Emjay Roa joins the cast of MJ the Musical beginning May 14 at the Neil Simon Theatre.
Roa, seen in regional productions of South Pacific and The Bodyguard, is making his Broadway debut in the role of Little Michael. He succeeds Austin Rankin, who will be joining the musical's national tour.
MJ, which began previews December 6, 2021, prior to an official opening February 1, 2022, features a book by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage and a score made up of some of the most popular songs in recording history. Tony Award winner Christopher Wheeldon directs and choreographs.
Detroit native Elijah Rhea Johnson stepped into the leading role of Michael Jackson in MJ the Musical April 4, 2023, marking his own Broadway debut. Johnson, who helped develop the role of Middle Michael throughout the workshop process of MJ, succeeded Myles Frost. (Frost made history in 2022, becoming the youngest individual actor to win a Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical.)
The musical also has sets by Derek McLane, lighting by Natasha Katz, costumes by Paul Tazewell, sound design by Gareth Owen, projection design by Peter Nigrini, hair and wig design by Charles LaPointe, music direction by Jason Michael Webb, musical supervision by David Holcenberg, and orchestrations by Holcenberg and Webb. Casting is by Rachel Hoffman and Lindsay Levine of The Telsey Office.
The show took home four 2022 Tony Awards in total, including Best Choreography, Best Lighting Design in a Musical, and Best Sound Design in a Musical.
The MJ North American tour, currently playing Fort Worth's Bass Performance Hall, stars Jordan Markus. The West End production at London鈥檚 Prince Edward Theatre stars Jamaal Fields-Green, the German production at Hamburg鈥檚 Stage Theater is led by Ben茅t Monteiro, and the Australian production at Sydney鈥檚 Lyric Theatre features Roman Banks as the King of Pop.
Read more about the hit musical in the 半岛体育 Vault.
Elijah Rhea Johnson and company of MJ
Elijah Rhea Johnson in MJ
Elijah Rhea Johnson and company of MJ
Elijah Rhea Johnson and company of MJ
Elijah Rhea Johnson and company of MJ
Elijah Rhea Johnson and company of MJ
Elijah Rhea Johnson and company of MJ
Elijah Rhea Johnson in MJ
Elijah Rhea Johnson in MJ
Elijah Rhea Johnson and company of MJ
