THE NEW MJ IS HERE TO SLAY!

The REALEMN team got a chance to check out the newly cast Elijah Rhea Johnson as Michael Jackson in MJ the Musical this past week, and let us tell you, the new MJ is here to SLAY!

Taking over the reigns for Tony Award-winning, Myles Frost, who starred in the titular role, Elijah Rhea Johnson puts on that iconic MJ glove and fits it well!

Since opening over a year ago, MJ the Musical has been a Broadway box-office hit and continues to bring audiences from all shades and backgrounds, reminiscent of the King of Pop himself.

The musical, written by Tony Award nominee, Lynn Nottage unveils Michael’s complicated history while still feeling like a nonstop concert of bops as it’s filled with some of the legends’ greatest hits! Musical Director, Jason Michael Webb (who is still kicking it in the band on stage! We see you!) honors the legacy of the music while seamlessly piecing it all together in this two-hour and 30-minute tour de force production.

The choreography originated by Tony Award-winning director/choreographer Christopher Wheeldon is still as sharp as ever, with the actors bringing their own flair and personality to it while still giving that MJ oomph and aesthetic! The costumes by Paul Tazewell are still as clean and on point as they were when the show opened and befitting the life and times in which the musical is set. We were here for the nostalgia and throwback feel of it all, okay?!

While Elijah Rhea Johnson is the newcomer on the block, (along with many others who’ve joined the MJ Musical fam since it opened) we were so happy to see a few OG’s still dipping and doing it in the musical! Shout-outs go to Lamont Walker II still in the role as Jermaine Jackson (and others), Apollo Levine still on the scene as Rob /Joseph Jackson, Ayana Jackson as Kate/ Katherine Jackson, and Whitney Bashor still on as Rachel, just to name a few of those still currently in MJ since it’s Broadway opening!

For those who have not yet got a chance to see this Tony Award-winning, box office hit, there is still plenty of reason and plenty of time to get you a ticket and witness the JAM! And if you have already seen it, go see it again, and Don’t Stop til’ you get enough, okay?! :D You heard it from us friends, whether you must moonwalk or run, go and see this show, y’all!