The fact that Michael Jackson was unmatched as an entertainer becomes even more apparent when watching performers attempt to capture his talent, skill and energy. Only one person to date — Jaafar Jackson in Antoine Fuqua’s biopic Michael — has truly come close. And he shares 25 percent of the late superstar’s DNA.
Jaafar’s portrayal of his uncle during the eras between Off the Wall and the beginning of Bad set a bar so high that no one else can realistically reach it. Because Jackson was such a master, audiences extend a certain grace to anyone who steps into the role. They understand the extreme difficulty — and the nerve — required to attempt it live onstage.
That reality hangs over MJ the Musical, which returned to the Fabulous Fox Theatre on Tuesday evening amid a fresh wave of “Michael-mania” sparked by the release of Fuqua’s blockbuster film. The production runs through May 24, and even casual fans — if such a thing exists — will appreciate the show’s production value, storyline and music.
MJ the Musical premiered on Broadway in 2022, built around Jackson’s 1992 Dangerous World Tour rehearsals. With a book by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage and direction/choreography by Tony Award winner Christopher Wheeldon, the show was designed not as a cradle-to-grave biopic but as a jukebox-style exploration of Jackson’s artistry, work ethic and creative process. It went on to win four Tony Awards, including Best Actor for Myles Frost.
The touring production brings that same framework to St. Louis — a non-linear narrative that uses Jackson’s catalog as a guide through his childhood, rise to superstardom and the pressures that shaped him.
Jordan Markus had some tough loafers to fill in his debut touring performance as Michael Jackson. This is true in both as the musical’s namesake and as the successor to Roman Banks, whose 2024 Fox Theatre performance was widely praised.
Markus delivers a solid showing, particularly in his dancing. And between the three performers who portray Jackson at different stages of his life, audiences get the full spectrum of what the late entertainer brought to the world.
The show opens as Jackson prepares to embark on the European leg of the Dangerous tour. Through flashbacks, the audience is carried from his origins as a pint-sized prodigy leading the Jackson 5 to the height of his solo career. The jukebox format allows fans to sing, sway and relive the soundtrack of a generation.
Much like the child he portrays, Eric Wiltz has an intuitiveness with his instrument that is awe-inspiring. His use of harmony — especially during his duet with Rajane Katurah as Katherine Jackson — is one of the production’s most striking moments.
Brandon Lee Harris, who plays Jackson in his Off the Wall era, has the vocals down pat. Onstage, he serves as a reminder of the global star’s pure singing ability — something often overshadowed by the spectacle of Jackson’s performances.
Meanwhile, Markus has the moves. His physicality anchors the show’s later eras, capturing the precision and musicality that defined Jackson’s choreography.
The two-and-a-half-hour playlist of Jackson’s timeless hits is framed by Nottage’s non-linear script. MJ the Musical manages to squeeze in more than 40 songs without making the show feel cumbersome — or forcing fans to endure a fragmented story just to accommodate the music.
The curation and Nottage’s storytelling create an even-keeled production that doesn’t feel thrown together simply to make room for the singing and dancing.
Much like the film, MJ the Musical is a fan pleaser. The audience responded with such enthusiasm that applause routinely forced the cast to pause between numbers. And the standing ovation lasted nearly as long as the show’s finale medley.
MJ the Musical continues through May 24 at the Fabulous Fox. For tickets and additional information, visit fabulousfox.com.