Chicago Tribune

Review: ‘MJ the Musical’ in Chicago is a fabulous launch of the national tour

Roman Banks as MJ and the cast of the "MJ the Musical" First National Tour.

CHICAGO — When “MJ the Musical” was first floated for Broadway before the pandemic, it was seen as a risky project. The central subject was controversial. Broadway was drowning in musical biographies and the Jackson estate was so known for its tight control of Michael’s image and reputation that wise heads wondered how the writer Lynn Nottage ever would find the space for honesty. And even though the reputation of choreographer Christopher Wheeldon was formidable, Jackson’s choreographic landscape not only was very familiar, but replicated time after time

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