Becoming Michael: Melvin Gray Jr. on Stepping Into the Moonwalk in MJ the Musical

Melvin Gray, Jr. as Michael Jackson in MJ the Musical. Photo courtesy of Melvin Gray, Jr.

When Melvin Gray Jr. received the text message that would change his life, he didn’t react with the dramatic flair one might expect. There was no shouting, no tears—just disbelief. Standing in his home in North Carolina, going through his regular morning routine, he saw a notification from his agent flash across his screen.

“So… you got MJ. They really liked you.”

Gray blinked at the message, convinced it was a prank. “I said, ‘No, I didn’t. You’re lying,’” he recalls, laughing at how surreal the moment felt. “Even when I was in rehearsals learning it, I kept waiting for somebody to say, ‘Actually, we’re going with this person.’ That’s what your brain does. You don’t think it’s real.” But it was real. Gray had been chosen to take on one of the most iconic roles in entertainment history: Michael Jackson. Taking the stage as the King of Pop in the award-winning musical MJ the Musical, which will make a stop at Popejoy Hall from December 10 to 14.

For Gray, the connection to Michael Jackson runs deep. His music is woven into the soundtrack of his childhood. Raised on the musicians his grandmother believed he needed to know, he grew up surrounded by the voices that shaped American art. “[She] made sure I was exposed to Michael, The Temptations, and The Supremes,”  he says. “Those Black musicians that really helped shape the industry.” Born in 1994, he recalls watching The Jacksons: An American Dream on a loop, believing the actors he saw on-screen were the actual Jackson family members. And like so many young fans, he learned by imitating. “Michael means so much to me,” he explains. “He taught me how to dance. His sister Janet and Aaliyah taught me too. We had their videos on DVD, and I would just sit and play them nonstop and practice the moves.”

Even though he has a love of movement and looked to Jackson for inspiration, despite this early passion, performing wasn’t part of his plan. Gray was an athlete. A future doctor. A young man on a medical track with years of preparation behind him. That shifted in college, when he joined the campus choir and caught the attention of the musical theatre department. Friends urged him to audition for a show. Hesitant but curious, he agreed. “I’d never done this before,” he says. “But the moment I stepped on that stage, I got bit by the bug.” His parents were skeptical—until they attended his first performance. “They just knew right then and there,” Gray says. “They were like, ‘He’s supposed to be doing this.’”

Jordan Markus as MJ in MJ the Musical. Photo by Matthew Murphy

Stepping into Michael Jackson’s legacy is not for the faint of heart. MJ the Musical transports audiences through key moments of the artist’s life, focusing on the final days before the 1992 Dangerous World Tour. “We’re in the last two days before we fly to Munich,” Gray explains. “You see Michael’s creative process. Those last little tweaks to make the tour the best tour he’s ever done.” The show features three versions of Michael: the Jackson 5 era prodigy, the rising solo superstar, and the seasoned performer preparing for a global tour. Director Christopher Wheeldon weaves these timelines together so seamlessly that audiences hardly detect the shift. Gray shared how impressed he was with the flow. “You suddenly realize, oh wait—we’ve time jumped,” Gray says. “It flows beautifully. It pulls every piece of his journey into one live production.”

Like many fans, we remember the day that Jackson passed away in 2009. Gray is not alone. He remembers vividly the day he died. “I had just gotten out of driver’s ed,” he says. “Someone told me, ‘Michael Jackson passed away,’ and I remember thinking, ‘What?’” Gray got into his parents’ car and heard the announcement on the radio. The disbelief was immediate and universal. “You’re waiting for someone to say, ‘Oh, he’s in Malibu. He’s fine,” he recalls. “But then the family came forward, and it became real. It hurt. He shouldn’t be gone.” For Gray, performing as Michael carries emotional weight. “To honor him and be part of his legacy—little me would be jumping for joy,” he says.

And the process hasn't been easy. Gray has the daunting task of becoming one of the world's most famous performers, starting with the movements. Michael Jackson’s choreography is legendary—and grueling. Gray didn't mince words when he shared the difficulty of learning his iconic moves. “It is the hardest thing I have ever done,” Gray admits. While many fans know “the moonwalk,” or iconic poses, performing Michael’s full repertoire of choreography requires razor-sharp detail. Gray trained directly with Rich and Tone Talauega, brothers who danced with and choreographed for Michael. “They are basically our reference points,” he says. “They set the foundation for all of his movements.” The work is painstaking. Even Michael’s kicks have multiple variations. The moonwalk must travel a precise distance. The snap of a wrist is as important as a spin. “Everything about his body—the pop-lock, the hands—is so minute,” he explains. “But now? It’s in my body. I put everything on and snap into it.” Remembering the experience, one movement in the Smooth Criminal number nearly broke him. “My calves have never burned so much,” he says, laughing. “I’d be in my room practicing nonstop. Now I’ve got it, but it took a minute.”

Jordan Markus as MJ and cast in MJ the Musical. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

Choreography wasn’t the only challenge in this process. Gray found himself taking on the burden of the story as well. The musical is a deep dive into the moments of Michael Jackson's life and career. When discussing this topic, Gray leaned forward intensely when he talked about the show’s impact on story and music. “Expect those well-known hitters everyone loves,” he says. “If you want to dance, do it. If you want to sing, do it. When we’re up there, we love to see people living! That’s what his music does.” He hopes audiences leave with both joy and understanding. “Michael was complex,” he says. “But he brought so much light to this world. He wanted to heal through his music. Kids today, three, four years old—still smile when they hear him. That’s when you know he was unlike anybody who has ever graced this earth.” And as for Gray, stepping into those iconic shoes night after night feels like fulfilling a destiny he never knew he had.

When complimented that his name, Melvin Gray Jr., sounds like it belongs on a Motown marquee, he beams. “You know, it does,” he laughs. A fitting reflection for a performer carrying the spirit of a legend - one moonwalk, one note, one electrifying moment at a time.

MJ the Musical runs from December 10-14 at Popejoy Hall. Tickets are available at popejoypresents.com