If you’re like me, you wore out the tape of Michael Jackson’s "Dangerous Tour: Live in Bucharest" concert you recorded off of MuchMusic. At the time it was the biggest concert special in HBO history, and Jackson was the biggest artist on the planet. The concert was a spectacle that had never been seen before.

Before a concert takes the stage there are hours of planning, rehearsal, and moving parts (literally). This is the setting for MJ: The Musical. Set in a rehearsal hall, the show shares some of Jackson’s life story through the lens of his music. With a mix of hits, a spectacular set design, incredible dancing, and 3 actors that capture the essence of Jackson, MJ is an incredible show.

While much of the focus is on the 1992 version of Jackson, played with insane accuracy by Jordan Markus, credit must also be given to Brandon Lee Harris, who plays Thriller era Michael, and Quentin Blanton Jr who plays young Jackson 5era MJ. Jackson is not easy to recreate in movement, speaking voice, and singing yet all three nail it. Also of note is Rajane Katurah as Katherine Jackson, whose powerhouse vocals shine on Man in the Mirror but also provide a genuine tender moment on I’ll Be There. With a simple lighting and voice change Devin Bowles switches from MJ’s tour manager Rob to his father Joseph, a chilling performance that captures the cruelty that the Jackson’s father inflicted on his kids.

The show does take some creative license. The story is told through the lens of a fictional documentary crew making a film about the rehearsals, including interviewing Jackson. That never happened, but it allows for the storytelling to move through in a creative manner. The number of dancers, costumes, and looks from the Dangerous tour aren’t recreated but still look spectacular. The understanding laughter from the audience when Jackson’s team keep arguing about the costs and safety of a scissor lift for the opening of Jam, and a jetpack to fly Jackson over the audience showed that I was not alone in my obsession with the Live in Bucharest concert.

The entire cast gets to shine on the finale, with different casts singing  or rapping on Man in the Mirror and a medley of Jam/Black or White/Wannabe Startin Something. Unlike the concert, the musical did not splurge on a jet pack.

The musical doesn’t shy away from Jackson’s pain pill addiction that stemmed from being caught on fire filming a Pepsi commercial in the 1980s, and a visually spectacular version of Earth Song/They Don’t Care About Us does touch on some of the media reports about Jackson.

Fans of Michael Jackson will love every second of MJ: The Musical. Casual fans will enjoy it. I didn’t think anything could beat the Tina Turner Musical for a biographical musical, but MJ is just as incredible both visually, musically, and with a captivating storyline. It’s a show that could be seen again and again. I’m looking forward to the next time I get to experience it, and if you haven’t, you should get tickets.