MJ The Musical at the Keller Auditorium

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Okay. Let’s talk about MJ the Musical — because I walked into the Keller Auditorium expecting a fun, high-energy tribute to the King of Pop, and instead walked out feeling like I’d just been emotionally body-slammed in the most beautiful way. This show was not just good. Not just nostalgic. It was absolutely unreal.

This show isn’t a concert tribute like I had originally thought. It’s a story centered around the final days of rehearsal for Michael Jackson’s 1992 Dangerous World Tour. Through that frame, the audience is pulled into a blend of real-time tension and deep flashbacks, offering a rare, human look at the artist behind the legacy.

We see the child who became a star before he ever had a chance to just be a kid. The teen trying to navigate fame under his father’s unforgiving eye. The adult fighting to keep creating while the pressure of perfection, the weight of expectation, and a relentless media storm threatened to crush him.

The storytelling is perfectly timed, emotional, and layered. It never feels gimmicky. And the cast? Beyond phenomenal. Jordan Markus, playing adult MJ, carried the entire show with such precision and emotional depth that you could hear gasps from the crowd. He didn’t just imitate Michael — he became him. My husband and I couldn’t believe Broadway found someone who so wholly encompassed him- physically, vocally, and the way he moved while dancing or just the smallest mannerisms- it’s like we were taken back in time. We ALSO couldn’t believe this was Jordan’s Broadway debut show, he carries himself as someone who has graced Broadway with his talent for a decade.

I especially loved the scenes where adult Michael shared the stage with his younger selves — stepping into childhood memories, singing alongside his mother in a powerful duet, and even confronting the pain of his father’s harshness by witnessing it through his younger eyes. It added a whole new layer of sadness and heartbreak, highlighting just how much of his childhood was lost, and just how deeply he spent the rest of his life trying to reclaim it.

The younger versions of Michael were equally impressive, with voices and presence that held the room completely still during some of the show’s most powerful moments. The scenes with the Jackson 5 added so much context and heart — especially for the younger audience who didn’t grow up watching Soul Train or obsessing over 70s vinyls. They brought history to life and made it feel personal. They showed the joy and brilliance, but also the cost in the end. And the dynamic with Joe Jackson was… heavy. As it should be.ww

Supporting characters like MJ’s manager, his creative team, and the journalist following him throughout rehearsals all helped shape the emotional depth of the show and expose the deep anxiety, and trauma Michael Jackson worked through during his career. I especially appreciated Rachel, the journalist, who challenged MJ in a way that allowed real vulnerability to surface without ever feeling forced.

And the music — of course the music was incredible. “Smooth Criminal” was pure technical perfection. “Thriller” was an event all on its own. The entire theater shifted during that number. And “They Don’t Care About Us” was so charged, so haunting, it left the room buzzing.

But it wasn’t just the big hits that landed. Even the quieter numbers (ones that don’t get the radio play) were delivered with such care and intention. The live band was exceptional. The ensemble was powerful, clean, and present in every moment. Every piece of the production worked in sync — from choreography and lighting to sound and staging.

This show doesn’t shy away from the harder parts of Michael’s story — the pain, the anxiety, the relentless pursuit of something greater. It holds those truths up alongside the brilliance of his work. And it never forgets to honor the heart behind it all.

If MJ the Musical comes anywhere near you, go. Whether you grew up on Michael Jackson or only know the big hits, this show will leave an impression. It’s not just about music. It’s about the legacy, the pressure, the wonder, and everything in between.

Ticket & Show Info:

Tickets can be purchased HERE.

Tuesday, July 15th @ 7:30pm
Wednesday, July 16th @ 7:30pm
Thursday, July 17th @ 7:30pm – American Sign Language Interpreted
Friday, July 18th @ 7:30pm – Audio Description
Saturday, July 19th @ 2:00pm and 7:30pm
Sunday, July 20th @ 1:00pm and 6:30pm – Open Caption

PORTLAND, OR ~ Producers Lia Vollack, John Branca, John McClain and Broadway in Portlandare thrilled to announce that the multiple Tony Award®-winning musical MJ makes its Portland premiere at Keller Auditorium from July 15-20.

Tickets are available on-line at www.BroadwayinPortland.com. 

Jordan Markus plays the title role of ‘MJ’ after achieving the distinction of being the first and only person to have played the role in all three global productions: on Broadway, on the National Tour and in London’s West End. He is joined on tour by Melvin Gray Jr. (MJ – Alternate) who will play the role twice a week, Erik Hamilton (Michael), Quentin Blanton Jr. (Little Michael), Bryce A. Holmes (Little Michael), Devin Bowles (Joseph Jackson/Rob), J. Daughtry (Berry Gordy/Nick), Josh A. Dawson (Tito Jackson/Quincy Jones), Anthony J. Garcia (Alejandro), Austin Rankin (Little Marlon), Cecilia Petrush (Rachel), Jed Resnick (Dave) and Anastasia Talley (Katherine Jackson/Kate). 

The ensemble includes JoJo Carmichael (Swing/Dance Captain), Joshua Dawson (Swing), Croix DiIenno (Ensemble/Assistant Dance Captain), Zuri Noelle Ford (Ensemble), Ui-Seng François (Swing), Andy Golden (Randy Jackson/Ensemble), Treston J. Henderson (Jackie Jackson/Ensemble), Jahir L. Hipps (Swing), Skye Jackson-Williams (Universal Swing), Faith Jones (Swing),  Jacobi Kai (u/s Michael), Rajané Katurah (Swing), Rachel Lockhart (Ensemble), Michaela Marfori (Ensemble), Matteo Marretta (Ensemble), Kendrick Mitchell (Swing), Zion Mikhail Pradier (Swing), Tyrone Reese (Universal Swing), Avilon Trust Tate (Jermaine Jackson/Ensemble). Brion Marquis Watson (Marlon Jackson/Ensemble) and Charles P. Way (Swing).

He is one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Now, Michael Jackson’s unique and unparalleled artistry comes to Portland in MJ, the multiple Tony Award®-winning musical centered around the making of the 1992 Dangerous World Tour. Created by Tony Award®-winning Director/Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, MJ goes beyond the singular moves and signature sound of the star, offering a rare look at the creative mind and collaborative spirit that catapulted Michael Jackson into legendary status. It’s thrilling sold out crowds on Broadway, in cities across North America; London’s West End; Hamburg, Germany; and Sydney, Australia…and now MJ is startin’ somethin’ in Portland, Oregon as it makes its premiere at Keller Auditorium in July 2025. 

The MJ creative team features Scenic Design by two-time Tony and Emmy Award winner Derek McLane, Lighting Design by seven-time Tony Award winner Natasha Katz, Costume Design by Oscar, Tony and Emmy Award winner Paul Tazewell, Sound Design by Tony Award winner Gareth Owen, Projection Design by two-time Tony Award nominee Peter Nigrini, Hair & Wig Design by two-time Emmy Award nominee Charles G. LaPointe and Makeup Design by Emmy nominee Joe Dulude II. The creative team also features Musical Supervision by Tony Award nominee David Holcenberg, Orchestrations and Arrangements by David Holcenberg and Tony Award winner Jason Michael Webb, and Music Direction by Nathanael Wilkerson and Jason Yarcho.  Casting by The Telsey Office / Rachel Hoffman, CSA, Lindsay Levine, CSA.      

The MJ First National Touris general managed by Bespoke Theatricals.  The stage management team is led by Production Stage Manager Nicole Olson, Stage Manager Xavier Khan and Assistant Stage Managers Alexander Pierce and Lauren Taylor Winston. The company management team is led by Company Manager Eric Armstrong and Assistant Company Manager Bianca Jean-Charles.    

For more information worldwide, visit:  www.mjthemusical.com  ● Facebook ● Twitter ● Instagram.

Broadway in Portland is a partnership between Portland Opera and Broadway Across America.

The performance schedule for the Portland engagement of MJ is:

Tuesday, July 15th @ 7:30pm
Wednesday, July 16th @ 7:30pm
Thursday, July 17th @ 7:30pm – American Sign Language Interpreted
Friday, July 18th @ 7:30pm – Audio Description
Saturday, July 19th @ 2:00pm and 7:30pm
Sunday, July 20th @ 1:00pm and 6:30pm – Open Caption