I adored Michael Jackson music but especially loved his choreography. I can’t wait for this show. I hope they open with “Thriller” as it is his most famous choreography.
I was obsessed with it as a teen and was delighted when Broadway Cares did it at a benefit on Halloween 🎃 I covered it and was there video taping it.
Hoo hee! CAN’T WAIT! Shamone!
Press release below!
MEET MJ’S
TALAUEGA BROTHERS
PREVIEW PERFORMANCES
FOR
“MJ”
WILL BEGIN
AT BROADWAY’S NEIL SIMON THEATRE
OPENING NIGHT CONFIRMED FOR
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2022
AT 6:30 P.M.
New York, NY – MJ Director and Tony Award-winning Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon is proud to introduce a unique part of his creative team – Rich + Tone Talauega, who will focus particularly on Michael Jackson movement. Inspired by the life and art of Michael Jackson, MJ, will begin performances on Broadway on December 6, 2021, with an opening night set for Tuesday, February 1, 2022, at the newly refurbished Neil Simon Theatre (250 W 52nd Street).
Wheeldon commented, “Working with Rich and Tone over the last three years of our developmental process has been exceptional and I am so thrilled to announce them. It has been very exciting to have them as a part of my team as their first-hand knowledge both of Michael’s life on tour and movement languages is invaluable and informed the authenticity of our show.”
The superstar brothers were discovered by one of Michael Jackson’s choreographers as teens. They began their careers as dancers on Michael’s HIStory World Tour and went on to dance and choreograph with Michael for years to come. Rich + Tone have worked on several Michael Jackson projects since his passing including choreographing multiple numbers in the two critically acclaimed shows produced by the Estate and Cirque du Soleil, Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour which toured the world for 3+ years and Michael Jackson ONE, a resident show in Las Vegas. Rich + Tone are two of the most sought-after dancers and choreographers in pop music, working with artists raging from Madonna to Missy Elliott to The Backstreet Boys.
As previously announced, Myles Frost will be making his Broadway debut as Michael Jackson. Joining Mr. Frost in the cast are Quentin Earl Darrington as Joseph Jackson / Rob, Whitney Bashor as Rachel, Gabriel Ruiz as Alejandro, Antoine L. Smith as Berry Gordy / Nick, Joey Sorge as Dave, John Edwards as Jackie Jackson / Ensemble, Ayana George as Katherine Jackson, Apollo Levine as Quincy Jones / Tito Jackson, Tavon Olds-Sample as Michael, Lamont Walker II as Jermaine Jackson / Ensemble, Zelig Williams as Marlon Jackson / Ensemble, with Raymond Baynard, Kali May Grinder, Oyoyo Joi, Carina-Kay Louchiey, Renni Anthony Magee, Aaron James McKenzie, Aramie Payton, Kamille Upshaw, Ryan VanDenBoom, and Darius Wright rounding out the ensemble.
MJ features a book by two-time Pulitzer Prize® winner Lynn Nottage and a score made up of some of the best-loved, top-selling songs in recording history. Tony Award winner Christopher Wheeldon will direct and choreograph.
The creative team will feature Scenic Design by Tony and two-time Emmy Award winner Derek McLane, Lighting Design by six-time Tony Award winner Natasha Katz, Costume Design by Tony and Emmy Award winner Paul Tazewell, Sound Design by two-time Tony Award nominee Gareth Owen, Projection Design by two-time Tony Award nominee Peter Nigrini, and Hair & Wig Design by two-time Emmy Award nominee Charles LaPointe.
The creative team will also feature Musical Supervision by David Holcenberg, Orchestrations and Arrangements by David Holcenberg and Tony Award winner Jason Michael Webb, and Music Direction by Jason Michael Webb.
MJ is produced by Lia Vollack Productions and The Michael Jackson Estate.
Tickets are available on Ticketmaster.com.
BIOGRAPHIES
RICH + TONE TALAUEGA’s talents encompass wide-ranging success as music video directors, creative directors, musicians, producers, and performers who are at the forefront of today’s pop culture movement. As multi-faceted artists, they are able to achieve truly unique results in their work as a creative force across all disciplines of entertainment, which continue to make them highly sought after by the top names in the industry.
As teenagers, Rich + Tone were discovered by Michael Jackson’s choreographer while free-styling at a club in Oakland, CA. Within a year, Rich + Tone were on their way to becoming legendary dancers and choreographers, having toured with both Diana Ross and Michael Jackson within months of moving to Los Angeles.
Rich + Tone’s dedication, unique style, and creative abilities have translated into work in a range of artistic mediums. Their highly visible projects include work for iPod, Coca-Cola, X-Box, Pepsi, Gap, Mitsubishi, Old Navy, Kia, as well as the feature films “Step Up 3D”, “Battle of the Year: The Dream Team,” “StreetDance 2,” and “Save The Last Dance.” In 2008 they served as Artistic Directors and Choreographers for what was “the biggest performance ever created for ‘Dancing With the Stars” – a piece celebrating Macy’s 150th Anniversary, in which they took viewers on a journey – “Dancing through the Decades” – the 1930′s, 1960′s, 1980′s, and the Future. Rich + Tone returned to their roots, choreographing multiple numbers in the critically acclaimed “Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour” and Cirque du Soleil’s newest show “Michael Jackson ONE” at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
The list of artists seeking their collaboration includes Madonna, Miley Cyrus, Jennifer Lopez, Usher, Chris Brown, Robin Thicke, Gwen Stefani, Christina Aguilera, Kylie Minogue, Missy Elliott, Black Eyed Peas, The Backstreet Boys, Monica, Pink, and Dirty Vegas. Rich + Tone creative directed Madonna’s MDNA Tour, the highest grossing tour of 2012, as well as her Super Bowl XLVI Half Time Show performance, which was the second most-watched live televised event in US history only behind Michael Jackson, the King of Pop’s halftime performance. 2012 turned out to be a landmark year for Rich + Tone, as both the MJ Immortal World Tour and MDNA were the top two highest grossing tours of the year. They were also the associate directors and choreographers of Miley Cyrus’s 2014 Bangerz Tour, which received rave reviews. Rich & Tone recently directed and choreographed the Backstreet Boys 2019/2020 DNA tour. The also directed the music video for the single “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” from the DNA album. Recent television projects include Netflix’s “The Get Down” and FX’s “Legion and Dave”.
Rich + Tone have been nominated for numerous MTV Video Music Awards for videos such as Chris Brown’s “Fine China,” Jennifer Lopez’s “Get Right,” Madonna’s “Sorry” and “4 Minutes,” as well as Chris Brown’s “Wall to Wall” and “Forever”. They also received an Emmy Nomination for their work on the 2005 NAACP Image Awards.
Renowned photographer and director, David LaChappelle has often sought out the talents of Rich + Tone, working with them on several video and commercial projects. Rich + Tone collaborated with LaChappelle on the critically acclaimed film “Rize” for which they served as producers of the film, choreography coordinators, and producers of the soundtrack. The film was released in June of 2005 by Lions Gate, and Peter Travers of Rolling Stone described the film as “A knockout!
