Roman Banks To Reprise Title Role Of MJ In Australia

Australian producer Michael Cassel, alongside original Broadway producers Lia Vollack, John Branca, and John McClain, has announced that Roman Banks will lead the Australian premiere of the Tony Award-winning musical MJ when it debuts at the Sydney Lyric Theatre in February 2025. 

Banks comes direct to Sydney from the US national tour where he originated the role of MJ.

Banks made his Broadway debut in Dear Evan Hansen, marking the first time an African American performer had portrayed the title role. After leaving Dear Evan Hansen, Banks was cast as Howie in Disney+’s High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, before returning to the stage to lead the US National Tour of MJ. 

Banks’ portrayal of the title role in MJ earned him critical acclaim, with the Chicago Sun-Times calling him “a force of nature” while the Houston Chronicle said “What Banks does on stage as MJ is nothing short of miraculous” and the Denver Post said “The beautiful trick that Banks pulls off as the adult MJ is to embody, not merely mimic...Banks brings an aura that is his own”.

Speaking of the casting, Director and Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon said: “Sydney won’t know what hit it when they Roman explodes onto the stage. His artistry and his interpretation of the role are astonishing, we are so lucky to have him lead our company in Australia.” 

MJ will mark Banks’ debut performance in Australia, and he said he couldn’t wait to bring this extraordinary production to Sydney.

"Starring in the first national tour of MJ: The Musical across the United States was a dream come true. As a performer, this creative team has given me the ultimate gift in being able to play this extraordinary role. Not only that, but they’ve created a vehicle to celebrate the artistry and inspiration of one of the most significant black performers the world will ever see. Joy is an understatement, and I’m so deeply enthralled for another opportunity to share this show, music, and captivating story with Australia," he said.

Banks will be joined by Brisbane-based newcomer Liam Damons who will make his professional debut playing Michael as a young adult.

They join the already announced cast including Josslynn Hlenti Afoa as Michael Jackson’s mother Katherine, Conlon Bonner playing the dual roles of Tito Jackson and Quincy Jones, Derrick Davisplaying Michael’s father, Joseph, and his tour director, Rob, Yashith Fernando as Alejandro, Wonza Johnson as Berry Gordy and Nick, Tim Wright as Dave, and  Penny McNamee as MTV journalist, Rachel.

The rest of the cast is completed by Ceeko, Albanus Terry Strickland II, Beth Appiah Cain, Shewit Belay, Martha Berhane, Eric Boyd, Charlie Bryant, Liam Costello, Xavier Gibson, Kyle Kavully, G Madison IV, Loredo Malcolm, David L. Murray Jr, Sebaga Neumann, Coby Njoroge, Warren Nolan Jr, Fletcher O'Leary, Brittany Page, Dustin Praylow, Tigist Strode and Iris Wei.

MJ takes the audience back to 1992 and inside the creation of the iconic Dangerous World Tour. The production goes beyond the singular moves and signature sound of the star, offering a look at the creative mind and collaborative spirit that catapulted Michael Jackson into legendary status. 

Seen by more than a million people on Broadway, MJ was nominated for 10 Tony Awards, winning four including Best Choreography for the show’s creator, Artistic Associate of The Royal Ballet Christopher Wheeldon OBE, and Best Actor in a Musical for the show’s original Broadway star, Myles Frost.

With a book by two-time Pulitzer Prize winning Lynn Nottage, MJ imagines that an MTV journalist and her camera operator are invited into the rehearsal room as Michael Jackson creates the concert experience that was the Dangerous World Tour. Through their lens, MJ reveals moments from the complex history of his life and takes us on a journey into his imagination and his inspiration. 

MJ features more than 25 of Michael Jackson’s greatest hits from across his career including “Beat It”, “Smooth Criminal”, “Man in The Mirror” and “Thriller”.

MJ opened on Broadway in February 2022 while a US tour began performances in Chicago in August 2023. A London production began in March 2024 with the German production opening earlier this month.

The Australian premiere of MJ is supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW.  

MJ will premiere at the Sydney Lyric Theatre from February, 2025, with its season now extended to 25 May.

With a book by two-time Pulitzer Prize winning writer Lynn Nottage (Ruined, Sweat) MJ is directed and choreographed by Royal Ballet Artistic Associate Christopher Wheeldon OBE, who won the Tony Award for Best Choreography of a Musical for MJ, and whose previous Award-winning directing credits include An American in Paris.

The creative team for MJ also includes Scenic Design by Tony Award and two-time Emmy Award winner Derek McLane (Moulin Rouge! The Musical), Lighting Design by six-time Tony Award winner Natasha Katz (Once), Costume Design by Tony Award and Emmy Award winner Paul Tazewell (Hamilton), Sound Design by Tony Award and Olivier Award winning Gareth Owen(Come From Away), Projection Design by two-time Tony Award nominee Peter Nigrini (Dear Evan Hansen), Hair & Wig Design by two-time Emmy Award nominee Charles LaPointe (The Color Purple) and Make-up Design by Joe Dulude II. Musical Supervision is by Tony Award nominee David Holcenberg (Matilda), and the Orchestrations and Arrangements are by David Holcenberg and Tony Award winner Jason Michael Webb (The Color Purple). Casting Director for the Australian Production is Lauren Wiley with US Casting by The Telsey Office (Rachel Hoffman, CSA & Lindsay Levine, CSA).

Photographer Matthew Murphy

Lia Vollack, John Branca, John McClain and Michael Cassel
present
MJ 
Sydney Lyric Theatre
55 Pirrama Road, Pyrmont 2009
From February 2025
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