Iconic dance moves and electrifying hits took over the stage at the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts as the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, was honored in “INVINCIBLE: A Glorious Tribute to Michael Jackson,” headlining the University of Connecticut’s 2025 Family Weekend.
“INVINCIBLE” was enthusiastic and passionate. An audience of all ages, ranging from grade school-aged children to senior citizens, were jumping in their seats, clapping and singing along at different points in the show.
“We want to keep the memory of Michael vibrant and in our hearts,” said Darrin Ross, the producer and director of the show.
Not one, not two, but three “Michaels” were showcased throughout the performance to accurately capture the essence of the late performer. Jeffrey Perez was the most prominent Michael, who sang the majority of the show live. Perez presented himself almost exactly as the singer did, down to the smallest details, such as the way he walked and the way he spoke. Perez is recognized nationally as a leading Michael Jackson tribute artist.
Pete Carter was the “dancing” Michael during the numbers that included more advanced choreography. He, alongside an incredibly talented ensemble of background dancers, brought world-famous music videos like “Thriller” and “Beat It” to life. The choreography for the show was done by Lavelle Smith Jr., a longtime friend and choreographer for Jackson, going back to 1987 when Smith was hired as a dancer for the “Smooth Criminal” short film.
The dance-heavy numbers of the show seemed to be fan favorites, with audience members singing the lyrics loudly and super fans getting out of their seats to groove.
Jawad Chazbek, a first-semester biological sciences major, said that his favorite numbers in the show were “Thriller” and “Beat It” because of their choreography.
There was a third Michael in the show, who also happened to be a dancer. He received less stage time, but performed the iconic, “Billie Jean” with Jackson’s sparkly glove, an accessory made famous at the Motown 25 TV special in 1983.
“The three Michael Jacksons were a cool surprise at the very end,” said Chazbek.
The show did not only cover Jackson’s legendary songs from the 1980s but also flashed back to Jackson’s younger years singing alongside his siblings in The Jackson 5, also known as The Jacksons. This portion of the show included the hit, “ABC” and other lesser-known songs from the group, as backup dancers dressed up as Michael’s siblings accompanied him on stage.
“The whole Jackson 5 part, that was awesome,” said Joshua Perrin, a first-semester mechanical engineering student.
Other amazing performances included the songs, “Dirty Diana” with a sensual dance performance, as well as “Man in the Mirror” as audiences stood up as the powerful music video for the song was screened in the background, showcasing a plethora of injustices throughout history in the world.
“I really enjoyed how enthusiastic the cast was,” said Perrin. He also noted “Man in the Mirror” as one of the top performances of the night.
Special effects, costume design and the supporting cast members truly elevated the show to capture the essence of Michael’s top tier performances.
“Michael Jackson is the greatest of all time,” said Perrin. “To keep [him] alive, I never got to experience any of what he did, even to experience what is sort of was like, it was an amazing experience.”
The King of Pop was revived for the night for families and students alike to enjoy as Family Weekend came to a close.
“INVINCIBLE” was one part of a series at Jorgenson Center’s “Eight Days a Week” exhibition, honoring both the 70-year anniversary of the theater itself and 70 years of the birth of rock and roll.
“Michael Jackson in particular, he’s just a huge part of pop culture, like a real defining moment in the history of music,” said Chazbek. “I feel giving tribute to [Michael Jackson] is giving tribute to music itself in a way, especially in his genre.”