Elijah Rhea Johnson Set To Replace Tony Winner Myles Frost In ‘MJ The Musical’

Elijah Rhea Johnson

The highly-anticipated Broadway show, MJ the Musical, is set to welcome a new cast member in the role of Michael Jackson. Elijah Rhea Johnson, who previously assisted in creating the character of "Middle Michael" during the show's workshop process, is set to take over the role starting April 4, 2023.

The announcement was made on Monday by the show's producers Lia Vollack, John Branch, and John McClain. Johnson's casting comes after Tony Award winner Myles Frost, who has been in the role for a year and a half, departs the production on April 2.

Director Christopher Wheeldon expressed his excitement about Johnson's casting, stating, "Those of us who worked with Elijah during the developmental workshops knew, when his schedule didn’t allow him to join the original Broadway cast, we hadn’t seen the last of him or his remarkable talent. Though we might have initially seen him as ‘Middle Michael,’ it is so clear to me now that adult Michael is who he was born to play. Myles is leaving behind some pretty big loafers to fill, and Elijah is more than ready to wear them."

MJ the Musical, written by Lynn Nottage and directed by Christopher Wheeldon, has already won four 2022 Tony Awards, including Best Leading Actor in a Musical for Frost and Best Choreography for Wheeldon.

Prior to landing the role of Michael Jackson, Johnson had already made a name for himself in the theater world. He previously starred on stage for The Lion King and was a lead singer for Kidz Bop. Johnson was also a member of the former boy band Mindless Behavior.

As MJ the Musical prepares to welcome Johnson to its cast, fans are eagerly anticipating his take on the iconic role of Michael Jackson. With his background in music and theater, Johnson is sure to bring his own unique flair to the character and make it his own. Fans can catch Johnson's debut performance in MJ the Musical starting on April 4, 2023.