the MJ's original songs effortlessly and tells the story with great enthusiasm and passion. The animated group songs by the amazingly choreographed ensemble are done by Christopher Wheeldon (Director & Choreographer), whose talents of recreating the life of MJ from the moment when the Jackson 5 make a smash appearance at an Apollo Theater amateur night in 1969 to the very last day of
MJ's super rich, yet superbly demanding and provocative life. All the MJ's (Roman Banks, Jamaal Fields-Green, Josiah Benson, Ethan Joseph, Brandon Lee Harris,) capture perfectly the very essence of Michael's persona, with their wispy, gentle voices and kind but determined way of expression. The dancing moves are perfection.
Jackson's music with a book by Lynn Nottage was nominated for 10 Tony Awards including Best Musical, with a musical winning four awards, including Best Actor in a Musical, as well as Best Choreography, Best Lighting Design and Best Sound Design. The original cast recording was also nominated for Grammy Awards for Best Musical Theater Album. By November 2023, the Broadway musical production had grossed $157.2 million, with an attendance of over one million.
Michael Jackson was one of the most beloved entertainers and profoundly influential artists of all time. His album Thriller is the biggest-selling album of all time. New generations of fans continue to discover his artistry making him the #1 streaming catalog artist in the global marketplace. As a compassionate and prolific humanitarian, Michael set a new standard of generosity for other entertainers.'
A line from Man in the Mirror, 'If you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and then make a change' shows us why MJ is so beloved.
Mesmerized by the magnificence of MJ's Production, the excited audience gives a long-standing ovation to an unforgettable brilliant theatre experience!
MJ The Musical at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre runs through January 28, 2024. Individual tickets, as well as group tickets can be purchased through the Pantages Box Office.
For group sales (10+) call 323-463-4367 or email.
Groups@BROADWAYINHOLLYWOOD.com