MJ is a Jukebox Musical based on the life and career of Michael Jackson, with a book by Lynn Nottage.
The musical is set during the preparation for Jackson's Dangerous tour in 1992, where two reporters from MTV visit the rehearsal studio to talk to Jackson about his career.
The musical opened in New York City on February 1, 2022.
Tropes Associated With MJ Include:
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Acting for Two: The actor who plays Jackson's agent in the present also plays Jackson's father in flashbacks. - Anachronic Order: The musical jumps back and forth between its 1992 setting and various points in Jackson's past.
- Call-Forward: The musical sometimes uses rehearsals or Imagine Spots as a way of incorporating songs that weren't part of Jackson's repertoire in 1992.
- The Cover Changes the Meaning: "They Don't Care About Us" is repurposed from being a song about systemic abuse from government and police into a diatribe against the media for their treatment of Jackson.
- Imagine Spot: An elaborate, extended performance of Smooth Criminal is eventually revealed to be Jackson's pitch to his agents.
- Stage Mom: Joe Jackson, the most well-known of brutal stage parents.
- Time-Shifted Actor: Three different actors play Jackson at different ages during the show.
