He is one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Now, Michael Jackson’s unique and unparalleled artistry has finally arrived on Broadway in a brand-new musical. Centered around the making of his 1992 Dangerous World Tour, and created by Tony Award-winning director/choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, MJ goes beyond the singular moves and signature sound of the star, offering a rare look at the creative mind and collaborative spirit that catapulted Jackson into legendary status. Turn it up, Broadway — MJ is here!
There is nothing surprising in the show, which opens tonight on Broadway. This is a slickly corporate, officially sanctioned slice of legacy clean-up. Two and a half hours of glittery hagiography. If you expect a musical that examines Jackson's life, controversies, and legacy, forget it. If you want to see anything which even mildly challenges the deification of Jackson, or interrogates his celebrity and actions with depth and nuance, this is not the show for you.
Befitting this endemic duality, the biomusical MJ, which opened tonight at the Neil Simon, arrived in New York on simultaneous waves of both anticipation and apprehension. It has most of the ingredients of a jukebox hit-great songs, iconic dances, a rags-to-riches story-plus a prodigiously talented creative team. But it is also the story of a man with real problems, a man who quite likely committed some heinous crimes-and a man whose estate controls his life story and is involved with the production. The latter fact is probably unavoidable. But it's also deeply awkward. MJ is big and loud; it is joyful and joyous. The music grooves, the dancing glides, the crowd bops. The spectacle is everything you expect. You enjoy Jackson's work, you see his genius-but you never truly grapple with him as a character, because this hagiography cannot work if it asks you to. Michael Jackson is today a credibly accused child molester, and MJ succeeds only if you can ignore that fact.
Price: $35
Where: https://lottery.broadwaydirect.com/show/mj-ny/
When: The lottery will open the day before the performance. If you are selected as a winner, you have 60 minutes to pay for your tickets.
Limit: Two per customer
Information: Seats are assigned at the discretion of the Box Office and cannot be transferred to other people or performances. PLEASE NOTE: Lottery seats may be partial view.
2022 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
2023 | US Tour |
North American Tour US Tour |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
---|---|---|---|
2022 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Myles Frost |
2022 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Choreography | Christopher Wheeldon |
2022 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Tavon Olds-Sample |
2022 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Lighting Design for a Musical | Natasha Katz |
2022 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Orchestrations | Jason Michael Webb |
2022 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Sound Design for a Musical | Gareth Owen |
2022 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Wig and Hair | Charles G. LaPointe |
2022 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Awards | Myles Frost |
2022 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Direction of a Musical | Christopher Wheeldon |
2022 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Production of a Musical | MJ the Musical |
2022 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Myles Frost |
2022 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Choreography | Rich + Tone Talauega |
2022 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Choreography | Christopher Wheeldon |
2022 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Director of a Musical | Christopher Wheeldon |
2022 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Quentin Earl Darrington |
2022 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Lighting Design (Play or Musical) | Natasha Katz |
2022 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding New Broadway Musical | MJ the Musical |
2022 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Orchestrations | David Holcenberg |
2022 | Tony Awards | Best Book of a Musical | Lynn Nottage |
2022 | Tony Awards | Best Choreography | Christopher Wheeldon |
2022 | Tony Awards | Best Costume Design of a Musical | Paul Tazewell |
2022 | Tony Awards | Best Direction of a Musical | Christopher Wheeldon |
2022 | Tony Awards | Best Lighting Design of a Musical | Natasha Katz |
2022 | Tony Awards | Best Musical | MJ the Musical |
2022 | Tony Awards | Best Orchestrations | Jason Michael Webb |
2022 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical | Myles Frost |
2022 | Tony Awards | Best Scenic Design of a Musical | Derek McLane |
2022 | Tony Awards | Best Sound Design of a Musical | Gareth Owen |
2021 | Theatre World Awards | Theatre World Awards | Myles Frost |
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