Ilario Grant will return to “MJ” on Broadway in the title role after making his Broadway debut as a standby for MJ and Michael. He will begin performances on September 15 at the Neil Simon Theatre. Matte Martinez will play his final performance as MJ on August 30.
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Grant previously starred as MJ in the Australian touring production of “MJ.” His screen credits include “Praise This” and Tyler Perry’s “Assisted Living.” Grant is also an R&B artist and a former member of the group Afterhours.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Ilario back to New York to star as MJ,” said Tony-winning director and choreographer Christopher Wheeldon in a statement. “Having risen through this company and gone on to dazzle audiences as MJ in Australia, Ilario takes his rightful place on Broadway, bringing audiences his stunning interpretation of the King of Pop.”
The current Broadway cast of MJ features Matte Martinez as ‘MJ,’ Apollo Levine as ‘Rob/Joseph Jackson,’ Brandon Lee Harris as ‘Michael,’ Christopher Sean Cooper Jr and Jackson Robert Vann as ‘Little Michael,’ Blake Channing Taylor as ‘Little Marlon,’ Sasha Allen as ‘Katherine Jackson,’ Matthew Frederick Harris as ‘Quincy Jones/Tito Jackson,’ Rebecca Faulkenberry as ‘Rachel, Gabriel Ruiz as ‘Alejandro,’ Antoine L. Smith as ‘Nick/Berry Gordy,’ Joey Sorge as ‘Dave,’ with Lloyd A. Boyd III, Kellie Drobnick, John Edwards, Aydin Eyikan, Josh Jordan, Cheslea Mitchell-Bonsu, Sarah Sigman, Ryan VanDenBoom and Brion Marquis Watson rounding out the ensemble. Melvin Gray Jr., Sage Lee, Samuel Nelson III, Jayden K. White serve as ‘Standby for MJ and Michael.’ Carole Denise Jones and Nyla Sostre serve as ‘Standby for Rachel and Katherine.’ Swings for the production include Blu Allen, Dasia Amos, Kyle DuPree, Tré Frazier, Chantelle Good, Michael Harmon, Skye Jackson-Williams, Joshua Kenneth Allen Johnson, and Zion Mikhail Pradier.
Directed and choreographed by Wheeldon, with a book written by two-time Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Lynn Nottage, “MJ” is the winner of four 2022 Tony Awards.
This article previously appeared on Broadway.com.
