HER MAJESTY’S THEATRE, MELBOURNE | FROM SEPTEMBER 2025
Australian producer Michael Cassel, alongside original Broadway producers Lia Vollack, John Branca, and John McClain, is thrilled to announce that Broadway star Ilario Grant will lead the Melbourne season of the Olivier and Tony Award-winning MJ THE MUSICAL.
A powerhouse performer, Grant takes on the iconic role of MJ at Her Majesty’s Theatre following acclaimed performances on Broadway and in Sydney, where he captivated audiences as both MJ and Michael.
The Australian premiere season marks the fifth production of the global sensation since its Broadway debut in February 2022. With celebrated runs in London, Germany and across the US, Melbourne is the next city set to experience the must-see theatrical event of the year.
Set in 1992, MJ offers a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Michael Jackson’s iconic Dangerous World Tour. The production goes far beyond the signature moves and global hits, inviting audiences on to share in the creative mind and collaborative spirit that catapulted Michael Jackson into legendary status, brought to life through the lens of an MTV journalist granted rare rehearsal-room access. From the mind of two-time Pulitzer Prize winning Lynn Nottage (Ruined, Sweat), MJ explores intimate moments from the complex history of Jackson’s life as he attempts to align the Dangerous World Tour to his creative genius.
Seen by over 1.9 million people on Broadway, MJ was nominated for 10 Tony Awards, winning four including Best Choreography for the show’s creator, Artistic Associate of The Royal Ballet Christopher Wheeldon OBE (An American in Paris) and Best Actor in a Musical for the show’s original Broadway star, Myles Frost. Most recently, MJ received three Olivier Award nominations, with Christopher Wheeldon OBE taking home the award for Best Theatre Choreography.
Featuring more than 25 of Michael Jackson’s greatest hits – including Beat It, Smooth Criminal, Man in The Mirror and Thriller – MJ has captured the hearts and imaginations of packed houses around the world. Australian fans have gone wild for MJ, describing it as “the most incredible thing I’ve seen in my life” and “mind-blowing”.