Overview
- Martinez assumes the title role at the Neil Simon Theatre on September 2, succeeding Elijah Rhea Johnson, who gave his final performance August 31.
- He made his Broadway debut with MJ in October 2023 and served as standby for MJ and Michael after early work with Kidz Bop, songwriting for High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, and TV appearances on The Good Doctor and Saturdays.
- Director-choreographer Christopher Wheeldon has praised Martinez’s portrayal as “dazzling” and said the team is excited for him to lead the production full time.
- Since opening in 2022 after 2021 previews, the Lynn Nottage–penned, Wheeldon–staged show has played to more than 1.9 million Broadway patrons and broken the Neil Simon Theatre box office record 11 times.
- The franchise remains active worldwide, with a North American tour led by Jordan Markus, West End and Hamburg companies starring Jamaal Fields-Green and Benét Monteiro, and an Australian run moving to Melbourne on September 9 with Ilario Grant after concluding in Sydney.