Behind the scenes with the three actors playing Michael Jackson in MJ the MusicalMBy Mawunyo GbogboTopic:Opera and Musical Theatre1h ago1 hours agoTue 13 May 2025 at 5:31amRoman Banks is striking in the way he resembles Michael Jackson in the Australian production of MJ the Musical. (Supplied: Daniel Boud)abc.net.au/news/behind-the-scenes-actors-playing-michael-jackson-mj-the-musical/105287006Link copiedShareShare articleIt's uncanny how Roman Banks manages to transform into Michael Jackson for the Australian production of MJ the Musical. So much so, that as an audience member you do wonder if he'll be typecast as an actor and musician. "If you believe I'm typecast, that's a beautiful thing to be honest," Banks told ABC News."I love that I've somehow worked up to that reverse sentiment because there was a lot of anxiety heading into the role, and I thought, 'Oh my God. Who do I think I am to take this on?'"But take it on he does. The hair is just right. The costumes are spot on. And the dance moves are assisted by the fact that the team worked with choreographers Rich and Tone Talauega (R+T), who were discovered by Jackson on a dancefloor in Oakland, California, and worked closely with the star. "Their partnership with Michael Jackson was extremely expansive," Banks said."And, due to working with him for so long at such close proximity, they were able to kind of download his library of movement."And they're kind of like our Bible … when it comes to really learning the authentic style of Michael Jackson and where those moves come from and how to break down the basics."The cast learnt from choreographers who were discovered by Michael Jackson and worked closely with him. (Supplied: Daniel Boud)Banks says he also put himself through the ringer to sound like Jackson."I would pick out all the instrumentation and just look up the vocal versions of his songs and just study the way he would approach a vowel or hug a consonant, or bite a word, or express himself through onomatopoeias, like vocalisms and ad libs, just really trying to dive as deep into that world as possible, and every facet, to provide the most authentic experience possible for audience-goers."And after being seen by more than a million people on Broadway and winning four Tony awards, Sydney audiences are loving it."There have been so many returning visitors," Banks said."The highest I've seen is six or seven."Critics scathing about what's left outMJ the Musical is set over two days in 1992 when Jackson was getting ready for the Dangerous World Tour.By virtue of being set prior to when allegations of child molestation first surfaced in 1993, the musical manages to sidestep an issue that has dogged Jackson for more than three decades — as they continue beyond the grave.Audiences are loving MJ the Musical, but critics have pointed out what's missing. (Supplied: Daniel Boud)Critics writing about the musical have been scathing about this omission, with entire articles dedicated to what's not in the show rather than what is."It feels like walking in an art museum and judging a painter for what's not on the wall," Banks says of the critics."Our writer chose a very specific time of his life to document and to tell his story about artistic and creative ability and process, and so I think what our creative team has done has been no easy feat to pull off."I don't think that the show as a whole should be judged for what you wish was in the show."I think the show should be judged as a sum of its parts, and that comes down to choreography, acting, music direction, lighting design, staging."And I think the fact that we have five simultaneous productions of this show running worldwide, and it's still selling out, and it's still igniting fires in people, and it's still shifting the musical theatre atmosphere as we know and love it, is all the review we could ever need."Resident director Effie Nkrumah agreed that the audience feedback had been phenomenal."I love that this is a musical that makes people feel like they were able to get in touch with an artist they love with everything," Nkrumah told ABC News."There are many people who've come to me and said, 'I couldn't afford to see him when we were growing up and I feel like I've had that answered.'"Playing Jackson as a young adultIt's 20-year-old Liam Damons' first theatre experience.He plays Jackson as a young adult — from just before he turns 16 right through to his early 20s.Liam Damons, from Brisbane, grew up with Jackson's music. (Supplied: Daniel Boud)Raised in Brisbane, Damons says he worked hard to find his own groove."To prepare for the role, I just really knuckled down and tried to do as much research as possible," Damons told ABC News."Looking back at old interviews, at old videos of him performing at Soul Train with the Jackson Five and then that split up, and watching videos from the Victory Tour, and just kind of getting as much information as possible from that."And also, I've been fortunate enough to see the show on Broadway before performing in it."So that kind of also gave me a sort of an idea, but I think bringing it here, I wanted to have my own take on it while still keeping the integrity of the show."Like many people, Damons was no stranger to Jackson's music."I grew up with Michael Jackson," he said."My dad is a huge fan of music and was a huge fan of Michael Jackson. He went to Michael Jackson's concert in Cape Town."He travelled out of state to go watch him live, and he gave me his tour T-shirt that he got from the concert."He had all of his CDs. He had the DVD special of all of his greatest music videos."I remember even putting the music videos on and learning the moonwalk."One of my next door neighbours, his dad played the piano, and he'd play Man in the Mirror every time we'd go over and it's really come full circle to be able to now perform those songs, that I used to sing in the street and living rooms, on stage in front of 2,000 people every night."The story is 'pretty heavy' for Little MichaelWilliam Bonner, aged 11, plays Little Michael who faces harsh discipline from his father, Joe."The story is pretty heavy because it talks about how he was hurting inside, especially because his dad was so strict," Bonner said."So, I try my best to tell his story honestly and with feeling."William Bonner as Little Michael in the Australian production of MJ the Musical, which he says has been well received. (Supplied: Daniel Boud)Bonner says he vibes off the other Michaels in the show."In my other musicals, I've never had so many people playing the same role, so it's new for me," he said."But I get along really well with them. They're my best friends, and we have a lot of fun rehearsing together."We've built a really supportive community. We help each other with things we're struggling with, and I've learned so much from working with them. It's a great experience to grow together."Bonner also feeds off the audience."Their energy is amazing," he said."I try to take all that energy and send it back to them through my performance."People say the show is incredible."I haven't met anyone who didn't like it because it's really amazing."I love being on stage — singing, dancing, acting — and I think the audience loves it too."They often tell me I did a great job, ask for pictures, and want my autograph."My uncle even came to Australia from the States to see the show, and he told me, 'You really are Michael Jackson. You were amazing!'"MJ the Musical is showing at Sydney Lyric Theatre till August 23.Posted 1h ago1 hours agoTue 13 May 2025 at 5:31amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesSussan Ley rejects her Liberal leadership victory is a 'glass cliff' appointmentLIVEPhoto shows Susan Ley talks while standing behind a lectern. 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