After over 2,000 performances, Tavon Olds-Sample will depart “MJ” on May 31. Olds-Sample originated the role of Michael on Broadway in 2021. Brandon Lee Harris, who originated the role in the first national tour and was previously in the Broadway company, will return to Broadway and take over as Michael on July 7. Understudies Brett Gray, Samuel Nelson III, Jayden K. White, Joshua Kenneth Allen Johnson and the production’s swings will perform the role in the interim.
The current production features Matte Martinez as Michael Jackson, with Antoine L. Smith, Bailey McCall, Sasha Allen, Gabriel Ruiz, Christopher Sean Cooper Jr., Emjay Roa, Blake Channing Taylor, Michael Andreaus, Joey Sorge, Blu Allen, Lloyd A. Boyd III, Nick T. Daly, Kellie Drobnick, John Edwards, Aydin Eyikan, Chantelle Good, Matthew Frederick Harris, Chelsea Mitchell-Bonsu, Ryan VanDenBoom and Brion Marquis Watson.
Broadway News Pro delivers news, analysis, and guest essays from industry leaders to facilitate meaningful and creative conversations on Broadway. From breaking news to deeply-reported long reads and exclusive interviews, subscribers can rely on Broadway News for stories that matter. Start your subscription for $1/month.
Directed and choreographed by two-time Tony Award winner Christopher Wheeldon, with a book written by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, “MJ” is the winner of four 2022 Tony Awards.
This article previously appeared on Broadway.com.
