Exciting news for local theatre fans—Kristin Stokes, daughter of Lori Stokes (StarStruck Theatre), will be performing in the upcoming San Jose Broadway production of MJ the Musical.
The show, which debuted on Broadway in 2021, tells the story of Michael Jackson as he prepares for the 1992 Dangerous World Tour. Kristin will be playing the part of Rachel, an MTV documentary filmmaker who interviews Jackson throughout the musical, leading to memories of major incidents in Jackson’s life that are played out on stage.
Kristin, who lives in Brooklyn, New York, auditioned for the part in mid-March, but didn’t expect to be chosen. “Auditioning and auditioning…that’s the gig,” she laughs. Callbacks came a month later, and two weeks after that she was given a one-year contract, a typical actor arrangement. “I was over the moon to get cast in this show! It was so unexpected…and awesome!”
Kristin is part of a small group of actors who will join the touring company, now in its third year. “We had two weeks to learn everything,” she explains. “Then they slowly started to integrate us into the show. I mean, there’s a lot going on backstage, so they need to make sure we’re in the right spot at the right time so we don’t get run over by a dancer or a set piece.”
Rehearsals continue for Kristin’s cohort while the company performs in Portland and Eugene, Oregon, all leading up to the “put in,” an official theatre term for full dress rehearsal, where new cast members perform their scenes in full makeup and costume alongside the existing company. Opening night for Kristin will be in San Jose on July 29.
Many remember Kristin from her role of Annabeth Chase in The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, which ran off-Broadway in 2014 and on Broadway in 2019, followed by a national tour which, incidentally, stopped by San Jose that same year. Says Kristin, “In MJ I get to play this strong, independent woman who gets the job done and has no love interests, so it’s a leading lady role very similar to the one I played in Lightning Thief.”
Of course, there are always challenges. While Kristin is proud of her work originating the role of Annabeth, performing with a small cast of six to seven was exhausting. And while MJ boasts an enormous cast, providing plenty of emotional support, the challenge now lies in figuring out how she fits in. “How do I step into a role and honor someone else’s creation while adding the nuance to make it mine?”
Lucky for Kristin she can seek theater wisdom from her mom, Lori, who this year is celebrating 30 years running StarStruck Theatre, the local youth performing arts nonprofit whose high-quality productions regularly grace the stage at Ohlone College.
“It was definitely a special moment when my mom came to New York to see me in my Broadway debut, with my photo up on the marquee and everything,” smiles Kristin. “I mean, it’s all because of her. My first audition was with her, and I spent all those years at StarStruck. It’s so meaningful when she sees a show I’m in because she knows how much work goes into it.”
Now when she performs, Kristin always thinks of her mom. And her sister, Courtney (also with StarStruck). And her grandmother. Let’s just say when she’s on stage, she’s stoked.
MJ The Musical
Broadway San Jose
Tuesday, July 29 – Sunday, Aug. 3
Center for the Performing Arts
255 Almaden Blvd., San Jose
669.242.8555
Tickets: $95.80 – $115.80
