As the audience takes their seats, the cast of dancers and musicians arrive on stage, ready to rehearse for Michael Jackson’s 1992 Dangerous tour.

MJ enters the room, and immediately, his passion, determination, and incredible skills take center stage.  But this account of the artist shows a kind side of the King of Pop. He works with his back-up crew, challenging them to give their best, showing them how they can improve, and constantly telling them he loves them.

Written by two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning Lynn Nottage, MJ the Musical revolves around the lead-up to Jackson’s Dangerous world tour, a international spectacle that travelled to Europe, Asia, and Latin America when he is already a phenomenal success. This is the first musical Nottage has written and she cleverly incorporates a fictional behind-the-scenes interview with MTV, as a platform to explore different facets of Michael’s life.

The four-time Tony Award-winning musical is a celebration of the musical genius and explores Jackson’s creative process. A part bio-musical, the show takes audiences back to Jackson’s early child star years, revisiting his discovery as part of The Jackson 5. It delves into his personal life, in particular childhood and family life, and reveals his introspective side, as well as the frustration experienced when his musical talents were overlooked because of the colour of his skin, as he declares, “I’m going to tear the white walls down.”

The challenge in casting a show like this, or Elvis, is the pressure to play the role of a musical legend. Three actors take on the role of Michael Jackson: William Bonneras young Michael, Liam Damons as the 1980s artist, and Roman Banks as adult MJ. Each a triple threat, delivering talented performance, with Banks in particular capturing Jackson’s signature moonwalk and soft vocal style with remarkable precision.

Derrick Davis deserves special recognition for his dual role as Jackson’s domineering father and his supportive tour manager, Rob. Effortlessly shifting between these two contrasting personas, Davis masterfully portrays the complexity of Jackson’s relationship with his father — a central theme in the production. This dynamic is strikingly emphasised in “Thriller,” where his father is symbolically depicted as the monster before the song explodes into its iconic choreography. With 25 of Jackson’s greatest hits featured, “Thriller” had the audience on their feet, clapping and cheering.

Directed and choreographed by multi-award-winning Christopher Wheeldon OBE, a highly acclaimed ballet choreographer (read his work with the Australian Ballet Oscar and Alice’s Adventure’s in Wonderland), this is his first foray outside of the ballet world and as he notes, his comfort zone. He brought in Rich and Tone Talauga as MJ choreography consultants, a duo discovered by Jackson and who danced with him on the HIStory tour, bringing authenticity to the moves throughout the performance. The musical also embraces the dance hero’s that influenced Jackson: Fred Astaire, Bob Fosse, and the Nicholas Brothers.

The show’s standout performances include electrifying renditions of “Thriller”, “Billie Jean” and “Smooth Criminal.” However, it’s the stripped-down, acoustic version of “The Way You Make Me Feel” and the emotionally charged “Man in the Mirror” that offer an intimate glimpse into his vulnerability and inner turmoil, along with the tender love he shared with his mother (played by Josslynn Afoa), as she sings “I’ll Be There” (one of his early Jackson 5 songs).

Derek McLane’s stage design is a visual triumph, from the simple opening screen adorned with the names of Jackson’s inspirations to the elaborate set pieces that elevate the larger numbers. Costume designer Paul Tazewell brings Jackson’s iconic style to life, with audience gasps of delight as Banks dons the legendary glittery jacket, gloves, and top hat. Meanwhile, Natasha Katz’s lighting design seamlessly transforms the stage, pulsing with the music for the club scenes and transitioning to a neon-red glow for “Smooth Criminal”, with the New York skyline providing a dramatic background.

Despite its explosive energy, the show carries an underlying sadness, reflecting the immense pressure Jackson placed on himself. His childlike nature, the scrutiny of the media, and the toll of fame are all explored. A particularly powerful scene features journalists bombarding him with relentless questions while newspaper headlines flash across a shattered mirror in the background, leading into haunting performances of “They Don’t Care About Us” and “Heal the World.” Echoing Jackson’s belief that his music should speak for itself.

The show touches on the troubled moments in his life, his struggles with painkillers, the barage of questions about his skin and changing face. And covers areas that were less known, the self-imposed financial burdens of the Dangerous tour, as Michael continuously added extra elements to make the show even more spectacular. However, the musical avoids the sexual abuse allegations (which he denied and were never proven) that were later made against Jackson by choosing to focus on the Dangerous tour period.

Brought to Australia by leading producer Michael Cassel, alongside original Broadway producers Lia Vollack, John Branca, and John McClain, MJ is portrayed as a musical prodigy with an adventurous and innovative approach to his music.

It was a welcome sense of relief when at the end of the show, the audience was encouraged to stand up, dance and sing, just like I’d been wanting to the entire show! And the audience loved it, with three standing ovations (on the night I attended) throughout the production.

MJ the Musical invites audiences to revel in the music of a true icon. Michael Jackson fans will adore it, and those who simply appreciate great music will find joy in experiencing his timeless hits once again.

5 stars. 

Running time is approx. 2 hours and 48 minutes, including intermission.

MJ the Musical is playing now at Sydney Lyric Theatre, until 23 August 2025, before continuing on to Her Majesty Theatre, Melbourne. For tickets visit MJ the Musical