Abstract: In this month’s column, Kerry Hennigan reflects on the current and forthcoming official projects from the Michael Jackson Estate, namely MJ: the Musical and the forthcoming biographical movie Michael. In considering the concerns of some fans, Kerry looks back on the Estate’s collaboration with Cirque du Soleil, and on the potential for all such projects to enhance Michael’s entertainment legacy.
Column by Kerry Hennigan, editor of the free monthly newsletter A Candle for Michael, administrator of the fan group “Michael Jackson’s Short Film Ghosts” on Facebook, and an MJ blogger on WordPress. Kerry is a life-long student, has Certificates in the Archaeology of the Ancient World and the Archaeology of Ancient Britain from Cambridge University in the UK and is currently focused on the Viking Age and the Silk Roads.
REFERENCE AS:
Hennigan, Kerry. “MJ Studies Today CVIII: ‘Magic, wonderment and creativity.’ Stage and Screen adaptations of the life and career of Michael Jackson.” (14-12-2024). The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies Vol 11, No. 2 (2024). https://sya.rqu.mybluehost.me/website_94cbf058/mj-studies-today-cviii/
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“Magic, wonderment and creativity.” Stage and Screen adaptations of the life and career of Michael Jackson.
By Kerry Hennigan
Photo montage © Kerry Hennigan
December is the time of year when many of us look back at events of the past 12 months. This being MJ Studies Today for the Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies, our focus is on projects that relate to Michael Jackson and his artistic legacy. At present, in terms of official projects originating from his Estate, that means the live stage show MJ: the Musical and the forthcoming biopic movie Michael.
MJ: the Musical, has proven to be a major winner, with the original Broadway production continuing to play at the Neil Simon Theatre in New York, where it first opened for preview performances back in December 2021. If we think back on the delays that occurred due to a strike and then the COVID pandemic, and the concerns on how a show about Michael Jackson would be received in the wake of the Leaving Neverland fabrications, clearly MJ: the Musical has overcome some daunting obstacles. In its first year it won four Tony Awards – the New York theatre industry’s equivalent of the Oscars. One of these was for the principal performer, Myles Frost, who made his Broadway debut in the show and subsequently became the youngest solo recipient of the Tony for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical. [1]
For anyone unfamiliar with the competitive world of live theatre generally, it is difficult to appreciate how rarely a new show succeeds to the extent of MJ, which celebrated its 1000th Broadway performance in mid-2024 and has repeatedly broken the box office record for the Neil Simon Theatre. More importantly, it has passed the highest acid test possible by pleasing many of Michael’s diehard fans, some having seen it multiple times.
Having succeeded on Broadway, arguably the toughest theatrical environment in which to premiere a production, MJ subsequently spawned a national (North American) tour which opened in Chicago in July 2023 and is still adding dates and cities to its open ended schedule. In her review published by Broadway World, Emily Schenk declared, “This was by far the best show of 2024 for me, and I would recommend this cast, especially for their lead performers and the energetic ensemble that created such a fun show.” [2]
A UK production in London’s West End, with Myles Frost once again starring, opened March 2024 and has already scored tree British Black Theatre Awards and has since been shortlisted for three WhatsOnStage awards which are nominated and voted on by the theatre-going public.[3] A German production of the show, called MJ: Das Michael Jackson Musical, opened this month (December 2024) at the Stage Theatre an der Elbe in Hamburg, with German dialogue, but the original English language songs. A fourth production will open in Sydney, Australia, in February 2025.
From the live theatre stage we now go to the big cinema screen and the forthcoming Michael Jackson biopic, simply called Michael, set to premiere in October 2025. Even before Bohemian Rhapsody (2018), the Freddie Mercury and Queen biopic, had achieved critical and box office (and Academy Awards) success, questions had been asked within the MJ fan community as to whether or not there should be a Michael Jackson biopic, and if so, what aspects of his life would it cover, and, crucially, who could “convincingly” play Michael?
While such a project had been gestating for quite a while within the minds of the Estate’s creatives, it was not until November 2019 that an announcement was made that a biographical film about Michael Jackson would be produced by Graham King OBE who produced Bohemian Rhapsody.[4] Early in 2023, Antoine Fuqua was announced as the director, but the big question remained as to who could convincingly play the lead.
Finally, it was revealed that Michael’s nephew Jaafar, son of Jermaine Jackson, had been cast as Michael. There were both cheers and fears at this news. Few of us had any insight into Jaafar’s skills as a singer or dancer, although these are obviously not a rarity in the Jackson family. And we certainly didn’t know whether he could act! Some (but not all) these concerns were allayed when some paparazzi photos of Jaafar on set as Michael began to appear on social media.
Topping these glimpses on location was an official “first look” image of Jaafar on stage as his uncle from the Dangerous world tour. This image, which has appeared in many online publications, was taken by Kevin Mazur who had photographed the real Michael Jackson throughout his career including at his “This Is It” rehearsals in 2009. [5]
According to Mazur, “When I walked onto the set, I felt like I’d gone back in time and I was walking into the stadium to shoot the tour. Seeing Jaafar perform, I thought, ‘Wow, it is Michael.’ The way he looks and acts, his mannerisms, everything – he’s Michael Jackson…For anyone who didn’t have the chance to see Michael perform live during his lifetime – this is how it was.” [6]
Like MJ: the Musical, the Michael biopic is another we have to take on trust until we have the opportunity to see it for ourselves. I remind myself how I anticipated the first Cirque du Soleil MJ show, Michael Jackson the Immortal World Tour (2011-2014) with some trepidation (despite having already happily immersed myself in Cirque culture). I eventually saw Immortal in five cities around the world, multiple times in each of them, until it finally came to my own hometown in Australia. [7] In my eyes, it was undoubtedly a winner, as was the second show to result from the Estate/Cirque collaboration: Michael Jackson ONE, which opened in June 2013 as a resident show at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. [8] [9] This production celebrated its 10th anniversary last year and recently had its contract extended to 2030. [10]
No matter how successful, entertaining, or award-winning these projects may be, none can compensate for the absence of the real Michael Jackson. They are not meant to, instead they are reminders of how unique he was and what adversities he had to overcome in creating his art and fulfilling his dreams. Michael was a one off – an irreplaceable individual of whom even the most adept actors/performers or tribute artists can only achieve an impression. What matters is doing justice to Michael’s legacy and artistic integrity, prompting audience members who are not already committed fans to seek out Michael’s own recordings and short films. The degree to which they achieve this is the real measure of their success.
“Out of the bliss comes magic, wonderment, and creativity.”
– Michael Jackson (on the inspiration for “Speechless.”) [11]
Kerry Hennigan
14 December 2024
Sources:
[1] Tony Awards. Winners 2022. https://www.tonyawards.com/winners/year/2022/category/any/show/any/
[2] Schenk, Emily. “Review. MJ the Musical at The Fisher.” Broadway World, 1 Nov 2024. https://www.broadwayworld.com/michigan/article/Review-MJ-THE-MUSICAL-at-The-Fisher-20241101
[3] WhatsOnStage Awards. “25th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards.” https://awards.whatsonstage.com/thank-you-for-voting-heres-how-you-can-help-make-sure-your-favourites-win/
[4] Donnelly, Matt. “Michael Jackson Music Biopic in the Works from ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ Producer.” Variety, 22 Nov 2019. https://variety.com/2019/film/news/michael-jackson-music-biopic-in-the-works-from-bohemian-rhapsody-producer-1203413480/
[5] Moreau, Jordan. “Michael Jackson’s Nephew Recreates the King of Pop’s Iconic Dangerous Tour in ‘Michael’ Biopic First Look.” Variety, 13 Feb 2024. https://variety.com/2024/film/news/michael-jackson-movie-first-look-1235909338/
[6] Leib, Mason. “Jaafar Jackson recreates uncle’s look in first look at Michael Jackson biopic.” ABC News, 14 Feb 2024. https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/jaafar-jackson-recreates-uncles-michael-jackson-biopic/story?id=107195787
[7] Hennigan, Kerry. “Michael Jackson the Immortal World Tour by Cirque du Soleil – Las Vegas, 3, 4 and 7 December 2011.” WordPress, 12 Nov 2021. https://kerryhennigan.wordpress.com/2021/11/12/michael-jackson-the-immortal-world-tour-by-cirque-du-soleil-las-vegas-3-4-and-7-december-2011/
[8] Hennigan, Kerry. “Review: MJ ONE. Michael is The One. Las Vegas, June 2013” WordPress, 12 Nov 2021. https://kerryhennigan.wordpress.com/2020/11/21/review-mj-one-michael-is-the-one-june-2013/
[9] Hennigan, Kerry. “MJ Studies Today LXXI: ‘Keep on with the force’: Michael Jackson’s legacy on tour and in residence via Cirque du Soleil.” (14-11-2021). The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies 8, No. 2 (2021). https://sya.rqu.mybluehost.me/website_94cbf058/mj-studies-today-lxxi/
[10] Wright, Jarah. “Michael Jackson ONE adds drones and new act to show, contract extended through 2030.” KTNV News. 11 Dec 2024. https://www.ktnv.com/news/michael-jackson-one-adds-drones-and-new-act-to-show-contract-extended-through-2030#google_vignette
[11] MichaelJackson.com. “The Writing Process for MJ’s Speechless.” 20 Mar 2018. https://www.michaeljackson.com/au/news/writing-process-mjs-speechless/
Illustration: Photo montage “stage and screen…” compiled by Kerry Hennigan. No infringement of photographic copyright is intended in this not for profit, educational exercise.