Wootton, Bowie State Grad Wins Tony For Michael Jackson Musical

ROCKVILLE, MD — Myles Frost, a Wootton High School graduate and Bowie State University student, won a Tony Sunday night for his role as Michael Jackson in "MJ: The Musical."

Frost, 22, is the youngest person to win best performance by an actor in a leading role in a musical. Frost and the "MJ: The Musical" cast performed "Smooth Criminal" at the Tony Awards Sunday night, and when Frost won he thanked his mother in his acceptance speech.

"Without you, there would be no me,” Frost said about his mom after he won, according to Bethesda Beat. “You taught and showed me what a strong Black woman is and what it means to raise a strong Black man. I just pray I made you proud.”

Frost debuted as Michael Jackson last December at the Neil Simon Theater. When he auditioned for the role, he blew the casting crew away.

“We were beginning to despair of finding someone who fit the role,” book writer Lynn Nottage told The Washington Post. “And this very unassuming man walked into the room, and right in front of our eyes he transformed into Michael Jackson. We kind of turned to each other with our mouths open. And we said, ‘What did we just see?’ ”

Frost was told that Michael Jackson started everything at 100 percent and that was something Frost himself worked to internalize, The Washington Post wrote.

"They told me that Michael Jackson didn’t understand starting at zero and working his way to 100 percent,” Frost said. “Michael only understood coming into the room at 100 percent and then seeing how far he could go. There was no way I could go through this process and not adopt that ideology, of always starting at 100.”

Frost's talent was noticed by his mentors well before his Broadway days, and his teachers continued to support and admire his work as he entered into his role as Michael Jackson.

"When I saw him perform on Broadway in March, I knew he was a special talent," Professor Tewodross W. Williams, chair of the fine and performing arts department, said when Frost was nominated. "The entire Bowie State University family is supporting him and will be watching intently when the Tony Award winners are announced on CBS on June 12."

Myles beat four other performers for best actor in a leading role in a musical: Billy Crystal in "Mr. Saturday Night," Hugh Jackman in "The Music Man," Rob McClure in "Mrs. Doubtfire" and Jaquel Spivey in "A Strange Loop."