MJ THE MUSICAL CASTING

[magictodo123]

Posted: 11/21/19 at 10:14am

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Ephraim-Sykes-Will-Play-Michael-Jackson-in-MJ-on-Broadway-20191121

Interesting 

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 11/21/19 at 10:48am

Wasn't going to see this but now i have to. He's my #1 Broadway crush. 

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 11/21/19 at 11:08am

Actually I am quite surprised in the world we live in today that they are going to have a show about Michael Jackson on Broadway. 

[persephone88]

Posted: 11/21/19 at 11:16am

Not a huge fan of the idea of an MJ musical, but Ephraim Sykes is fantastic. We thought he was terrific in Ain't Too Proud, and this show may end up doing very well with him in the lead. 

[beatofthedrum27]

Posted: 11/21/19 at 11:27am

This is a surprising choice because Ephraim is a baritenor. Michael Jackson songs are all in a high tenor range. I’m excited because I love Ephraim but vocal range wise, I’ll be interested to see how his takes on the songs go

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 11/21/19 at 11:40am

If people didn’t want to see a Cher impression (and as amazing as Block was), I can see this being a tough sell. But then again his shows are stilling running in London & Vegas.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 11/21/19 at 11:41am

beatofthedrum27 said: "This is a surprising choice because Ephraim is a baritenor. Michael Jackson songs are all in a high tenor range. I’m excited because I love Ephraim but vocal range wise, I’ll be interested to see how his takes on the songs go"


Maybe it's better to have an MJ who isn't doing an impression, sort of like Hugh Jackman in Boy From Oz. Who could compete with Jackson??

I'm as apprehensive as ever about this project and will be very interested to see if/how they address...things... Lynn Nottage's integrity gives me hope (despite the involvement of the Jackson estate).

Updated On: 11/21/19 at 11:41 AM

[darquegk]

Posted: 11/21/19 at 11:47am

I wonder if they're deliberately "Atlanta-ing" Jackson by casting Sykes. In Donald Glover's TV show, Justin Bieber was portrayed incongruously as a young black man to make a point about the way Bieber exists in society and how he would be viewed differently if he were black.

Perhaps part of Nottage's concept is portraying Jackson in a way that reminds us that he was a black man, not the raceless, sexless "alien being" with a chemically altered voice that he had metamorphosed into by the end of his career.

[klinnerz]

Posted: 11/21/19 at 6:37pm

darquegk said: "I wonder if they're deliberately"Atlanta-ing" Jackson by casting Sykes. In Donald Glover's TV show, Justin Bieber was portrayed incongruously as a young black man to make a point about the way Bieber exists in society and how he would be viewed differently if he were black.

Perhaps part of Nottage's concept is portraying Jackson in a way that reminds us that he was a black man, not the raceless, sexless "alien being" with a chemically altered voice that he had metamorphosed into by the end of his career."

That's what I was wondering too. Sykes surely is an odd choice for me. I mean, they're casting him as MJ, not just a character inspired by him. So I wonder if this will be a bio jukebox. If so I'm interested how they'll portray MJ as the show features his 90s material. Unless the producers want Michael to stay his 70s self throughout? Idk, I'm curious.

[ModernMillie3]

Posted: 11/21/19 at 7:36pm

Michael Jackson was a black man. Why would Ephraim  be an "odd choice"?

Wonderful casting, very excited for this one. 

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 11/21/19 at 7:48pm

I largely avoid Twitter, but curious if, given all the accusations of Transphobia thrown Tootsie’s way, what Twitter is saying about this musical. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not curious Enough to descend into that hell hole of Twitter, but I am curious.

I thought this was a really bad idea given the allegations against Jackson which were bolstered by Leaving Neverland, but in addition to the MJ shows still reportedly doing well in Vegas, Billboard is currently running a poll where people can vote for their favorite artist and last time I checked, Jackson was still #1 by a sizable margin. It’s a hard pass for me, but it’ll be interesting to see how it does.

[Zion24]

Posted: 11/21/19 at 8:03pm

I am still shocked this project is moving forward. I think figuring out what to do with art from criminals, bigots and pedophiles- lotsa Nazis made great music and I always thought it was silly to pretend otherwise because they happened to be created by monsters. And I've always felt similarly about MJ's music. When Billie Jean comes on in the bar, i can enjoy it guilt free.

but this is a show ABOUT him. its different. and unless they have Sykes' character confront this head-on, which seems impossible if the Estate is involved- i remain surprised that Sykes and Nottage would want to be so closely affiliated with this.

[ModernMillie3]

Posted: 11/21/19 at 8:09pm

Many, many artists (theater or otherwise) have been accused of crimes they were never convicted of, and never tried in a court of law. He was acquitted of all charges, and now he is dead. Believing people that have had their case dismissed several times is your choice. Asian tourists especially will LOVE this based on his record sales in Asia. If you honestly think most people in the world believe liars who just want money from his estate, you are sorely mistaken. 

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 11/21/19 at 8:13pm

Well, I don’t suppose either can afford to go long periods unemployed and it is a paycheck. And from what I can ascertain, Jackson still has a lot of loyalists within the black community, especially amongst entertainers.

[LuPita2]

Posted: 11/21/19 at 8:13pm

Perhaps part of Nottage's concept is portraying Jackson in a way that reminds us that he was a black man, not the raceless, sexless "alien being" with a chemically altered voice that he had metamorphosed into by the end of his career.

That is the way to remember him, in my opinion. Talented group of folks here, I look forward to checking it out. 

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 11/21/19 at 8:14pm

More so just curious what the direction will be. If it’s just him doing a concert and then flashbacks? I wonder if they’ll go for his more “white face.”

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 11/21/19 at 8:28pm

ModernMillie3 said: "Many, many artists (theater or otherwise) have been accused of crimes they were never convicted of, and never tried in a court of law. He was acquitted of all charges, and now he is dead. Believing people that have had their case dismissed several times is your choice. Asian tourists especially will LOVE this based on his record sales in Asia. If you honestly think most people in the world believe liars who just want money from his estate, you are sorely mistaken."

Well that’s a really horrible take on the situation.

[ModernMillie3]

Posted: 11/21/19 at 8:32pm

It's my take to have. All opinions are valid here, thank you. 

[Zion24]

Posted: 11/21/19 at 8:32pm

 

 

I dont think he was acquitted of anything. He paid his accusers for their silence. Now that doesnt make him guilty under the law- but it doesnt make him innocent either. Would you say the same of Jeffrey Epstein? He was convicted of nothing. There are a million examples like that, and without a verdict i am not for a second suggesting MJ should have been imprisoned or punished criminally. 

But even if we are pretending these accusations have no merit (did you watch the HBO documentary? it made me, and many other MJ fans, physically ill), there is NO DISPUTE he regularly slept in the same bed with boys, cuddled with them, etc. Nothing criminal about it, and no doubt it occurred-- will Nottage just ignore that entirely? Again, the BIO MUSICAL of this problematic a biography gives me much pause and yes, a job is a job, I hold no ill will towards those who participate. 

[Zion24]

Posted: 11/21/19 at 8:37pm

ModernMillie3 said: "It's my take to have. All opinions are valid here, thank you."

all the eyeroll emojis. Who suggested your opinion isnt valid? Just as valid: those who think your opinion is the wrong one. THATS what it means all opinions are valid here.

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 11/21/19 at 9:01pm

With all of the victims who have come forward, and with the stories that they have told - how could you just write them off and call them all liars because you like their abuser’s music? That doesn’t make sense. Believe what you want, but know that you’re on the wrong side of history.

This show should not be happening. No reason to celebrate a pedophile.

[gibsons2]

Posted: 11/21/19 at 9:13pm

I'm very excited for this show. One of my top five to see next year.

[klinnerz]

Posted: 11/21/19 at 9:29pm

ModernMillie3 said: "Michael Jackson was a black man. Why would Ephraimbe an "odd choice"?

Wonderful casting, very excited for this one."

It's odd to me because vocally I don't see the similarities between the two. Unless Ephraim has a higher register that I just haven't heard yet.

[ModernMillie3]

Posted: 11/21/19 at 9:37pm

 Who suggested your opinion isn't valid?

No one suggested that, I never suggested anyone said that. Everyone can see I never said that. It's just a good reminder to have regarding divisive topics. 

how could you just write them off and call them all liars because you like their abuser’s music?

I didn't do either one of those things, once, in all of the MJ threads. And to assume you know my reasoning suggests an issue with you, not me. I have an opinion that differs from your own. Neither is wrong. People don't all think the same. You may ask how I came to that conclusion, but someone who has already made up their mind about something typically doesn't want to here anything else. Which is fine. 

Moving on, this thread is specifically about casting. Looking forward to more of the cast being announced soon!

[ModernMillie3]

Posted: 11/21/19 at 9:40pm

klinnerz said: "ModernMillie3 said: "Michael Jackson was a black man. Why would Ephraimbe an "odd choice"?

It's odd to me because vocally I don't see the similarities between the two. Unless Ephraim has a higher register that I just haven't heard yet"

Cool, thanks for the reply. Maybe he's been hiding it?