That dream became a reality for nearly 50 students of The Hartt School, as alumnus Jamaal Fields-Green ’18 returned to Hartford as the star of the national tour of MJ: The Musical at the Bushnell.
In a masterclass this week, Fields-Green taught the aspiring performers some of the Tony-winning musical’s challenging, Michael Jackson-inspired choreography, including the song “Smooth Criminal.” Fields-Green is the only actor to play Jackson in all three global productions of MJ: on Broadway, in the national tour, and in London.
Fields-Green also led a Q&A session where he shared his experience and insights about making a living in the arts. He’s a mainstay on national tours, having previously played John Laurens/Philip Hamilton in the national tour of Hamilton. But he also runs his own production company, records his own music, and writes, directs, and stars in in his own films.
“You're as multifaceted as you decide to be,” he told the students. “I'm a big person. I’m not going to wait on somebody to tell me what I can or can't do. Sometimes you have to wait for the right role to come along, but if I want to act, I'm not going to wait for that role to come to me. I want to create the work that I want to see.”
Fields-Green also shared some of the challenges he’s faced over the years, in a career that’s spanned music, theater, film, and television.
When asked his biggest piece of advice for finding work without an agent, his answer was simple: “Hustle. All those open calls. All the regional summer stock. Grind. Buff your resume. You book it, go into it.”
“Representation helps a lot,” he added, “but you'll be surprised at the amount of weight that you can get on your own.”
For his stint at the Bushnell, Fields-Green made the rounds of local media, including WFSB and NBC Connecticut. He’ll be on tour with MJ: The Musical through August 2025.
“You have to go the extra mile if you really want to get out and be on Broadway and national tours,” he told the students. “If you want to take this to the professional level, you just have to work hard.”
Jamaal Fields-Green ’18, Alumnus and lead performer in MJ: The MusicalYou have to go the extra mile if you really want to get out and be on Broadway and national tours. If you want to take this to the professional level, you just have to work hard.