I’ve been waiting to see MJ the musical ever since the day Broadway in Detroit announced it was on their season, and it does not disappoint. It’s easy to pick apart the sparse script, and the family-sanctioned musical whitewashes any attempts to dig deeper into Michael Jackson’s turmoil other than glancing reference to his father’s abusive approach, and a few references to him needing medication to cope with stress, anxiety, and apparently post-dad PTSD. But that is not what this show is about. It’s a spectacle musical that won 4 Tonys in 2022 (for Lead Actor, Best Choreography, Best Lighting, and Best Sound Design) and all of that is on display in this production.
Michael is played by three actors at three ages, Young Michael (Josiah Benson), young adult Michael (Erik Hamilton), and older Micheal – MJ (Jamaal Fields-Green). All three are outstanding. The entire cast is top-notch and the choreography and direction by Christopher Wheeldon (An American in Paris) is incredible. The audience went wild with every production number from “Beat It” to “Thriller” and everything in between. Don’t expect a move by move recreation of Michael Jackson’s numbers (except for the performance at the Motown:25 event where he introduced the world to the moonwalk); Rather, Wheeldon uses existing material as a starting point and then creates his own masterworks of musical dance numbers throughout. And those numbers are spectacular.
Of course it all resonates differently here in Motown – and the musically smart audience was with the show every step of the way. MJ continues at the Fisher Theater through November 3rd, and it is Highly Recommended.
Mostly Musical Theatre 
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