April 28, 2024
Written By: J.Couch
We (when I say we, I mean Heather) purchased these tickets many months ago, maybe 6 plus months ago. Today was the day that we were scheduled to go see “MJ The Musical”. I was not sure that I really wanted to go see this, but Heather did so I was along for the ride. This was the last day of this show that had been running for the last 18 days, April 10-28th. Also, this is probably the last time that we will be seeing a show at the Buell Theater since we will not be living here in Denver a whole lot longer. That is a whole other story, not sure if I will blog about it or not but maybe.
Since the Buell Theater is a short distance from our apartment, we walked down that way on a beautiful sunny and warm spring afternoon. Lucky that it was NOT in the middle of one of Denver’s spring time afternoon rain storms that seem to happen like clockwork around here. The Buell Theater, located in the Denver Performing Arts Complex, sets the stage for an immersive and captivating experience right from the moment you step inside. Its grand architecture, comfortable seating, and excellent acoustics create the perfect setting for a theatrical masterpiece.
We made it down to the theater with no weather issues, just in time to find our seats for the show. The theater was very crowded for the last day of the show. I am not sure if there was another show later in the evening so this may have been the very last one. We didn’t have the most expensive seats right up front, in fact they were in the very back. Which I have found that I actually like better since they seem to crank up the sound so loud that my ears start to bleed. From the back I was able to hear the music a lot better than if I were sitting right up front. It is a little harder to see the stage and the actors from there but not bad.
At the beginning the curtains were not drawn and the actors were just hanging around on the set warming up, but I think this was supposed to represent them hanging out on the set of Michael Jackson’s concert set. Once the show started, they went through a lot of the back story of Michael from the early years when he was in the Jackson 5 with his older brothers. It delivered a rollercoaster of emotions and musical brilliance. The cast was phenomenal, with performers who not only embodied the essence of Michael Jackson but also brought their own unique flair to the stage. Watching them made me feel like I was actually watching Michael Jackson performing at his shows. It celebrated Michael Jackson’s musical achievements such as, “Thriller”, “Dangerous” and “Smooth Criminal”. Also diving into the personal struggles and triumphs that shaped his life. Emotional moments, such as reflections on his childhood and the challenges he faced with his father and being in the spotlight, added depth and humanity to the narrative.
In the end I found that I really enjoyed this production, I think as much as Heather did. It transported me back in time to when these songs were part of my younger years. It brought back memories of when these songs were popular in my youth. Recently I have enjoyed productions that show an artist’s life and all the struggles that they faced to get to where they were. A lot of times we put these people up on pedestals and only see what they have achieved. We don’t always see all the troubles and roadblocks that they had to navigate to get to where they are. It reminds me that we are all humans running this same similar path in life with many of our own troubles and roadblocks. We just need to keep moving forward.
If you ever have the chance to see “MJ The Musical” at the Buell Theater (not sure when they will be back around) or any other venue, don’t hesitate. It’s more than a show; it’s a celebration of Michael Jackson’s enduring legacy and a testament to the timeless magic of his music. I can honestly say that I will miss being able to walk down to the Denver Performing Arts Complex to see shows here. It has been something that I have really enjoyed during our time here in this city.
If you had the opportunity to see this MJ show, we would love to hear your comments of what you enjoyed about the performance.
Thanks for wandering with us,
The Wandering Couchs
