MJ The Musical - Prince Edward Theatre (2024)

[mjf]

Dec 7, 2024 22:38:19 GMT rebz said:

Myles was back for tonight’s show, but was announced indisposed at the interval and Kieran took over.

Myles’ dancing as effortless as usual but it did feel like he was just running his lines and had very little acting energy so he’s clearly unwell (or very bored)!

Seeing Myles and Kieran in the same show was interesting - there is little to separate them skillwise in my view, unlike with the standbys where the lack of experience shows.

Thanks for the update! That’s a shame about Myles pulling out halfway through the show... Perhaps he pushed himself too soon. He probably would’ve been better off staying home so he could fully recover in time for Tuesday’s show.

But kudos to Kieran for stepping in at a moment’s notice! He’s a powerhouse. But I saw him post a photo of a bunch of cold medicine a few hours ago, so it looks like he might be sick now, too. :/ I hope he’s taking good care of himself.

And I’m curious… did the audience react at all when it was announced that Kieran would be taking over? I wonder if the average theatre-goer even knows who the actors are or if they couldn’t care less!

[southwicker]

Dec 8, 2024 12:35:08 GMT max said:

Whether the misses are due to ill, injured, or bored I haven't seen much coverage of Myles Frost since the show opened - on mainstream media, that is. The production could have played high status and touted him as the star Broadway was gifting us, and that we would get to know and embrace as our own. Perhaps Myles just doesn't see a market for himself in London/UK in future and so it's not worth it to try and embed. He just seems completely under the radar.

Or have I missed guest and chatshow appearances in various places?

We went to see the show back in September and until then, I had no idea who was in the cast. Myles was on that night and was phenomenal. The next day, there was the entire cast segment in This Morning when they did Beat It. Before the Beat It segment, he was interviewed by Alison and Dermot. After that I googled him on Youtube and saw he had been in quite a few chat shows/interviews in the States prior to him coming here.  

Other than TM, there were a couple of BBC radio interviews and thats all I have seen. He was unfairly asked which was better Broadway or the West End and he was understandably non comital! 

I am not sure if Broadway is a bigger deal than the West End or if he is maybe disappointed that audiences are not as cock a hoop as Broadway 🤔  British being more reserved etc etc. 

Kieran must be enjoying all the fill ins. Must be horrible to have to hang around incase he is needed or not

[southwicker]

Dec 8, 2024 16:56:31 GMT mjf said:

Dec 7, 2024 22:38:19 GMT rebz said:

Myles was back for tonight’s show, but was announced indisposed at the interval and Kieran took over.

Myles’ dancing as effortless as usual but it did feel like he was just running his lines and had very little acting energy so he’s clearly unwell (or very bored)!

Seeing Myles and Kieran in the same show was interesting - there is little to separate them skillwise in my view, unlike with the standbys where the lack of experience shows.

Thanks for the update! That’s a shame about Myles pulling out halfway through the show... Perhaps he pushed himself too soon. He probably would’ve been better off staying home so he could fully recover in time for Tuesday’s show.

But kudos to Kieran for stepping in at a moment’s notice! He’s a powerhouse. But I saw him post a photo of a bunch of cold medicine a few hours ago, so it looks like he might be sick now, too. :/ I hope he’s taking good care of himself.

And I’m curious… did the audience react at all when it was announced that Kieran would be taking over? I wonder if the average theatre-goer even knows who the actors are or if they couldn’t care less!

I saw that post too with all the remedies for colds and flus. I suppose its like kids at school when one comes down with a bug they drop like flies.  

I looked up the cast list next day to see who they were and what their theatre background was. Myles resume stood out like a mile listing all his achievements in such a short space of time. 

We have tickets for February and Im not holding my breath that he will be on but happy if it is Kieran. 

[rebz]

Dec 8, 2024 16:56:31 GMT mjf said:

Dec 7, 2024 22:38:19 GMT rebz said:

Myles was back for tonight’s show, but was announced indisposed at the interval and Kieran took over.

Myles’ dancing as effortless as usual but it did feel like he was just running his lines and had very little acting energy so he’s clearly unwell (or very bored)!

Seeing Myles and Kieran in the same show was interesting - there is little to separate them skillwise in my view, unlike with the standbys where the lack of experience shows.

Thanks for the update! That’s a shame about Myles pulling out halfway through the show... Perhaps he pushed himself too soon. He probably would’ve been better off staying home so he could fully recover in time for Tuesday’s show.

But kudos to Kieran for stepping in at a moment’s notice! He’s a powerhouse. But I saw him post a photo of a bunch of cold medicine a few hours ago, so it looks like he might be sick now, too. :/ I hope he’s taking good care of himself.

And I’m curious… did the audience react at all when it was announced that Kieran would be taking over? I wonder if the average theatre-goer even knows who the actors are or if they couldn’t care less!

There was a bit of confusion, mainly because the announcement was so fast then the curtain went up - I’m not sure many managed to catch Kieran’s name.

However I think Billie Jean into Smooth Criminal is such a crowd pleaser segment that they were all on-side within about five minutes. Kieran did well not letting it phase him, especially a rowdy Saturday night audience.

But agree with what’s been said elsewhere in this thread - he must be a happy alternate, he’s got to do so much more than likely anyone expected!

[evilmat360]

Jamaal Fields-Green has been announced to replace Myles from 14th January 2025.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDZFyNfKByo

[normasturban]

They’re really committed to importing leads for this one. Do they struggle to cast it with UK actors?

I can’t imagine Myles was a great ROI.

[A.Ham]

I wonder how many performances Myles will manage between now and 13th Jan?

I assume the intention is for his final show to be Sat 11th with the alternate covering Mon 13th, but I certainly wouldn’t risk booking for his final show!

[rebz]

I’m assuming 11th for his last show, with the usual alternate on Monday. I’m booking just in case, and will go on 14th too.

Shame they didn’t offer the role to Kieran as alternate or Kwame/Andre? Unless they’re fed up after a year. After all it’s not like Jamaal is a name over here.

[southwicker]

So it looks as if it will be Jamal we will be seeing when we go to London next year. We have tickets booked for a Thursday evening in Feb.

I had expected Kieran to be cast as full time MJ upon Myles departure so shocked he wasnt! Unless he didnt want it, is also due to leave and has other work lined up 🤔

I read that Jamal was drafted in due to the others being sick but other than that never heard of him. Equally never heard of Myles either. Wonder if there are any other cast changes afoot 🤔

[keekio2]

Definitely some tension between myles and the producers he’s made a video saying that he wasn’t sacked. It was his own decision to leave and that he would’ve appreciated to have been able to announce his own departure

[Paulw]

Dec 10, 2024 18:27:49 GMT keekio2 said:

Definitely some tension between myles and the producers he’s made a video saying that he wasn’t sacked. It was his own decision to leave and that he would’ve appreciated to have been able to announce his own departure

So in other words he was! It’s just a shame that they have gone external and not promoted from within in what must have been a difficult 8 or 9 months.

It comes across to me as if Myles was holding them to ransom doing what he pleases knowing he will get away with it and they said enough is enough and their announcement was a F you to him! Just my own thoughts on it as it’s not normal for someone to be off so much in such a short space of time

[keekio2]

Now he’s posting on his story that he feels disrespected

[blamerobots]

I'd heard of them slowly working on cast change for this since September when illnesses started so it really does look quite bad that he didn't get to announce his own departure on his own terms. I'd understand fully if he feels disrespected

[Paulw]

Dec 10, 2024 18:43:13 GMT keekio2 said:

Now he’s posting on his story that he feels disrespected

Not a thought to the audiences he has disrespected when he has gone off half way through a show (which has happened on numerous occasions) and constant nights off, from what I have heard he is in a small fortune to be the lead in this and I don’t know anyone that would get away with the time he has been away from this show

[normasturban]

Do actors get to announce things on their own terms? Usually it’s a press release from the show’s publicity team.

Maybe he means he didn’t get the heads-up that it was being announced today and didn’t have a social media post ready.

[blamerobots]

Dec 10, 2024 18:51:35 GMT Paulw said:

Dec 10, 2024 18:43:13 GMT keekio2 said:

Now he’s posting on his story that he feels disrespected

Not a thought to the audiences he has disrespected when he has gone off half way through a show (which has happened on numerous occasions) and constant nights off, from what I have heard he is in a small fortune to be the lead in this and I don’t know anyone that would get away with the time he has been away from this show

That's a bit strong, this show really hasn't been transparent about these mid-show changes, but it genuinely sounds like hell to do this. When I saw it with my mother who still works as a physio she quipped "I wouldn't want to jump out that platform 8 days a week. That adds years on your knees."

[Paulw]

Dec 10, 2024 19:00:19 GMT blamerobots said:

Dec 10, 2024 18:51:35 GMT Paulw said:

Not a thought to the audiences he has disrespected when he has gone off half way through a show (which has happened on numerous occasions) and constant nights off, from what I have heard he is in a small fortune to be the lead in this and I don’t know anyone that would get away with the time he has been away from this show

That's a bit strong, this show really hasn't been transparent about these mid-show changes, but it genuinely sounds like hell to do this. When I saw it with my mother who still works as a physio she quipped "I wouldn't want to jump out that platform 8 days a week. That adds years on your knees."

It might be a bit strong but what about his fellow cast members who have done it night after night without the time off he has had? He can’t be playing the disrespect card when he has hardly been there and picking up a fortune in the process there comes a time when they have to cut their losses and say enough is enough! Audience members and his fellow cast mates deserve better

[blamerobots]

I'm just saying that placing blame on Myles is pretty reductive considering the many points of failure a production like this can have. 😐

We don't have the full picture. We probably never will but assuming Myles is lazy instead of maybe... being injured??

[mrbarnaby]

This is crazy!!

His ego is showing. Shame he didn’t care enough to actually show up for all of the audiences he let down over the last year or so.

They clearly got tired of his terrible work ethic and took some control back.

He ain’t Hugh Jackman… I don’t get why he has to ‘announce his departure’.

Hes been paid to play a role that he’s hardly turned up for, see ya.

[southwicker]

Dec 10, 2024 18:52:55 GMT normasturban said:

Do actors get to announce things on their own terms? Usually it’s a press release from the show’s publicity team.

Maybe he means he didn’t get the heads-up that it was being announced today and didn’t have a social media post ready.

I had a nosey at his IG and saw he announced his departure when he was due to leave NY then again when he left. Maybe the company over there operates differently to here 🤔 Maybe someone in publicity? jumped the gun here not realising he would have liked to announce it personally. Doesnt help being off sick either so I can see how it must seem to him. Nonetheless, this could make things awkward for the next few weeks.

Still dont get why none of the other MJs got this opportunity going forward…maybe they feel not good enough 🤔

[mrbarnaby]

Dec 10, 2024 18:46:00 GMT blamerobots said:

I'd heard of them slowly working on cast change for this since September when illnesses started so it really does look quite bad that he didn't get to announce his own departure on his own terms. I'd understand fully if he feels disrespected

Pretty sure they’ve been working on the entire cast change since September- not just MJ. That is completely normal. The contract would have been a year for everyone so either you stay on, or you go. He was never staying for a second year.

[normasturban]

Dec 10, 2024 19:48:04 GMT southwicker said:

Still dont get why none of the other MJs got this opportunity going forward…maybe they feel not good enough 🤔

A) Could be leaving too as part of a cast change

Or

B) Are far too reliable as covers. 🤔

[blamerobots]

Dec 10, 2024 19:51:17 GMT mrbarnaby said:

Dec 10, 2024 18:46:00 GMT blamerobots said:

I'd heard of them slowly working on cast change for this since September when illnesses started so it really does look quite bad that he didn't get to announce his own departure on his own terms. I'd understand fully if he feels disrespected

Pretty sure they’ve been working on the entire cast change since September- not just MJ. That is completely normal. The contract would have been a year for everyone so either you stay on, or you go. He was never staying for a second year.

That's what I meant, the whole cast change.

[Paulw]

Dec 10, 2024 19:11:14 GMT blamerobots said:

I'm just saying that placing blame on Myles is pretty reductive considering the many points of failure a production like this can have. 😐

We don't have the full picture. We probably never will but assuming Myles is lazy instead of maybe... being injured??

I get that but to say he is completely blameless can’t be correct, I mean to a normal person who is Myles Frost? He’s hardly a household name, he’s hardly a big name in theatre (apart from 1 show) yes he is very good at what he does in that 1 show but he isn’t the show and will continue without him like it has done elsewhere.

There have been countless big names come over from America over the years (I could list them all night long) and none of them have his record of absence, injury or not. If he wasn’t up to doing it he shouldn’t have taken it on to serve his own ego. You have to remember this show isn’t cheep and to not get part of the reason for the high price isn’t fair on the paying public.

To clarify I have seen the show 12 times (different days and spread out) since opening and have seen Myles a total of 2 1/2 shows that’s not even a 1/4 of the shows I have seen and I’m sure I’m not the only one to say that.

[thedrowsychaperone]

I feel like the production announcing the cast change is completely common practice?