This Is Michael Panama City: Jennifer Batten Joins MJ Show on 3 October
PANAMA · PANAMA CITY · EXPATS
Key Facts
- —What it is A touring Michael Jackson tribute, sung live by Lenny Jay, making its first stop in Panama.
- —When and where Saturday, 3 October 2026, 8 pm, Teatro Anayansi, Atlapa Convention Centre, Avenida Israel, Panama City.
- —What it costs Tickets start at US$45 on TicketPlus Panama, the official seller; zone prices appear at checkout.
- —Why it matters Batten played guitar on Jackson’s Bad, Dangerous and HIStory tours — a rare direct link to the original shows.
- —The catch Batten is a guest, not the lead, and door times and running order are unpublished.
This Is Michael Panama City brings the touring Michael Jackson tribute to Teatro Anayansi for one night — with Jackson’s former tour guitarist Jennifer Batten on stage.
This Is Michael Panama City takes place on Saturday, 3 October 2026, at Teatro Anayansi in the Atlapa Convention Centre, Panama. The official ticket page lists an 8 pm start, tickets from US$45 and a special appearance by guitarist Jennifer Batten.
What This Is Michael Panama City offers
This Is Michael is a tribute production that recreates Michael Jackson’s concerts with a live band, singers and dancers. Its ticket page describes the show as 100% live.
The promoters promise more than 10 performers on stage, more than 20 songs and more than 10 costume changes. They also claim over 500,000 tickets sold in more than 25 cities and 15 countries.
Those figures come from the production’s own marketing, so treat them as a guide. They do show that this is a large touring show rather than a local cover band.
The ticket page presents the Panama date as the show’s first visit to the country. That makes it a one-off chance for now, with no second Panama date announced.
Who is on stage
The Jackson role is sung and danced by Lenny Jay. According to the production, he spent several seasons in a European musical about Jackson before joining this show.
The headline guest is Jennifer Batten, the American guitarist who played in Jackson’s touring band. She was on the Bad, Dangerous and HIStory world tours between 1987 and 1997.
Bassist Don Boyette, who also played on Jackson’s tours, is billed as a second special guest. Both names appear on the official TicketPlus page for the Panama night.
Batten’s own website lists the Panama City show among her dates with This Is Michael. Her listing places it between Guayaquil on 1 October and Saltillo, Mexico, on 7 October.
Why Batten’s name matters
Tribute shows are common across Latin America, and most rely only on a lookalike singer. A musician from Jackson’s own band changes the character of the night.
Batten was the guitarist fans saw on stage during Jackson’s biggest tours. She also played with him at the 1993 Super Bowl halftime show.
She later toured and recorded with Jeff Beck from 1999 to 2001. For fans who grew up with Jackson’s concerts, hearing her play those parts again is the main draw.
She is billed as a special appearance, though. The seller has not said how many songs she will play, so do not expect her on stage all night.
Tickets and prices
Tickets are sold online through TicketPlus Panama, which the page lists as the official seller. Prices start at US$45 before any service charges added at checkout.
Higher zones cost more, and exact prices show only once you pick seats on the map. Sales opened in mid-May, so the best seats may already be gone.
TicketPlus also runs an official fan-to-fan resale market inside its site. Use that rather than social-media sellers if the section you want has sold out.
Panama uses the US dollar alongside the balboa, so prices are the same for visitors from the United States. Card payment online is the simplest option.
Getting to Teatro Anayansi
Teatro Anayansi sits inside the Atlapa Convention Centre on Avenida Israel, near the Cinta Costera and the San Francisco district. Most people arrive by taxi or ride-hailing app.
Saturday evening traffic along the coastal roads can be slow. Plan to arrive at least 45 minutes before the 8 pm start, and allow longer if it rains.
The seller has not published a door time or an end time. Batten’s own calendar gives 9 pm, so check the ticket and email from TicketPlus for the final time.
Atlapa has on-site parking, though it fills up on busy nights. If you drive, allow extra time for leaving after the show as well, when taxis are in high demand.
What to know before you go
You do not need Spanish to enjoy the evening, as the songs are all in English. Announcements and signage at the venue will mostly be in Spanish.
The show is on a tight Latin American tour, with Costa Rica and Guatemala in late September and Mexico and Peru after Panama. Line-ups can change on such schedules.
Check the TicketPlus page and your email a day or two before the show. Any change to guests or timing would normally be announced there first.
For residents, it is an easy Saturday night out with a familiar soundtrack. For visitors passing through Panama in early October, it fits neatly into a short weekend stay in the city.
Connected Coverage
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is This Is Michael Panama City?
The show is on Saturday, 3 October 2026, at Teatro Anayansi in the Atlapa Convention Centre, Panama City. The official ticket page lists an 8 pm start.
Is Jennifer Batten really playing in Panama?
Yes. The official TicketPlus page lists her as a special guest, and her own website includes the Panama City date. She is a guest appearance rather than the lead, so she will not play every song.
How much are tickets and where do I buy them?
Tickets start at US$45 on TicketPlus Panama, the official seller. Higher zones cost more, and service charges are added at checkout.
Who plays Michael Jackson in the show?
The lead role is performed by Lenny Jay, who previously worked in a European musical about Jackson. Bassist Don Boyette, from Jackson’s touring band, also appears as a guest.
Sources: TicketPlus Panama official event page; Jennifer Batten’s official tour calendar; Songkick tour listings; Jennifer Batten biography.
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