Anyone walking into the KeyBank State Theater to see MJ The Musical is immediately transformed back to 1992. Stage lights turn on, and suddenly, the audience finds itself sitting in a rehearsal space waiting for Michael Jackson to arrive. There’s no curtain to open at the start of the performance.
“Five minutes until MJ arrives.”
In five minutes, boy, does he arrive! From then on, theatergoers are transformed into the mind, body, and soul of the King of Pop.
The show starts by finding MJ, financially deep into the planning and executing the Dangerous World Tour. The story is by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, and the book she wrote is more than “based on a true story.” MJ The Musical has a special arrangement with the estate of Michael Jackson with this production! This four-time Tony Award-winning production is only two years old and is less than a year into its tour. It’s still popular on Broadway, and based on what I saw, it will be there for a while.
Michael Jackson (Roman Banks) has a unique life, with people telling him what to do at each stage. The story follows this theme throughout the whole performance. At the outset, Michael is working his dancers to the bone, only to be told by his manager, Rob (Devin Bowles), that he needs to go easier on them. Michael is always striving for perfection and doesn’t want to compromise anything. Cut to Little Michael (Bane Griffith) being almost forced to perform with the Jackson Five and his constant suggestions and requests from his father, Joseph Jackson (Devin Bowles.) For those wondering why Bowles is noted twice, it’s because MJ, in The Musical, is told with constant flashbacks, with some actors having multiple roles. This stylistic choice allows the story to go back in time on a dime. The only genuine cue that we have is in the lighting. Tony Award-winning Natasha Katz is the lighting designer for the show. Every time the story goes back in time with Little Michael, a direct lighting change helps the audience know more about what’s happening.
The choreography for MJ The Musical is a beast in itself. When thinking about iconic Michael Jackson performances, it’s not just his voice; it’s not just his songs, but the team of world-renowned dancers at the top of their game. Michael always wanted the best, and that’s what he always got. So when putting together the choreography, Tony Award-winning Christopher Wheeldon is the person for the job!
CleveRock had the chance to speak with Kyle Dupree, the Dance Captain for MJ The Musical. He told us that Wheeldon designed his choreography by studying Michael Jackson’s dance performances, both live and in music videos. That means that MJ The Musical is a culmination of some of the most iconic performances Michael Jackson has ever done publicly. Wheeldon also worked with several of Michael Jackson’s former dancers. The level of authenticity for MJ The Musical is unparalleled.
Banks embodied Michael Jackson throughout the entire performance. When he spoke as Michael, he was spot on with his publicly known higher-register voice. When he sang, he belted songs out with Michael’s lungs and vocal cords, and when he danced, it was evident that he had rehearsed his moves down tirelessly. This jukebox musical was the greatest hits when it came to MJ’s music. One notable performance was “Thriller,” where MJ and the dance team replicated the iconic music video. “Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough” was very fun. It’s as close to seeing MJ in concert as anyone can get today. There were times during the show when everyone forgot that they were watching actors portraying someone else, and it felt like an authentic concert. Some notable non-MJ covers helped tell Michael’s storied past, like “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag.” while Little Michael watched one of his first influences.
The stage was fascinating! Most of the time, it was a dance rehearsal space where various dance team members stretched and prepared for rehearsal. Designed by Derek McLane, the stage was spot on. When the set wasn’t meant to be a set, clever lighting changes would inform the audience that they were elsewhere.
Another outstanding element was how the orchestra and band members were positioned on stage, including musical director Victor Simonson. He conducted the orchestra members on stage and those in the pit. All of this added to the concert experience!
Pulling double duty, Wheeldon also directed MJ The Musical. This one-of-a-kind show brings the talents and story of a one-of-a-kind superstar to life. This story provides a fascinating insight into the thoughts and dreams of the world’s most famous musician. The journey goes back to when Michael was being groomed by his family to help create the man he was at the time and then sees him deal with the financial and personal struggles that go into designing the best possible tour the world has ever seen. Of course, his aspirations for perfection and his struggles to attain it are also on display.
Story? ✔
Amazing cast: ✔
Talented lead: ✔
Phenomenal dancing ✔
Iconic singing and performance ✔
MJ The Musical checks all the boxes. It would be a shame to miss this well-orchestrated show featuring a fantastic group of talent. Don’t be Bad, and catch MJ The Musical before it closes on August 11.
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