MJ the Musical: A Thriller from Start to Finish

As we shimmied out of the Prince Edward Theatre**, dizzy with elation, my guests and I learned that we had just watched MJ the Musical on the anniversary of Michael Jackson’s death. Goosebumps. The whole evening had felt otherworldly: uncanny likenesses, spine-tingling performances, waves upon waves of nostalgia flooding us from top to toe. 

MJ the Musical focuses on the run up to the Dangerous album tour, an ambitious project that appears to be spiralling out of control. We see Michael in rehearsal, a Virgo to the core, demanding perfection not just from his troupe but from himself. The story flashes back in time, pinning Michael’s exacting standards on childhood trauma. It’s painful to see little Michael desperately trying to please his dad: the tyrannical figure that everybody (including his son) calls Joseph. 

The abuse that Michael suffered at the hands of his father has been well documented and it’s a central part of the narrative here. It plays out in the music, most notably in a stunning rendition of Michael’s best known song (no spoilers, but it is truly thrilling). Joseph’s influence is most devastatingly evident in the series of events that led to Michael’s (eventually fatal) addiction to painkillers.  

MJ the Musical is an emotional ride but we’re never weighed down by Michael’s struggles because there is so much joy in this production. By setting the production in 1992 before those allegations gained steam and long before his untimely demise, it gives fans a space to park our grief (and grievances) at the door. To relish in the magic and the artistry of pop music’s greatest showman. And what a show.

Before the lights went down, the ushers advised us to switch off our mobiles and to wait until the end if we wanted to dance. Not possible, sorry, I was dancing in my seat from start to finish (blame it on the boogie). In fact, if I had one criticism it’s that our audience was too reserved. I’d love to see this somewhere like the Apollo Theatre in Harlem where the crowd would match the energy on stage and we could burn that roof down.

While Thriller Live was like a concert/tribute show, MJ the Musical is a jukebox musical with big numbers and a narrative thread. It beautifully explores Michael’s creative process and his many influences from Fred Astaire and Bob Fosse to the Nicholas Brothers. There are several Michaels at different stages, each adding their own sauce to the mix. I was impressed by Zayne Tayabali as young Michael of The Jackson 5 whose sweet face and vocal talent had us whooping for more. The Quincy Jones era Michael (Mitchell Zhangazha) got the honeyed vocals and idiosyncratic moves down to a tee, breezing through hits like Wanna Be Starting Something. 

But it’s main guy Jamaal Fields-Green who carries the show, pulling off Michael’s speaking voice, his laugh, his gestures, his singing register and his dance steps with such fluidity and eerie precision that at times we forgot we weren’t actually watching the man himself. He is an exceptional talent and I thought he would also make a brilliant Prince (perhaps he could do a one-man show and give us that Michael Jackson and Prince duet so many wanted back in the day).

Matt Mills is excellent in dual roles as Michael’s producer and Joseph, switching seamlessly from calm and deferential to menacing and domineering. I could listen to Koko Alexandra (who plays Katherine) sing all day. I also loved the voice of Philippa Stefani who acts as the MTV filmmaker documenting the Dangerous tour and getting an inside scoop on some of Michael’s personal demons.

Special applause goes to the entire production team from the costumes, lighting and stage designers to the dancers and especially to Pulitzer Prize winning writer Lynn Nottage (book), David Holcenberg and Jason Michael Webb (music supervision, orchestrations and arrangements), and Christopher Wheeldon (director/choreographer). The choreography is breathtaking and I really don’t know how we all stayed in our seats until the end. Thankfully the finale gives everyone a chance to get up on their feet and groove, with an extra ovation for the incredible live band. 

MJ the Musical is an electrifying night out in the company of a legend whose life story was thorny but whose musical legacy blooms forever.

MJ the Musical is at the Prince Edward Theatre, Old Compton St, W1D 4HS (Leicester Square tube). Recommended for ages 8+ (under 4s not admitted). 7.30pm (Mon-Sat) & 2.30pm (Thu & Sat); from £34 (extended until Mar 2026)

**press review, thanks to Official London Theatre for the tickets