I went into MJ the Musical in Brisbane thinking I knew what I was in for. A jukebox musical, some iconic songs, a bit of sparkle. Fun, sure. But I was not prepared for that.
The way the story unfolds is actually a lot more thoughtful than you might expect. It’s set during rehearsals for Michael Jackson’s Dangerous World Tour in the early 90s, with an MTV journalist and her camera crew hovering nearby, trying to get a behind-the-scenes story. That device becomes the thread that pulls everything together. As she asks questions, the show slips in and out of different moments from Michael’s life — childhood, early fame, the Jackson 5 years, and the rise of his solo career.
It moves pretty seamlessly between past and present, with rehearsals bleeding into memories and then snapping back again. One minute you’re watching the pressure of putting a global tour together, the next you’re in a recording studio years earlier, or backstage as a young performer learning the ropes. It gives the show a rhythm that keeps things moving while still making space for those more personal moments.
And that’s where it really lands — in showing the gap between the public version of Michael and the person underneath it all. You see the perfectionism, the relentless drive, the control he demands of himself and everyone around him. There’s a fragility sitting just beneath the surface that adds a surprising amount of weight to the whole thing.
First up: Ilario Grant. I don’t say this lightly but he was born to play this role. Vocally, physically, the movement… it’s honestly eerie at times. Not in a gimmicky impersonator way, but in a fully embodied, goosebumps, “how is this even possible?” kind of way. There are moments where you almost forget you’re not watching Michael Jackson himself. The precision, the effortlessness — it’s all there.
This show taps into something I didn’t realise I’d been missing: a hearty dose of good old-fashioned nostalgia,. Sitting there, I was suddenly back in the ’90s, listening to MJ albums on repeat, watching a grainy copy of Thriller with my cousins and attempting those dance moves in the lounge room to try to earn a sleepover from our parents. That feeling — a mix of excitement, awe, and a bit of childhood magic — comes rushing back, and for a couple of hours you get to just sit in it.
And it’s not a quiet, personal nostalgia either. The whole audience is right there with you. There’s this shared energy in the room that builds and builds, like everyone collectively remembering what it felt like to love this music. By the big numbers, it’s electric. You can feel it in your chest.
What really surprised me though was the scale of it all. Sometimes when big productions come to Brisbane, you can’t help but feel like we’re getting a slightly trimmed-down version. A bit… lighter. That is absolutely not the case here. This feels every inch like a big-budget, no-expense-spared production. No corners cut, no “that’ll do.” It’s spectacle theatre, with the money put to work in inventive and show-stopping ways. The sound design, the set, the lighting — it all layers together in a way that lifts the storytelling rather than distracting from it.
And speaking of bringing the house down — Liam Damons, a Brisbane local playing teen Michael Jackson, absolutely commands his moment. His medley of Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough/Blame It on the Boogie/Dancing Machine had the crowd fully up and about. It’s a huge sequence, and he just keeps going, hitting every beat with this kind of relentless energy that had people on their feet. A standing ovation, mid-show, which tells you everything you need to know.
Actually, there were two mid-show standing ovations at my performance. Two. That kind of reaction doesn’t come around often, and it says a lot about how deeply this show lands.
By the end, I was sitting there thinking: this is what people mean when they say “must-see.” I’ve already messaged a bunch of people to tell them to get tickets any way they can ($55 rush tickets are available for some shows on Today Tix).
If you’re even slightly tempted, take the hint and book the ticket. ’m already planning to go again — this time with my cousins, for a proper return to those living room dance days.
WHAT: MJ the Musical
WHEN: Until May 24, 2026.
WHERE: Lyric Theatre, QPAC, corner of Grey and Melbourne streets, South Brisbane.
TICKETS: Grab your tickets to MJ the Musical here.
In her spare time, she likes long walks down the makeup aisle and performing in Brisbane theatre. You can follow her adventures on Instagram and TikTok @thebeautypalate.
