By skyforbes 
When & Where
- Date: 16 October 2025
- Theatre: Neil Simon Theatre (about 1,445 seats)
- Seat / Price: Orchestra, Row Z, Seat 108 — $110.75
- My runtime that day: 1:00pm–3:40pm (about 2h 40m)
- Official runtime is 2h 30m including a 15-minute interval.
Why it surprised me
I know Michael Jackson’s music and I’ve heard the hits, but I didn’t go in with high expectations. Friends told me it was “amazing”; I assumed they were big MJ fans.
I was wrong. The show hit me hard — in a good way. It reminded me that theatre can bend reality and make space for dreams.
Good Points
1) More than one “Michael”
The story moves from childhood to the 1992 Dangerous World Tour rehearsals, so multiple actors play Michael at different ages (Little Michael / young Michael / adult MJ). That choice raises the bar: the title role must stay electric, and the other “Michaels” have to match his fire. The result is sharper focus and bigger energy.
2) Ensemble power and height
The ensemble looked tall, fast, and versatile — not just jazz or ballet or hip-hop, but all three with control. Putting a compact “MJ” at the centre of taller dancers also frames him well. The group numbers land with real force.
3) A dream made real
Late in the show, the younger and present-day Michael share the stage. It’s a simple stage idea with a big emotional kick: the artist you were and the artist you are, meeting in the same moment. I left wanting to keep moving forward.
Afterthought
You can feel the respect the company has for Jackson’s craft. That respect fuels discipline and joy, and it shows. If I’m ever stuck, this is a show I’d see again to get my compass back.
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Learn more about MJ The Musical (Broadway) — My Review