Slammed with finals at Hampton University a couple of years ago, theater student Erik Hamilton wasn’t jazzed about his mother's suggestion. She urged him to audition for “MJ the Musical,” a Broadway show bringing the artistry of entertainer Michael Jackson to stage.
“Do I have to?” asked the then-sophomore from Lorton before returning to the books.
The night before the submission deadline in 2024, Hamilton had just left rehearsal of a university production when Mom called again.
“Did you do it?”
Hamilton promised he’d get it done before midnight.
He wasn’t overly satisfied with the track he assembled of his performing three Jackson hits and dancing to “Billie Jean.” Learning experience, he told himself. Instead, it turned into his professional debut.
Three actors play the King of Pop in the national tour of the Tony-Award-winning “MJ," which begins a six-day run Feb. 4 at Chrysler Hall. Director/choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage created the show, which centers on the making of the 1992 “Dangerous Tour,” considered the artistic pinnacle for Jackson.
Hamilton, now a 21-year-old senior at Hampton, plays one of three Michaels in the show, portraying the moon-walking icon in his late teens and early 20s. He is also understudy to Jordan Markus for the principal role which depicts Jackson around age 35.
While Hamilton didn’t anticipate his career taking off so quickly, Iris Goode-Middleton, director of student theatre and liberal studies at Hampton, wasn’t surprised.
“When you combine exceptional talent with exceptional work ethic, it will get you excellence,” she said. “That’s exactly who he is. You’re talking about the student who asks the questions, who takes it seriously, who sat in the front row taking notes when speakers were on campus.”
Hamilton stepped into the shoes of Jackson long before the jukebox musical made its Broadway debut in February 2022. He and his two brothers grooved to outdo each other to the Wii video game, “Michael Jackson: The Experience.”
By the time Hamilton debuted as Jackson last July in Cleveland, he had been schooled by choreographers Rich and Tone Talauega, brothers who gained fame working on Jackson’s “HIStory” world tour.
While Hamilton prides himself in being a quick study, at times, he said, he wasn’t even close to the moves of the only recording artist inducted into the Dance Hall of Fame. Jackson was honored in August 2010, 14 months after his death.
“I tell people he looks so erratic and so fast and all over the place, but he was so measured and precise, it takes some time getting used to that,” Hamilton said. “Michael Jackson does, like, 20,000 moves in a nanosecond.”
Goode-Middleton will bring 20 students from Hampton's theater department to Wednesday’s show, which will also be attended by Hamilton’s parents.
Hamilton, who takes five online classes while performing seven shows a week, dons headphones before taking the stage. He turns up the “Rocky” score to energize himself. On those nights he’s in the lead role he listens to “Beat It.”
“I have a blast every single night,” Hamilton said. “It’s truly a cast of talented but also kind and down-to-earth individuals. When we come together, it’s such a fun time and truly magical.”
Visit SevenVenues.com for ticket information. A limited number of lottery tickets will be available for each performance. The digital lottery is open 8 a.m. to 2.p.m. and tickets are $25 each plus fees. Entrants may request up to two tickets. Enter at lottery.broadwaydirect.com/show/mj-norfolk/
