Displaying items by tag: MJ the Musical

Producers Lia Vollack, John Branca, and John McClain and Broadway In Chicago are thrilled to announce that individual tickets for the highly anticipated return engagement of the smash-hit musical, MJ, will go on sale tomorrow, Wednesday, May 28. MJ makes its Chicago return at the James M. Nederlander Theatre, August 12-31. Ticket prices start at $49 with a select number of premium seats available. Additional fees apply for online purchases. See below for more ticket information and the performance schedule.

Back by overwhelming demand, the multiple Tony Award®-winning musical MJ is making a victorious return to Chicago. Created by Tony Award-winning Director/Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, MJ goes beyond Michael Jackson’s singular moves and signature sound, offering a rare glimpse at the making of the 1992 Dangerous World Tour. It’s electrifying sold-out crowds on Broadway; in cities across North America; London’s West End; Hamburg, Germany; Sydney, Australia and once again at the Nederlander Theatre in August. 

The MJ creative team features Scenic Design by two-time Tony and Emmy Award winner Derek McLane, Lighting Design by seven-time Tony Award winner Natasha Katz, Costume Design by Oscar, Tony and Emmy Award winner Paul Tazewell, Sound Design by Tony Award winner Gareth Owen, Projection Design by two-time Tony Award nominee Peter Nigrini, Hair & Wig Design by two-time Emmy Award nominee Charles G. LaPointe and Makeup Design by Emmy nominee Joe Dulude II. The creative team also features Musical Supervision by Tony Award nominee David Holcenberg, Orchestrations and Arrangements by David Holcenberg and Tony Award winner Jason Michael Webb, and Music Direction by Nathanael Wilkerson and Jason Yarcho. Casting by The Telsey Office / Rachel Hoffman, CSA, Lindsay Levine, CSA.

The MJ First National Tour is general managed by Bespoke Theatricals. The stage management team is led by Production Stage Manager Nicole Olson, Stage Manager Xavier Khan and Assistant Stage Managers Alexander Pierce, Christopher K Anaya-Gorman and Lauren Taylor Winston. The company management team is led by Company Manager Eric Armstrong and Assistant Company Manager Bianca Jean-Charles. 

For more information worldwide, visit: www.mjthemusical.com  ● Facebook ● Twitter ● Instagram.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
 

TICKET INFORMATION (as of 5/28/25, based on availability and subject to change)
Individual tickets sales for MJ start tomorrow Wednesday, May 28 and range in price from $49 - $153 with a select number of premium seats available. Individual tickets may be purchased by visiting www.BroadwayInChicago.com, or any Broadway In Chicago venue box office. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com. Broadway In Chicago subscribers may add tickets to their subscription by  clicking here. Additional fees apply for online purchases.

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO
Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 25 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining up to 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of
entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop including the Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and presenting Broadway shows at The Auditorium.

For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.
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Chicago is in for a real treat. And based on the full theater at last night’s opening, I think most expected this production would be something special – and it is. MJ the Musical is a lavish production based on Michael Jackson’s amazing life that engages its audience from beginning to end and it is now playing at the James M. Nederlander Theatre through September 22^nd.  

This MJ Estate approved production mainly focuses on the rehearsals just prior to the wildly successful 1992 “Dangerous Tour” that toured in multiple countries and grossed over $140 million (in the 1990’s!). What some might now know that is explained in the play is that was a make-or-break tour for Jackson. Worried that he was on the cusp of losing relevance with old and new music listeners, MJ put everything he had into this tour leveraging his precious rights to The Beatles songs he owned and eventually mortgaging his prized Neverland Ranch to finance the endeavor, but also pushing his physical abilities and stamina to the limit. When his nervous advisors caution him about the money that is at risk with the magnitude of the tour and that he is “hemorrhaging money”, Jackson simply responds with, “We’ll get it back.” In MJ, we get a firsthand look at the pressures that Michael was under to make this tour succeed while revealed in this musical are the underlying factors that ultimately contributed to Jackson's untimely death – factors which are poignantly touched on regarding his dependency of opioid painkillers that he feels are key in helping him to push on beyond his parameters.

The story really unfolds when Rachel, a fictional reporter well played by Mary Kate Moore, is invited to interview Jackson while he is preparing for his Dangerous Tour in 1992. MJ, along with his handlers, prefer to keep the interview light with an aim solely on his music. But Rachel is determined to get a more in-depth interview stating it’s been years (14 was her estimation) since he’s really opened up to a reporter. In interviewing Michael over the course of two days at his rehearsals, more and more is revealed and the story travels back and forth from the 1992 tour to his past where it all began when he was just a young boy singing with the Jackson Five – a turbulent time for the talented singer, thanks to his abusive father, Joseph Jackson (Devin Bowles). Joseph managed the band comprised of his children and was beyond a perfectionist, pushing young Michael and his brothers to a never attainable standard for most. He is portrayed as strict, a womanizer who had no problem using his hands on his family to get his point across. We clearly see from this production where Michael gets his never-ending drive to perform at the highest level, even if it means taking pills to cope with the stresses of achieving that kind of success.

Roman Banks is STUNNING in his role as Michael Jackson during the 1992 rehearsal scenes. Banks’ voice has an uncanny likeness to Jackson’s and his dancing is nothing less than spectacular. Banks performance as MJ is worth the price of admission alone. Brandon Lee Harris also shines as in between Michael that takes place during his later days with The Jacksons through MJ’s super breakout “Thriller” album. Both Harris and Banks take turns impressing the audience with an astonishing representation of Jackson at different ages, while not to be forgotten is Ethan Joseph and Josiah Benson who share the role of young Michael on alternating show performances – also spectacular.

Four actors of varying ages are perfectly cast to portray Jackson as a child, young adult in The Jackson Five era and during the “Dangerous Tour”.  These actors have mastered Jackson's trademark vocals for their period along with his highly skilled dance techniques. I was absolutely blown away by each actor portraying him.

This play with book by Lynn Nottage is wonderfully directed by Christopher Wheeldon, who also exceptionally handles the production’s choreography. This is a show filled with exciting visuals, sounds and awe-inspiring scenes. The choreography and lighting effects during the scene where Jackson's study of Bob Fosse, Fred Astaire and The Nicholas Brothers are represented during a fantastic mesmerizingly choreographed dance sequence by Jackson and the entire ensemble – just one of so many beautiful moments in this musical.

Jaylen Lyndon Hunter as Little Marlon and Ethan Joseph as Little Michael with cast in 'MJ the Msucial'. Photo by Matthew Murphy, MurphyMade.

The stage design is marvelous and colorful and impressive, with exciting lighting effects created by Lighting Designer Natasha Katz that literally made the audience jump with surprise at least three times during this fast paced and upbeat retelling of Jackson's life. 

The ensemble is rich in talent with tremendous performances led by Devin Bowles who doubles as Joseph Jackson and Rob, the “Dangerous” Stage Manager and impressively switches personalities from that of a controlling abuser to a kind, caring employee of Michael’s almost instantly without a hitch. Also striking in their supporting roles are Josh A. Dawson as Tito Jackson and Quincy Jones, and Anastasia Talley as Ketherine Jackson and Kate. Jaylen Lyndon Hunter's star also shines brightly as Little Marlon.

This is a production that rocks in every way and fine tunes even the smallest details to give us an incredibly memorable experience. This is also a production that was stopped a handful of times throughout the performance as the audience took to their feet in ovation.

With big performances from Michael from the “Dangerous” era to the Soul Train days of The Jackson Five, this is one mind-blowing, highly energetic, colorful, and unforgettable production. Oh, and the soundtrack is as good as it gets with favorites being performed one after another including “Bad,” “Smooth Criminal,” “Earth Song,” “I’ll Be There,” “Man in the Mirror,” and “Thriller” to name a few.

MJ the Musical is a must see that does the King of Pop right and wonderfully honors the superstar’s legacy.

I highly recommend this exciting, inspiring, and satisfying production to audiences of all ages who wish to enjoy a night of Jackson's timeless music performed by some of the most gifted musical theater actors I have ever witnessed on a Broadway in Chicago stage. 

MJ the Musical is being performed at the James M. Nederlander Theatre though September 2^nd. For tickets and/or more information click here.