Meet Jordan Markus, whose journey to become Michael Jackson on stage started in San Diego

For actor Jordan Markus, San Diego has become a jumping off point for new opportunities. 

He filmed an audition tape to play Michael Jackson in the Tony-winning “MJ: The Musical” from a downtown San Diego apartment. After successfully nabbing the role, first as standby, then the lead on Broadway, he joined the first national tour of the musical, which had a stop in San Diego in 2024. 

This week, he is back in downtown, and ahead of the national tour’s new slate of shows at the Civic Theatre, he sang the national anthem before a Padres game on Wednesday. 

“I know how big baseball culture is in San Diego. So this is kind of where I first learned a little more about baseball,” said Markus, who grew up in New Orleans. 

This was his first time singing the national anthem for an event – just another example of San Diego being a place of growth for him. 

Markus initially moved to San Diego from Atlanta, a couple years into being a professional musical theater artist, as a way to hone his craft and find new opportunities. 

“It just felt like the next step to move out here and do the thing over here,” Markus said. “I wanted to go to the West Coast and see what it had to offer. Luckily, it was a lot.”

While here, he had roles at the San Diego Musical Theatre including Benny in “In The Heights” and Sonny Malone in “Xanadu.” He impressed Jill Townsend, SDMT’s artistic director.

“With his incredible talent and his beautiful, kind soul, we knew it was only a matter of time before he would hit the big time,” she said. “And he did just that when he booked ‘MJ: The Musical.’”

His SDMT roles, though, were fictional, so Markus had the chance to bring more of himself and his own interpretation to the stage. As the King of Pop, the assignment is the opposite. As much as possible, Markus disappears so the audience can see the legendary singer and dancer in his stead. 

“These are humans that have walked the earth and some of the most famous and notable humans at that,” Markus said. “So the pressure to be as accurate as possible is definitely there, but that came through all the work.”

He drilled for a year before stepping foot on the stage. He watched music videos on repeat and devoured every interview, learning as much about Jackson in 1992, when the musical’s present day is set, as possible. Markus trained with former Jackson dancers and choreographers Rich and Tone Talauega. 

He developed an extreme attention to detail in order to embody the entertainer. After being in the role for years and bringing that level of care to the performance, it can be difficult to come back to himself after each night’s show. 

“It sort of does seep into your life a bit,” Markus said. 

But bringing his dog on tour helps him stay grounded. “He reminds me of real world things and just keeps me, me.”

Despite that challenge, the role has been fulfilling for Markus, who grew up loving everything Michael. And his hard work and sacrifices show, said Townsend.

“Jordan’s unforgettable performance as the King of Pop is outstanding, and his performance is not to be missed,” she said. “We are so proud to have been a small part of his journey.”

Then there’s the “Michael” movie. Its release has reinvigorated the tour cast. Audience members have taken to watching the film before heading to the musical, making it a whole day dedicated to Jackson. 

“Michael’s music really brings people together in that way,” Markus said. 

See Markus in the national tour of “MJ: The Musical” at the Civic Theatre, opening Tuesday and continuing through May 10. Find tickets at broadwaysd.com.