MJ The Musical Ambassador Blog
By Piper
Last night I was honored to see MJ The Musical, my first show as a DPAC Ambassador. Getting to the theatre early gave me a glimpse of what DPAC volunteers and front-of-house staff do as they prepare to welcome guests to this incredible venue. I worked on playbill distribution for my pre-show assignment and had an amazing time. The two volunteers I shadowed emphasized the importance of ensuring each guest feels welcomed as soon as they walk through the DPAC doors. I enjoyed getting to know the volunteers I shadowed, and we had a great time together. It was so cool to see all of the excited audience members entering the building! I was surprised to see how many generations Micheal Jackson fans spanned. I saw audience members from the very youngest all the way to the oldest dressed spot on like the King of Pop. My favorite costume was from a younger girl who had it all: the hat, the glasses, the jacket, and, of course, the glove! It was so much fun sitting with 4 other DPAC Ambassadors. We had a great time chatting and getting to know each other before the show. Then…it started!
It was absolutely amazing from the very beginning. MJ’s life was fascinating. He broke so many racial barriers in his lifetime including performing where black performers weren’t usually invited with the Jackson 5 and being the 1st black artist to have his video aired on MTV. The musical put a big emphasis on this in the 1st act as it showed MJ’s struggle and frustration with racial barriers. The show also gave us a window into his whole life but particularly with his younger life. MJ had a sad personal life, partly because of his father who pushed him and his siblings harder than they wanted. He said he felt more comfortable performing than he did in his normal life. In another section of the show when the reporter asked if he had a muse, MJ said he wished he did, but it was hard for him to open up because of his experience with family as a child. It also surprised me to learn how philanthropic MJ was and how much of an emphasis he put on donating his profits.
My favorite scene was the showstopping musical number Thriller. The Thriller scene had stunning choreography with so much precision. The very final scene at the concert was impactful for me because it showed MJ’s determination and perseverance; seeing MJ pop out of the “toaster” really tied the show together. The entire cast was crazy talented, I was in awe of everyone’s talent, especially their fitness. My favorite actors were Rob/Joe and MJ. The actor who played Rob/Joe played two very different characters and he moved seamlessly between the two, sometimes playing both characters multiple times in a single scene. The actor who played MJ was dynamite. His interpretation of MJ was incredible, and his movements were on point. The audience was super appreciative and obviously loved the show. As soon as the show ended, everyone sprung to their feet, and stayed that way throughout the entire encore. 10/10, definitely recommend!
