Broadway News
Brandon Lee Harris Will Be Broadway's New Michael in MJ Musical This Summer
The hit musical about the late King of Pop continues at the Neil Simon Theatre.
April 14, 2026 By Andrew Gans
Brandon Lee Harris, who originated the part of Michael in the first national tour of the Tony-nominated musical MJ, will return to the Broadway production at the Neil Simon Theatre and take over that role beginning July 7.
Harris, who previously played a brief Broadway engagement as Michael in May 2023, will succeed original Broadway cast member Tavon Olds-Sample, who originated the role of Michael in 2021 and will play his final show May 31 after over 2,000 performances in the role, which sees the King of Pop as a young adult. In the interm period, the role of Michael will be performed by the production’s swings and understudies.
The record-breaking production currently stars Matte Martinez in the title role.
MJ features a book by Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage and direction and choreography by Tony winner Christopher Wheeldon.
Photos: MJ Celebrates 4 Years on Broadway
Matte Martinez and company of MJ
By: Michaelah Reynolds
Company of MJ
By: Michaelah Reynolds
Company of MJ
By: Michaelah Reynolds
Christopher Sean Cooper, Jr., Tavon Olds-Sample, and Matte Martinez
By: Michaelah Reynolds
Company of MJ
By: Michaelah Reynolds
Company of MJ
By: Michaelah Reynolds
Melba Wilson
By: Michaelah Reynolds
Anniversary cake by Melbas
By: Michaelah Reynolds
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 is currently playing Sacramento, California, at the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center starring Jordan Markus; the German production plays Hamburg’s Stage Theater starring Benét Monteiro, and the Australian production plays Brisbane’s Lyric Theatre starring Ilario Grant. MJ will soon embark on international Asian and U.K. tours.
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