Learn Classic Michael Jackson Choreography With MJ the Musical’s Rich + Tone

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Learn Classic Michael Jackson Choreography With MJ the Musical‘s Rich + Tone

The famed choreographers also spoke about teaching Jackson’s dance style to a new generation.

Passing on the choreography of Michael Jackson

Broadway Direct recently presented an afternoon with choreographers Rich & Tone Talauega, who provided the Michael Jackson movement for Broadway’s MJ the Musical, which continues its hit run at the Neil Simon Theatre.

The duo taught choreography from the show to a group of theatre fans and influencers and also spoke with Playbill Director of Social Media Jeffrey Vizcaíno.

About passing on the legacy of Michael Jackson’s dance style, Rich Taluega said he and his brother are grateful “to be able to hold and honor and respect with
dignity, to be able to pass on knowledge that you can’t read and wisdom that you can’t learn, and hopefully it sticks.”

In addition to the late Jackson, Rich + Tone have also provided choreography for Jennifer Lopez and Justin Timberlake, among others.

Watch the complete interview, as well as excerpts from the dance class, in the video below.

The current Broadway cast of MJ features Matte Martinez in the title role (Roman Banks plays the part Friday and Saturday nights), Apollo Levine
as Rob/Joseph Jackson, Bailey McCall as Rachel, Tavon Olds-Sample as
Michael, Christopher Sean Cooper Jr. and Emjay Roa as Little Michael,
Lincoln Alejandro Collier as Little Marlon, Sasha Allen as Katherine
Jackson, Matthew Frederick Harris as Quincy Jones/Tito Jackson, Gabriel
Ruiz as Alejandro, Antoine L. Smith as Nick/Berry Gordy, and Joey Sorge
as Dave, with Lloyd A. Boyd III, Nick T. Daly, Zachary Downer, Kellie
Drobnik, John Edwards, Aydin Eyikan, Chelsea Mitchell-Bonsu, Sarah
Sigman, and Ryan VanDenBoom rounding out the ensemble.

Samuel L. Nelson III and Jayden K. White serve as Standby for MJ and Michael. Swings for the production include Blu
Allen, Dasia Amos, Kyle DuPree, Tre Frazier, Chantelle Good, Michael
Harmon, Skye Jackson-Williams, Joshua Kenneth Allen Johnson, Carole
Denise Jones, Tyrone Reese, Nyla Sostre, and Charles P. Way.

MJ features a book by Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage and direction and choreography by Tony winner Christopher Wheeldon.

The production also has scenic design by Derek McLane, lighting
design by Natasha Katz, costume design by Paul Tazewell, sound design by
Gareth Owen, projection design by Peter Nigrini, hair and wig design by
Charles LaPointe, makeup design by Joe Dulude II, musical
supervision by David Holcenberg, and orchestrations and arrangements by
Holcenberg and Jason Michael Webb. Casting is by The Telsey
Office’s Rachel Hoffman and Lindsay Levine.

MJ, which began previews December 6, 2021, prior to an
official opening February 1, 2022, took home four 2022 Tony Awards,
including Best
Choreography, Best Lighting Design of a Musical, Best Sound Design of a
Musical, and Best Leading Actor in a Musical for original star Myles
Frost, who made history as the
youngest individual actor to win that award.

The North American tour of MJ stars Jordan Markus. The West
End production, at London’s Prince Edward Theatre, stars Jamaal
Fields-Green, the German production at Hamburg’s Stage Theater is led by
Benét Monteiro, and the Australian production at Melbourne’s Her Majesty’s Theatre stars Ilario Grant. MJ will embark on international Asian and U.K. tours in 2027.

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Photo: Matte Martinez in MJ on Broadway

Photo: Matte Martinez in MJ on Broadway

14 PHOTOS

Matte Martinez and company of MJ

Matthew Murphy

Matte Martinez and company of MJ

Matthew Murphy

Matte Martinez and company of MJ

Matthew Murphy

Matte Martinez and company of MJ

Matthew Murphy

Matte Martinez and Bailey McCall in MJ

Matthew Murphy

Apollo Levine and Matte Martinez in MJ

Matthew Murphy

Christopher Sean Cooper and Sasha Allen in MJ

Matthew Murphy