Show guide
MJ the Musical
MJ the Musical follows Michael Jackson in 1992 as he rehearses his Dangerous World Tour while an MTV documentary crew presses him about the price of his fame.
- Broadway premiere
- 2022
- Music by
- Michael Jackson
- Genre
- Jukebox
- Setting
- 1990s
MJ the Musical: quick answers
What is MJ the Musical about?
- MJ the Musical follows Michael Jackson in 1992 as he rehearses the Dangerous World Tour, while an MTV crew's questions send him back through his Jackson 5 childhood, his father's pressure and his solo superstardom.
When did MJ the Musical open on Broadway?
- MJ the Musical opened on Broadway on February 1, 2022, at the Neil Simon Theatre, where it is still running. It won four Tony Awards, including Best Actor in a Musical for Myles Frost.
Is MJ the Musical a jukebox musical?
- Yes. MJ is a jukebox musical built from Michael Jackson's catalog, including Jackson 5 hits and solo songs such as Thriller and Bad, with a new book by Lynn Nottage.
Where and when is MJ the Musical set?
- MJ is set in 1992 in the rehearsal hall for the Dangerous World Tour, with flashbacks across Jackson's life and career.
Has MJ the Musical played in London's West End?
- MJ opened at the Prince Edward Theatre on March 27, 2024, and closed on February 28, 2026.
The story of MJ the Musical
Set largely during rehearsals for the 1992 Dangerous World Tour, MJ the Musical shows Michael Jackson under pressure from deadlines, his own perfectionism, and an MTV crew filming a behind the scenes documentary. As the interview pushes him to reflect on his past, the show flashes back through his childhood in the Jackson 5, his rise as a solo superstar, and the creative choices behind albums like Thriller and Bad.
Rather than a full biography, the musical concentrates on Jackson as an artist and perfectionist, using the tour preparation as a frame for exploring his relationships with his family, especially his father Joe, and the creative team around him. It leans into the spectacle of his stagecraft while also acknowledging the toll of a life spent almost entirely in the public eye.
The music and the makers
The show is a jukebox musical drawn from Michael Jackson's own catalog, staged with musical arrangements and supervision by David Holcenberg and Jason Michael Webb, and a book by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Lynn Nottage. Choreographer and director Christopher Wheeldon built much of the production around recreating Jackson's iconic dance vocabulary.
Signature numbers including Beat It, Billie Jean, Smooth Criminal, and Man in the Mirror are staged with elaborate choreography and technical effects meant to evoke Jackson's own concert spectacles. That focus on performance and movement, rather than straightforward narrative songs, makes the show as much a dance showcase as a book musical.
MJ the Musical on Broadway
MJ the Musical opened on Broadway in February 2022 at the Neil Simon Theatre, with Myles Frost starring as Michael Jackson. Frost won the 2022 Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical, becoming one of the youngest performers to win in that category, and the show won a total of four Tony Awards, including Best Choreography and Best Sound Design.
The production drew large audiences eager to see Jackson's music and dancing recreated live on stage, even as it navigated the complicated legacy of allegations against him by keeping its focus tightly on his artistry and creative process. It has since toured and been staged internationally, continuing to draw on the enduring popularity of Jackson's catalog.
MJ the Musical: frequently asked questions
When did MJ the Musical open on Broadway?
MJ the Musical opened on Broadway in February 2022 at the Neil Simon Theatre.
Who wrote the music for MJ the Musical?
The show is a jukebox musical of Michael Jackson's own catalog, with arrangements and musical supervision by David Holcenberg and Jason Michael Webb and a book by Lynn Nottage.
What is MJ the Musical about?
It follows Michael Jackson during rehearsals for his 1992 Dangerous World Tour, using an MTV documentary crew's questions to flash back through his career and family history.
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