‘MJ The Musical’ in Honour of Micheal Jackson opens in New York

The event, which is based on the late Michael Jackson’s life and art, has three performers portraying the King of Pop at various stages in his life.

Many of Jackson’s biggest singles are featured, as well as his musical and personal influences.

“MJ The Musical” premiered on Broadway in New York on Tuesday night (1 FEB.) after many delays, including the pandemic.

The musical goes beyond the star’s singular moves and signature sound, offering a rare look at the creative mind and collaborative spirit that catapulted Jackson into legendary status.

It was created by Tony Award-winning Director/Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage and is based on the making of his 1992 Dangerous World Tour.

In 2005, Jackson was found not guilty of child molestation accusations. Two men who claimed Jackson sexually molested them as minors had their lawsuit dismissed by a California judge. In the HBO documentary “Leaving Neverland,” the two men revealed their charges.

However, Jackson family vehemently disputed that he molested either of the boys and has filed a lawsuit against HBO.

Lynn Nottage, a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, said she explored all aspects of Jackson’s life while writing “MJ,” but was more concerned with the art than with the controversy.

“One of the things that I do as an artist to sustain the complexity is that all of us as individuals exist in, you know, in that gray area. And I think that you know, telling the story about Michael Jackson, we really have to sort of embrace the full complexity of who he was, and that’s one of the things I think makes it art.”

– Lynn Nottage, a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright.

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Prince and Paris Jackson, Michael Jackson’s son and daughter, were in attendance. Some of Jackson’s friends were as well, including the Reverend Al Sharpton, who revealed what the singer was like behind closed doors.

“He was a very serious, quiet guy in private. He took his music seriously and always said, ‘Rev. how did that go? How did that show go?’ Every show he wanted to be perfect. He was a perfectionist. He was always wanting to please the public. And he was a very quiet guy and proud,”

– Reverend Al Sharpton

When asked about Michael Jackson’s tumultuous legacy, Sharpton returned to the music. Director Spike Lee, on the other hand, did not shy away from discussing Jackson’s difficult personal history, but stated it was not his place to tell people how or what to think.

“That is everybody’s individual choice to who they listen to, who they don’t. You know, I’m not going to say you can’t see that person, this person. Everybody has to make their own individual choice based upon ethics, morals, whatever it takes. So, I don’t want to get into that whole cancel thing, but I’m here tonight so that that tells you where I’m at”

– Director Spike Lee

Get the tickets here

Source: News Agencies