Stardom beckons as young performer lands major role

A YOUNG Ballarat performer is currently living a dream, starring as Little Michael in the MJ the Musical production at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre.

Thirteen-year-old Daniel Makunike is midway through the show’s Sydney season after landing the role – one of several young performers sharing the job – late last year.

“To have this opportunity to be in the production is incredible,” Daniel said from Sydney, describing his experience so far as “breathtaking”.

The musical first played on Broadway in 2022 and centres around the making of Jackson’s 1992 Dangerous world tour.

It was created by director-choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and playwright Lynn Nottage, and has been performed on London’s West End and in Germany.

It has been nominated for 10 Tony awards and has won four, and features more than 25 of Jackson’s biggest hits.

Daniel said his Jackson journey began when his performing arts teacher “gave me a heads up” about the show.

“I didn’t think much of it at first, but then it turned out to be quite a big deal and I was thrilled about what was going to happen because it was unexpected,” he said.

“At first I thought it was just a little play, but it turned out to be a big musical.”

News that his audition had been successful came late last year.

“I was shocked. I was like ‘I can’t wait for this’,” Daniel said. “It’s breathtaking that I was able to be in such a big production.”

The Sydney season opened on 8 March, and Daniel estimates he has been on the stage about 30 times so far each Little Michael does two shows a week.

The season concludes in August, with a Melbourne season starting in September, but Daniel does not know yet whether he will reprise the role closer to home because cast details have not been revealed.

He is a year 7 student at Ballarat Clarendon College but has not actually been at the school this year – he has been in Sydney since January and receives tutoring to keep up with his schoolwork.

A love of Jackson’s music was almost a given, with Daniel’s mother Siphi a longtime fan and his brother also being infected with the Jackson bug.

“It was always playing in the car; that’s where I kind of picked it up from,” he said.

Before now, Daniel’s only on-stage experience has been as Donkey in a school production of Shrek and a minor role in an Addams Family school musical.

And while he’s not thinking too far ahead, Daniel said he would like to try acting in front of a camera.

“I wouldn’t mind giving it a shot. I think it would be a great experience,” he said. “Movies would be great; it’d be something you’d never forget.”

The best way to follow Daniel’s progress is through his Instagram account, @danielmakunikemusical .