NEW YORK (AP) — The swanky new Broadway musical about Michael Jackson will take its lunar crossing across the United States next year.
“MJ”, filled with dozens of songs by the King of Pop and others, plans to tour 17 cities for two years starting on July 15, 2023 in Chicago, at the James M. Nederlander Theater.
“We are excited about Broadway's response to 'MJ', and we are already preparing to bring this exciting show to Chicago and across the United States,” co-producer Lia Vollack said in a statement. “Chicago is a premier theatrical and musical destination, and we are excited to be able to begin this journey in one of the most beautiful places in the Nederlander Organization.”
The next stops of the tour and the full cast will be announced at a later date. The tour will also include a two-week engagement previously revealed at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, from September 26 to October 8, 2023.
The musical includes most of Jackson's and Jackson 5's greatest hits, such as “ABC”, “Black or White”, “Blame it on the Boogie”, “Bad”, “Billie Jean”, “Off the Wall”, “Thriller” and “I'll Be There”.
The resource used to frame Jackson's life is a fictional MTV film crew that has received access to document the preparation of their 1992 “Dangerous” tour. Jackson travels back in time to explain his career and approach, showing his perfectionist side. The play, by playwright Lynn Nottage and director and choreographer Christopher Wheeldon, has been approved by the heirs of Michael Jackson, who died in 2009.
Broadway critics were divided over the musical; many were frustrated that it eluded allegations of sexual abuse that later haunted Jackson. But practically everyone agreed that the songs and dances were top notch, as was the leading actor, Myles Frost.
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Mark Kennedy is on Twitter at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits.