It’s hard to pick just one moment in MJ – The Musical that defines its power. From the second the lights drop at Her Majesty’s Theatre, the energy in the room shifts. You’re not just watching a show, you’re stepping inside the mind of a creative force. This isn’t nostalgia. It’s not imitation. It’s an immersion into Michael Jackson’s artistry. The production doesn’t ask us to observe the man from a distance. It pulls us into the heart of his genius, where every beat, every silence, every step is intentional. What follows is a thrilling, layered journey that celebrates the brilliance, exposes the pressure, and reveals the cost of building greatness on a global scale.
Set during rehearsals for the 1992 Dangerous World Tour, the show is framed by an MTV documentary crew asking questions most of us would want answered. What shaped Michael’s perfectionism? What did it cost him? What was it like to be inside that storm of creativity, expectation, and global fame? Rather than offering a linear biography, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage opts for something more fragmented and fluid, flashbacks to childhood, dream-like sequences, moments in rehearsal, and confrontations with memory. It’s a structure that feels theatrical, not biographical. We’re not ticking off milestones, we’re sitting inside a mind that’s constantly in motion.
Ilario Grant delivers an extraordinary performance in the title role. He doesn’t just sing and dance like Michael, he captures the essence of his stillness, his rhythm, his hesitations, his quick-fire mind. His portrayal doesn’t lean into impersonation, but rather embodiment. He channels the internal battle, the pressure to be perfect, the weight of legacy, the ache of loneliness. It’s a layered, generous performance that anchors the entire show with quiet intensity. He’s beautifully supported by William Bonner as Little Michael and Liam Damons as Michael, each bringing their own nuance and spark to the role. From wide-eyed wonder to raw early ambition, they help paint a full picture of the man behind the myth, and the boy behind the brilliance.
The choreography, directed and staged by Tony Award-winner Christopher Wheeldon, is a masterclass in innovation and homage. Iconic Jackson moves are there, of course, but they’re reimagined with a dance vocabulary that feels fresh and theatrical. The ensemble is phenomenal. Their precision and stamina carry the show with breathtaking force, keeping the energy sky-high from start to finish. Smooth Criminal hits with pure adrenaline, They Don’t Care About Us delivers a wall of power, and Thriller explodes with all the spectacle and theatrical punch you could hope for. These moments don’t just showcase choreography, they unleash it. And it’s the ensemble who make them land with such impact.
The audience response was nothing short of electric. Throughout the show, spontaneous applause and more than one standing ovation erupted mid-performance. It wasn’t polite or expected. It was visceral. Goosebump-inducing. The kind of energy you can’t fake. The kind that confirms this isn’t just a musical. It’s a moment. One as unforgettable as the man it honours.
The design elements elevate the storytelling without ever overwhelming it. Derek McLane’s set design keeps us grounded in the rehearsal room, while Peter Nigrini’s projections stretch time and space with cinematic fluidity. Natasha Katz’s lighting is an emotional language all its own, shifting between vulnerability and triumph with pinpoint precision. Paul Tazewell’s costumes strike the perfect balance between stage fantasy and period authenticity, and with Charles G. LaPointe’s wigs and hair design, we’re seamlessly transported from early Motown to the height of 90s superstardom.
Behind the scenes, a global team of creatives deserves credit for keeping this machine running so smoothly. Wheeldon, of course, is at the helm, but the Australian team plays a vital role in delivering the show with precision. Resident Director Effie Nkrumah, along with Dance Supervisors Brendan Yeates and Elysha Manik, ensures the integrity and impact of the piece land night after night. The scale is massive, but the details are never lost.
The production doesn’t shy away from the cost of greatness. It explores the emotional toll of Michael’s childhood, the pressure of perfection, the isolation of fame, and his complex relationship with the press, but it does so with care. This is a story that honours the artist without ignoring the man. It acknowledges the pain without turning it into spectacle. We’re reminded that Michael Jackson wasn’t just a performer. He was an architect. Of sound, of image, of movement. Every detail mattered. That obsessive attention became both his genius and his burden. The show doesn’t try to answer every question or defend every controversy. The focus stays on the work. What it cost him. What it gave the world.
There are moments that stay with you. Not because they are flashy or loud, but because they carry meaning. They are intentional choices that give the music emotional weight. By the end of the show, the audience isn’t just clapping because they love the songs. They are clapping because they have been taken on a journey. One that feels just as much about artistry and storytelling as it does about entertainment.
MJ The Musical isn’t just about looking back. It’s about stepping inside the craft. More than a celebration of hits, it gives you access. To the process. To the pressure. To the magic. The world, it seems, is always watching. And somewhere in that tension, between performance and perfection, this production finds its heartbeat. Yes, it’s packed with iconic songs, spectacular choreography, and show-stopping moments. But what lingers long after the final bow is the portrait of a man trying to hold it all together in the eye of his own creative storm.
MJ The Musical is now playing in Melbourne at Her Majesty’s Theatre. For tickets and more information, visit mjthemusical.com.au.
