Laura and Samara spend their days as non-profit unicorns and fill every spare minute exploring the world of musical theatre as BFFs (that’s Broadway Friends Forever). Follow @bffs613 on X, Instagram and Facebook.
MJ is startin’ somethin’ at the National Arts Centre. The four-time Tony Award-winning musical, including Best Choreography, brings Michael Jackson’s music and unforgettable moves to the stage thanks to Broadway Across Canada’s national tour.
Centred around the making of the Dangerous World Tour, we follow the rehearsals as Jackson struggles to find the right pieces to make his biggest tour yet, perfect. Flashing back and forth between the rehearsal studio in 1992 and Jackson’s childhood and early career, his hit songs intertwine the story together between the past and present. Sharing insight into his artistry and the immense pressure and public spotlight on him and his family since skyrocketing to fame as a child.
Photo by Matthew Murphy
With such a vast catalogue of music to cover, the production manages to get in 40+ songs through everything from snippets and medleys to full-on productions that rival even his most famous music videos. The cast talent is immeasurable, taking on iconic dance moves and vocals and keeping the energy throughout the fast-paced and demanding show so that the audience can’t help but tap their toes and bop their heads in their seats.
It may come as no surprise that the production’s standout is the choreography and dancing. In many moments throughout the show, audible awe was heard from the audience at the movement happening on stage. With dozens of large dance numbers and iconic moves, the energy of Jackson is encompassed brilliantly and the Tony win is well earned. Jordan Markus as Michael Jackson was bang on in his moves, but the entire ensemble really made all those big dance numbers wow the audience.
Photo by Matthew Murphy
The show’s scenic and story design was well crafted – blending flashbacks and current story seamlessly – sometimes with a simple lighting cue or tilt of a hat, sometimes with full transitions and set pieces changing quickly to bring the audience to a new space. Actors did fantastic jobs of flipping between playing multiple characters in the same scene – at times with a costume change, but others with just a different inflection in their voice or a change in the way they walk.
Even the biggest fans of the King of Pop will take something new from this story and new context given to classic songs. Tickets are almost sold out for its Ottawa run, but if you manage to snag a seat, you will get a chance to peek behind the curtain and hear your favourite MJ songs come to life.
Broadway Across Canada’s presentation of MJ takes place until January 5 with 7:30 pm evening performances from Wednesday to Saturday and 6:30 pm on Sunday. Matinee performances are at 1 pm on Saturday and Sunday. MJ runs for 2 hours and 30 minutes with intermission.
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