BroadwayWorld’s sister platform, BroadwayShow.com, continues to shine a spotlight behind the curtain with its dynamic Five Inside series and this time, the focus is on the global phenomenon, MJ The Musical.
The concept is simple but powerful: five perspectives, five essential roles, one extraordinary show. From the star to the backstage MVP, Five Inside dives deep into the artists and creatives who keep MJ moonwalking eight times a week. For fans of the King of Pop and lovers of theatre craft alike, these interviews are a reminder that a Broadway hit is more than a performance, it’s a family, a machine and a mission.
Here’s what we learned from stepping inside MJ.
The Long-Runner: Apollo Levine’s Faith-Fueled Journey
Original Broadway cast member Apollo Levine has been part of MJ since its 2022 Broadway opening at the Neil Simon Theatre. Over four years, he has portrayed Quincy Jones, Tito Jackson, Joseph Jackson and Rob, evolving alongside the production itself.
Remarkably, MJ marked Levine’s Broadway debut after more than two decades in entertainment. What seemed like a closed door turned into divine timing. After nearly walking away from theatre, he booked the Michael Jackson musical within weeks of relocating to Los Angeles. Broadway, it turned out, was waiting for him.
Levine’s journey hasn’t been without heartbreak. He endured the loss of close family members during the show’s run, including his sister, mother and father, yet continued to show up night after night. For him, the MJ company became a second family, carrying him through unimaginable grief.
One song in particular, “Keep the Faith,” became more than a number in the show, it became his mantra. Levine’s story reflects the deeper theme at the heart of MJ: resilience, community and trusting the process.
Read the full article HERE.
The Creative Engine: Dontee Kiehn’s Global Vision
As Global Associate Director, Dontee Kiehn helps ensure MJ maintains its power across five companies worldwide. Working alongside director and choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Lynn Nottage, Kiehn has been instrumental in shaping and sustaining the show’s artistic integrity.
From early workshops to opening night, she witnessed the musical’s “alchemy”, the moment when choreography, storytelling and music fused into something electric. She credits musical supervisor David Holcenberg’s arrangements for helping translate Jackson’s legendary catalog into theatrical storytelling.
Bringing MJ to international stages comes with pressure. Fans expect spectacle. Critics expect craft. Kiehn insists the key has been centering the art and telling a human story beneath the iconography. That balance has allowed the show to resonate from Broadway to London, Hamburg and Melbourne, with more global expansion ahead.
Her advice to the next generation? Stay curious. There’s no single path into theatre. Build your mosaic and be brave.
Read full article HERE.
The Debut: Samuel Nelson III Makes History
At just 18 years old, Samuel Nelson III became the youngest performer to portray Michael Jackson on Broadway, serving as standby for MJ and playing Middle Michael.
Originally planning to attend Montclair State University, Nelson instead found himself treating Broadway as his classroom. Surrounded by seasoned professionals, he calls this experience his “semester of college”, learning vocal technique, stamina and character psychology in real time.
His debut came on a demanding two-show day. Adrenaline, nerves and pure love for Michael Jackson fueled him. For Nelson, the role isn’t about imitation; it’s about essence. Through detailed table work with Kiehn, he explored the psychology of a young artist discovering his voice while carrying global expectations.
He also sees himself in the young fans waiting at the stage door, gloves on and ready to moonwalk. In their excitement, he recognizes his own childhood dreams coming full circle.
Full article HERE.
The Backstage MVP: Christine Meyers and the Power of Costume
Costume tells story before a single note is sung. Associate Global Costume Designer Christine Meyers, working alongside Tony-winning designer Paul Tazewell, helped build MJ’s visual legacy from the earliest workshops.
Drawing from archival photos, music videos and deep historical research, the team crafted looks that move seamlessly from the Jackson 5 era to the Dangerous tour. The production’s range, fantasy, military precision, 1970s glamour, 1990s spectacle, allowed for boundless creativity.
With multiple international companies running simultaneously, Meyers’ role is ever-evolving. Each city presents different resources and challenges, but the goal remains the same: authenticity that honors Michael’s legacy while functioning flawlessly onstage.
For Meyers, working on MJ deepened her understanding of Jackson’s cultural impact, particularly within Black American history and global pop culture. Her message to aspiring designers is reassuring: the arts can be a stable, fulfilling career, show up, stay curious and do the work.
Full article HERE.
The Star: Matte Martinez Steps Into the Spotlight
When Matte Martinez says, “I play MJ in MJ The Musical,” he still feels the weight of it.
After first auditioning at 18, Martinez eventually joined the Broadway company as a standby before taking over the lead role in September 2025, becoming the third actor to headline the show following Myles Frost (Note: entity type limitation; Myles Frost is a performer) and Elijah Rhea Johnson.
A screen actor before moving to New York, Martinez learned theatre from the ground up inside the production. Guided by Kiehn and the creative team and trained in “MJ bootcamp” by Jackson collaborators Rich and Tone Talauega, he immersed himself in both the physical vocabulary and emotional depth required to embody the King of Pop.
Leading eight shows a week is physically demanding, but Martinez describes it as a blessing. Each performance settles deeper into his body. Each audience brings new energy. And every night carries the same responsibility: people walk into the theatre expecting Michael Jackson.
MJ’s power, Martinez believes, lies in nostalgia. The music transports audiences to personal memories, 1992, a first concert, a childhood living room. That emotional time travel is what keeps them returning.
See the full article HERE.
Five Perspectives, One Legacy
What makes Five Inside so compelling is its reminder that Broadway magic is collaborative. The spotlight may shine on MJ, but behind it stands a network of artists, veterans, newcomers, visionaries and craftspeople, united in honoring one of music’s most iconic legacies.
For theatre lovers, these interviews offer rare insight into the machinery of a global hit. For Michael Jackson fans, they reveal the heart behind the spectacle.
And as MJ continues its worldwide journey, one chapter is coming to a close: MJ The Musical closes its doors in London’s West End on February 28 and in Melbourne on March 13.
