Get ready to moonwalk into the magic of MJ the Musical before its run at the Prince Edward Theatre ends in 2026. The internationally acclaimed musical features Michael Jackson's unforgettable hits and focuses its story on the making of the 1992 Dangerous World Tour. We dive into three reasons why you shouldn't miss your opportunity to experience this jukebox musical in the West End!
The cast of MJ The Musical. Photo by Matthew Murphy
1. The unbelievably talented cast
From the very first beat to the final bow, MJ The Musical is a showcase of extraordinary talent that is delivered by a cast that never misses a step. The performers don’t just act, sing and dance, they do all three at a genuinely jaw-dropping level. Jamaal Fields-Green leads the show with a mesmerising performance as MJ. He channels the voice, physicality and swagger with emotional complexity and remarkable precision, capturing the star’s charisma and vulnerability in equal measure. There is no sign of mockery or imitation; what we have here is a fully embodied, deeply nuanced portrayal that anchors the entire production. The ensemble around him is just as impressive. Every dancer, singer, and musician on that stage brings full commitment and stunning technique. They revive Jackson’s iconic choreography with reverence and reimagine it with new and urgent impressions. The moves are so sharp, the energy so electric, that you’ll find yourself wondering how on earth they do this night after night. Few performers on any stage could pull off what this cast does and not just once, but eight times a week. Quite simply, watching this cast in action is reason enough to see the show.
2. It’s more than the music
A line from the show stays with me: ‘a mixtape of your life, but the music is the stars’. MJ’s records sell themselves and I’m sure I don’t need to convince you of the power of hearing them live. However, what MJ The Musical does so brilliantly is reimagine these iconic tracks through the lens of his life. The cast doesn’t just sing the songs - they live them. Their performances radiate musicality and emotion, breathing new meaning into the music. Even Thriller is reborn as a darker, more psychological piece, offering a fresh perspective on a familiar classic. Yes, the soundtrack is packed with hits, but the show doesn’t rely on nostalgia. Instead, it uses the music to tell a deeper story about creativity, pressure and the high cost of fame. Through three versions of Michael and a framing device set during rehearsals for the 1992 Dangerous tour, the show weaves flashbacks, interviews and movement into a complex portrait of the man behind the myth.
3. It shows the man, not just the icon
Some might worry that MJ The Musical risks becoming just a veneration of Michael Jackson, but it never feels that way. Rather than idolising him, the show embraces his complexity by spotlighting both his brilliance and his battles. The result is a production that’s as compelling as it is honest. Jackson becomes a powerful metaphor for fame itself: the dazzling allure and the inevitable shadows it casts and the darkness it often conceals. We think we know him because his life has been dissected and mythologised for decades but this show reminds us that behind the icon was a man. In 1992, as he prepared for the record-breaking ‘Dangerous’ tour, Jackson stood at the peak of global fame, pushing for a vision so ambitious he mortgaged his beloved Neverland to make it happen. Beneath the spectacle was someone under immense and unrelenting pressure. The musical hints at his struggles with addiction, perfectionism and the voracious scrutiny of the media, all while capturing his intense drive and vulnerability. It doesn’t shy away from the toll fame took on him but it also doesn’t reduce him to a victim or a legend. Instead, it offers a nuanced portrayal: not just the ‘King of Pop’, but a complex artist wrestling with impossible expectations.
Set at a pivotal moment in his career, MJ The Musical invites the audience to step inside the reality of a man living under a spotlight unlike any other. It doesn’t present a flawless hero but it presents a human being. That’s part of what makes it so powerful.
MJ The Musical plays at the Prince Edward Theatre until 28 February 2026.
