MJ Live is a Broadway musical featuring the music of Michael Jackson. It tells the story of Michael Jackson’s life through his iconic songs and dancing. The role of Michael Jackson is incredibly demanding, requiring immense singing, dancing, and acting abilities to capture the essence of one of the greatest entertainers of all time. So who takes on this monumental task of playing the King of Pop in MJ Live?
Myles Frost as Michael Jackson
The actor cast in the leading role of Michael Jackson in MJ Live is Myles Frost. Frost makes his Broadway debut as Michael Jackson after being chosen through an extensive search to find the perfect actor to embody the pop icon. Despite being new to Broadway, Frost brings strong singing and dancing chops to the part. He trained at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy in Los Angeles and has been imitating Michael Jackson’s moves since he was a child. His uncanny ability to recreate Jackson’s signature dancing style as well as his vocal range made him stand out during the audition process. Producers realized Frost had that elusive star quality needed to convincingly transform into the musical legend on stage.
Myles Frost’s Background
While Myles Frost may be a newcomer to Broadway, he has been preparing for this moment his entire life. He was born in 1992 in Washington, D.C. and raised in Maryland. Frost has been entertaining audiences with his singing, dancing, and acting talents from a very young age. He began performing in musicals at just 10 years old with the Toby’s Dinner Theatre in Columbia, MD. Some of his early roles included Simba in The Lion King and Billy Elliot in Billy Elliot the Musical. Frost also performed with the Disney Channel’s a cappella group In a Heartbeat in high school.
After high school, Frost attended the University of Arizona as a Musical Theater major. However, he left college early when he was cast in a national tour of Smokey Joe’s Cafe. He eventually moved to Los Angeles to pursue his performance career full-time, landing small roles in shows like American Idol and The New Edition Story. But it was his brilliant tribute to Michael Jackson that went viral in 2021 that really put him on the map. His spot-on moonwalk and costume changes earned him attention from MJ Live producers and paved the way for his Broadway star turn.
Reactions to Myles Frost’s Casting
When it was announced that Myles Frost would be playing Michael Jackson in MJ Live in 2022, the casting news received positive reactions from theater fans and critics. His show-stopping performance in the viral Michael Jackson tribute video left people confident that Frost had the singing chops, dancing skills, and mimicry down pat to embody Jackson on stage.
Frost shares that he has been practicing his Jackson impressions since childhood. He told Playbill in an interview, “I’ve imitated Michael throughout my entire life. I remember being a kid and watching his concerts on the TV screen, watching how he moves, watching how he sings, and just completely being enamored.”
Many fans took to social media to express their excitement over the casting. On Twitter, one fan raved “Myles Frost is gonna EAT this role UP!!!” Another tweeted, “Myles Frost was born to play MJ. So so perfect!”
Beyond his imitation skills and natural talent, critics noted that Frost seems to deeply understand Michael Jackson on a personal level. MJ Live director and choreographer Christopher Wheeldon said Frost identifies with the isolation and loneliness Jackson felt as a superstar. This emotional connection is key for Frost to be able to deliver a poignant, multifaceted performance.
Myles Frost’s Transformation into Michael Jackson
Part of the appeal of MJ Live is watching Myles Frost completely transform into Michael Jackson on stage through his incredible singing, dancing, costumes, make up, and mannerisms. Frost worked diligently to study everything about Jackson in order to fully inhabit the role.
He told Broadway.com that he spent a lot of time observing videos of Jackson, picking up on his nuances, body language, and speaking rhythms. Frost even took yoga classes to improve his breath control and increase his flexibility to move like Jackson.
In an interview with Vulture, Frost shared some interesting details about his physical transformation process:
– It takes him about 1 hour and 45 minutes to complete his full Michael Jackson hair and make up look before each show.
– He wears custom veneers to recreate Jackson’s iconic smile.
– He has a collection of replica Jackets copied from Jackson’s tours to wear during the show’s recreations of his iconic performances.
– Perhaps most crucially, he painstakingly worked to perfect Jackson’s signature sounds and vocal techniques like the “hee hee!” ad libs.
The result of all of Frost’s hard work and preparation is a truly astonishing transformation that audience members say makes them feel like Jackson himself is right there on the stage. The illusion is sometimes so convincing that fans subconsciously call him “Michael” rather than Myles after the show!
Myles Frost’s Awards and Recognition
While MJ Live just opened on Broadway in February 2023, Myles Frost is already earning waves of critical praise and recognition for his breakout leading performance.
Notable accolades so far include:
– Broadway.com Audience Choice Award for Favorite Leading Performance in a Broadway Musical (2022)
– BroadwayWorld Award for Best Leading Actor in a New Broadway Musical (2022)
– Drama League Award nomination for Distinguished Performance (2023)
It is highly likely that Frost will earn a Tony Award nomination this spring for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical. At just 22 years old, Frost could become one of the youngest leading actors ever nominated for a Tony.
Critics and fans widely agree that Frost’s portrayal of Jackson is jaw-dropping. NBC New York calls his performance “A star-making turn,” while Deadline Hollywood praises, “Myles Frost IS Michael Jackson.” Frost manages to capture both the immense talent and complicated humanity of this pop culture icon.
Notable Moments as Michael Jackson
Myles Frost disappears completely into the role of Michael Jackson during MJ Live’s 2 1/2 hour run time. Here are some of the highlights of his show-stopping performance as the King of Pop:
– A playful rendition of “ABC” and “I Want You Back” that captures Jackson’s exuberance with The Jackson 5 as a child star.
– A stunning solo dance sequence during “Billie Jean” that recreates Jackson’s legendary Motown 25 moonwalk and glittery glove reveal.
– An emotional performance of “She’s Out of My Life” that allows the audience to see Jackson’s vulnerability behind the superstar facade.
– Masterful recreations of Jackson’s complex choreography in hits like “Beat It”, “Bad”, and “Smooth Criminal” that show off Frost’s dancing skills.
– Powerful vocals on ballads like “You Are Not Alone” and “Man in the Mirror” proving he has the massive range required to take on Jackson’s catalog.
– Seamless transitions between speaking as Jackson and singing/dancing that make you forget you are watching an actor perform.
Perhaps the most magical moment comes during the finale, when Frost sings “Remember the Time” dressed in Jackson’s gold Ancient Egyptian costume from his 1992 Dangerous World Tour. Audiences say they are left stunned and emotional watching Frost give his all to honor Jackson’s legacy.
Future of Myles Frost’s Career
Myles Frost seems poised to become a major star after his breakout turn as Michael Jackson in MJ Live on Broadway. As the show continues its open-ended run, Frost will have the opportunity to establish himself as a leading man on the Great White Way. Produers have shared that Frost will star in MJ Live on Broadway for at least one year, though it seems likely he could stay with the production even longer given his meteoric rise.
Beyond MJ Live, Frost will almost certainly receive offers for more high profile roles that showcase his singing, dancing, and acting talents. Film, television, and additional live theater productions will all come calling soon. With his focus, drive, and professionalism, Frost has what it takes to build a lasting career as a multi-hyphenate performer.
At just 22 years old, Frost also has time to grow even more as an artist. He shared with Broadway.com, “I’m still learning and hope to get better…hopefully this is just the beginning.” Based on his starring turn as Michael Jackson, it certainly does seem like this is only the first chapter of Myles Frost’s story. Audiences and critics will be closely watching what he does next.
Conclusion
In summary, Myles Frost brings an uncanny, stellar performance as Michael Jackson to life in the Broadway musical MJ Live. Frost’s singing, dancing, acting, and physical transformation completely embodies Jackson on stage. This 22 year old newcomer rose to the enormous challenge of portraying an international superstar through years of diligent practice and natural talent. Frost has dazzled critics and fans as Jackson, earning major awards and recognition in just his first Broadway role. Myles Frost’s star is certainly on the rise, and his career will likely explode following his breakout as Michael Jackson in MJ Live on Broadway. Audiences are eager to see this dynamic young performer take on even more iconic roles in the future.
Show | Theater | Role |
---|---|---|
MJ Live | Neil Simon Theatre | Michael Jackson |
Smokey Joe’s Cafe | National Tour | Featured Dancer |
The Lion King | Toby’s Dinner Theatre | Young Simba |
Billy Elliot | Toby’s Dinner Theatre | Billy Elliot |