Michael Jackson’s legacy continues to shine, and through the Tony Award®-winning MJ The Musical, his music, moves, and story come to life on stage. The show, which has travelled to New York City and London, began its run in Hamburg at the Stage Theater an der Elbe in December 2024, celebrating his artistry.
In partnership with Blue-i Group and long-time partner Stage Entertainment, INFiLED contributed to the Hamburg production by providing a large-scale LED screen. The setup featured 200 panels from our AR Series with a 3.9mm pixel pitch.
MJ The Musical is a musical that explores Michael Jackson’s creative process leading up to his Dangerous World Tour in 1992. Featuring iconic hits like Beat It, Billie Jean, Bad, Smooth Criminal, and Thriller, the Broadway sensation won four Tony Awards and made its German premiere in Hamburg end of last year.
The visual design was critical to delivering the immersive experience of the show. Vibrant, concert-style animations needed to transition seamlessly into intimate, dramatic scenes, showcasing different eras and providing context for key moments in Michael Jackson’s life and career.
This required dynamic LED screens that could work in harmony with projection mapping while integrating digital content with real-time physical scenery. The production also demanded flawless synchronisation and vivid rendering.
Reliability was another key concern due to the high number of performances. Ethan Forde, European sales director at Blue-i Group, explained: “Because this is a long running production, with 8 performances each week, we needed LED panels that were highly reliable. The screens had to perform consistently without the need for frequent maintenance or servicing.”
When Blue-i Group evaluated the production’s requirements, they opted to upgrade the display solution to INFiLED’s AR3.9 series. After a successful demo, the video designer Peter Nigrini was impressed by the visual impact, leading to the installation of 250 panels (13,000mm x 11,000mm) for the Hamburg performance.
For the performance, AR3.9 panels delivered 5000-nit brightness, ensuring every detail was visible, even under intense stage lighting. Forde noted that the image quality was “phenomenal” and highlighted how this level of brightness – typically used outdoors – proved perfect for indoor use. The panels also captured a full spectrum of colours with exceptional accuracy, Forde explained: “This was crucial, as the colours had to pop and blend seamlessly with the stage design, especially during the high-energy moments.”
Designed for high reliability and low maintenance, the AR3.9 panels consistently delivered performance throughout the install, while enduring the rigours of eight performances and multiple rehearsals each week. “Even after years of continuous use of the LED screens of INFiLED, they are still able to match the need of an 8 show per week run.” explained Karsten Walter, production video engineer at Stage Entertainment.
Additionally, the AR3.9’s ability to mirror intricate details, such as a scenic moving bridge on stage, ensured every real-time visual detail was flawlessly rendered. The panels also worked seamlessly with Brompton Technology’s processors and Disguise media servers, enabling smooth workflows that supported the show’s technical demands.
Forde concluded: “For productions like this, the right screen is crucial. INFiLED’s AR3.9 LED screens delivered exceptional brightness and colour accuracy, bringing the creative vision to life. The integration with Brompton and Disguise was also key to achieving a flawless production.”
