"MJ the Musical" is bringing back its Halloween tradition with a special post-show performance of the iconic "Thriller" after the curtain call.
For the third year running, the cast will perform Michael Jackson's legendary hit, complete with the famous choreography from the 1982 music video, which was directed by John Landis.
The music video for "Thriller" combines elements from various horror films, showcasing Jackson leading a dance routine with a group of zombies. This concept drew inspiration from Jackson's admiration for Landis' work on "An American Werewolf in London."
Initially, the "Billie Jean" singer faced financial hurdles due to doubt from his record label, but he and Landis secured funding for the 13-minute short movie. They even produced a behind-the-scenes documentary titled "Making Michael Jackson's Thriller" to attract support from TV networks.
On October 31, audience members are encouraged to dress up in costume at the Neil Simon Theatre right after the 7:30 PM show.
But for the first time ever, all three international productions of the Michael Jackson musical will perform the "Thriller" encore, marking a thrilling addition to the annual Halloween festivities for "MJ" on the Main Stem.
The 7:30 PM GMT show at the Fisher Theatre in Detroit and the 7:30 PM BST show at London's Prince Edward's Theatre for the West End production will occur simultaneously.
The musical boasts score comprised of timeless hits from the archives of music history.
Elijah Rhea Johnson, a performer hailing from Detroit, took on the pivotal role of Michael Jackson in "MJ the Musical." Johnson transitioned into the character, having been involved in shaping the role of Middle Michael during the workshop stages of the production.
Aside from the Tony Awards, the production also clinched four wins including Best Choreography, Best Lighting Design in a Musical, and Best Sound Design in a Musical.
