Behind the curtain of MJ: The Michael Jackson Musical with Sarah Morrison

Four years after MJ: The Michael Jackson Musical first moonwalked onto Broadway, the King of Pop’s electrifying backstage story is making its final Australian stopover at the Crown Theatre from Saturday, June 6—with tickets on sale now. With over six million people worldwide already experiencing the show’s journey back to 1992 and the rehearsals for the Dangerous World Tour, Perth audiences are about to get their turn. RACHEL FINUCANE caught up with Sarah Morrison—who plays MTV journalist Rachel, the musical’s only fictional character and our window into MJ’s story—to find out what drew her to this role, which MJ song is now in her rotation, and what it’s like being the face of the media machine that shaped Michael’s story.

You’ve moved through some pretty different theatrical worlds—Mamma Mia!, Ladies in Black—so what pulled you towards this one specifically?

This is more than just a biographical show about Michael Jackson. It takes a really forensic look at fame, pressure, media, and the people closest to him. It’s exciting to play a character who exists in opposition to the protagonist. There’s a real push and pull for Rachel throughout the show, and, as an actor, there’s so much to work with.

You’re taking over from Penny McNamee for the Perth season—what’s that collaborative process like in rehearsal, and does knowing someone else has been living inside the same character change how you inhabit her?

Penny has been an absolute dream to meet, watch, share with, and learn from. She’s so generous. So many talented women around the world have played this role now, and I think theatre is special because everyone brings something different to a character; we can’t reproduce exactly what our predecessor did, and nor should we. At the end of the day, I can only do what I do best and bring my own version of Rachel, with Penny being a huge inspiration.

Rachel is one of the only fully fictional characters in an otherwise biographical story. Why do you feel Rachel was written into the play? What important role does she play in the story that none of the ‘real’ characters do?

The real antagonist in this piece is the media at large: the tabloids and journalists looking to create and monetise a story out of Michael. Rachel gives that group a face. She’s charming and intelligent, but also relentless. You could definitely say she’s a bit of a wolf in sheep’s clothing, but I think she’s put between a rock and a hard place when it comes to Michael, but ultimately she is there to dig a little deeper and see what’s under the surface.

She’s tenacious, boundary-crossing, and relentless in drawing out the truth. Has playing someone who dissects fame taught you anything about it that you didn’t expect?

What surprised me most was how easy it is to understand both sides. As Rachel and Michael build this working relationship, the lines get really blurred, and you might even say there is a budding friendship there. By the end of the show, I think you’re left feeling that, rightly or wrongly, they both think they’re doing the right thing.

The show also takes audiences back to 1992. What’s something you love about that era that’s been fun to revisit in 2026?

The fashion! I get to wear clothes that are so far from my day-to-day mood board, and it’s so fun. There’s something really powerful about that rock-chic early-90s vibe, and it feels so good to don the leather jacket and platform boots.

Being part of this musical, was there anything you learnt about Michael Jackson or his story that surprised you?

I knew MJ was a charitable man, but I don’t think I realised the extent of it before working on this show. Learning more about MJ’s seemingly endless amount of generosity is very moving.

Michael Jackson has such an incredible catalogue of songs—far too many to fit into one performance. What’s your favourite and why?

I actually didn’t know Stranger in Moscow before seeing this show, and now it’s become one of my all-time favourites. MJ’s songs are living and breathing things, and that song feels very vulnerable and quintessentially human.

MJ: The Michael Jackson the Musical hits Crown Theatre from Saturday, June 6, to Sunday, July 19, 2026. Tickets are on sale now from mjthemusical.com.au