Cirque du Soleil approached me to develop a companion smartphone integration for MJ ONE, their ambitious theatrical tribute to Michael Jackson. I worked in close alignment with the show’s development, traveling to Las Vegas multiple times and delivering a fully functional demo that extended the theatrical experience through real-time mobile interaction.

The concept was a narrative-rich second-screen experience designed to deepen audience immersion rather than distract from the live performance. From the theater entrance, the app introduced Mephisto — a central antagonist drawn to Michael’s magical talismans — through AR encounters and interactive storytelling.

Inside the theater, the app synced with audio cues via sonar to deliver a unique stream of visuals, animations, and POV sequences directly to audience members’ phones, choreographed according to seat location and reacted dynamically to onstage action, light, and sound — giving audiences a deeper, more visceral connection to the show’s narrative world.

Although the experience ultimately remained internal and did not move forward to public release due to broader considerations around the IP, the creative and technical development process was a meaningful opportunity to explore the fusion of live theater, interactive technology, and emotional storytelling.