MJ Cast Performs Thriller Encore on Halloween
Ilario Grant led the Broadway cast of MJ The Musical in a special Halloween curtain call featuring Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Children’s Theater
The Broadway cast of MJ The Musical gave a special Halloween curtain call on October 31, including an encore of Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' led by Ilario Grant. The Halloween encore is an annual tradition for the production.
Why it matters
The annual Halloween encore gives audiences a seasonal highlight tied to the show's celebration of Michael Jackson's catalog. The performance underscores the production's continued popularity since its Broadway opening.
MJ has drawn 2 million patrons on Broadway and 7 million globally since December 2021, and won four Tony Awards in 2022. The stub does not report box office grosses for the Halloween performance.
The players
Ilario Grant
Ilario Grant made his Broadway debut as standby for MJ and Michael, and previously played MJ in Australia, opening the Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth productions.
Lynn Nottage
Lynn Nottage is the playwright who wrote the book for MJ The Musical.
Myles Frost
Myles Frost became the youngest individual actor to win the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical.
The details
Ilario Grant, who made his Broadway debut as standby for MJ and Michael, returned to take over the title role on September 15. The Broadway cast surprised audiences at the October 31 performance with the 'Thriller' encore.
Timeline
December 6, 2021: MJ The Musical began previews.
February 1, 2022: MJ The Musical officially opened.
2022: MJ won four Tony Awards.
September 15: Ilario Grant returned to take over the title role.
October 31: Halloween encore performance of 'Thriller'.
Category Big Picture
The Halloween encore follows the 2022 Tony Awards, where MJ The Musical won four awards and cemented its place as a long-running Broadway hit. The production now moves toward international Asian and UK tours.
Theatergoers can see the production on Broadway, and the show will soon tour Asia and the UK. Audiences in those regions will have chances to see the production in person.
The takeaway
Long-running productions often keep signature moments in rotation to reward returning audiences. The MJ Halloween encore shows how a single seasonal performance can mark a show's ongoing relevance.
What happens next
The production will soon embark on international Asian and UK tours.
Further reading
Explore more in Children’s Theater for context on family-friendly stage productions.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Playbill.
