MJ The Musical Takes Its Final Australian Bow After 67 Weeks and 875,000 Fans

Australia has said goodbye to one of the most celebrated musical theatre productions in recent memory. MJ The Musical — the four-time Tony Award-winning biographical spectacular built around the music and artistry of Michael Jackson — has concluded its national Australian tour after an extraordinary 67-week run across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.

More than 875,000 Australians attended across 532 performances, with both the Brisbane and Perth seasons selling out completely. At virtually every show, the curtain came down to a standing ovation.

A Production of Staggering Scale

The numbers behind MJ The Musical tell a story as compelling as the show itself. The Australian production employed 290 Australians across performing, creative and technical roles — long before a single ticket was scanned. A touring company of 72 full-time members was joined by 42 local musicians and more than 400 local staff across the four host cities, while a further 200-plus Australians were engaged through specialist suppliers covering everything from freight and scenic construction to physiotherapy and media buying.

Currently led by Broadway star Ilario Grant in the title role, the production brought a level of craft and ambition rarely seen on Australian stages.

A Launchpad for Australian Talent

Beyond the box office, MJ The Musical leaves behind something more lasting: a generation of Australian musical theatre performers who made their professional debut within its company. Brisbane's own Liam Damons stepped onto the professional stage for the first time as part of the Australian cast, alongside company members Albanus Terry Strickland II, Beth Appiah Cain, Ceeko, Iris Wei, Liam Costello and Xavier Gibson.

A cohort of young performers also made their professional debuts as child cast members — Kayleb Alese, Blaiyze Barksdale, Gebriel Batchelor Walters, Ben Bonner, Daniel Makunike, Zavier Pillay, Kael Smith and Lucas Wyllie among them.

The Producers Reflect

Australian producer Michael Cassel, who first encountered the production in development in 2019, described the journey as deeply personal.

"Bringing MJ to Australia has been an unforgettable journey that began back in 2019 when Lia Vollack was first developing the show for the Broadway stage, and seeing it come to life on stages across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth has been incredibly rewarding," Cassel said.

"This production represents the work of hundreds of talented performers, musicians, crew and creatives whose passion and commitment have made every performance something special. I'm immensely proud of what this company has achieved together and grateful to everyone who played a part in making this tour such a remarkable experience."

Original Broadway producer Lia Vollack echoed the sentiment, reflecting on the warmth Australia extended to the production throughout its run.

"Australia has been an incredibly special chapter in MJ's global journey. Beyond the warmth of Australian audiences, we've had the privilege of working with an exceptional company of performers, musicians, crew and creatives who have brought this production to life with extraordinary talent, passion and heart. We couldn't be prouder of what they have achieved together."

A Global Phenomenon

Since its Broadway premiere in 2022, MJ The Musical has been seen by more than seven million audience members worldwide, with productions staged across North America, London's West End and Germany. The Australian production earned widespread critical acclaim and industry recognition, including four BroadwayWorld Australia Awards and two Green Room Awards.

The show was presented in Australia by Michael Cassel in partnership with original Broadway producers Lia Vollack, John Branca and John McClain.

While the curtain has fallen on the Australian chapter, the memories — of audiences dancing together at every curtain call, of fans moonwalking out of theatres across the country — are anything but temporary.