{"id":296997,"date":"2026-05-02T20:43:12","date_gmt":"2026-05-02T20:43:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/296997\/"},"modified":"2026-05-02T20:43:12","modified_gmt":"2026-05-02T20:43:12","slug":"jordan-markus-journey-to-become-michael-jackson-started-in-san-diego","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/296997\/","title":{"rendered":"Jordan Markus’ journey to become Michael Jackson started in San Diego"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Jordan Markus sings the National Anthem at Petco Park on Wednesday, April 29. (Photo by Mark-Anthony Beltran\/Broadway San Diego)<\/p>\n

For actor Jordan Markus<\/a>, San Diego has become a jumping off point for new opportunities.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He filmed an audition tape to play Michael Jackson in the Tony-winning \u201cMJ: The Musical\u201d 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<\/a> in 2024.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This week, he is back in downtown, and ahead of the national tour\u2019s new slate of shows at the Civic Theatre, he sang the national anthem before a Padres game on Wednesday.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI know how big baseball culture is in San Diego. So this is kind of where I first learned a little more about baseball,\u201d said Markus, who grew up in New Orleans.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This was his first time singing the national anthem for an event \u2013 just another example of San Diego being a place of growth for him.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt just felt like the next step to move out here and do the thing over here,\u201d Markus said. \u201cI wanted to go to the West Coast and see what it had to offer. Luckily, it was a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

While here, he had roles at the San Diego Musical Theatre including Benny in \u201cIn The Heights\u201d and Sonny Malone in \u201cXanadu.\u201d\u00a0He impressed Jill Townsend, SDMT\u2019s artistic director.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith his incredible talent\u00a0and his beautiful, kind soul, we knew it was only a matter of time before he would hit the big time,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd he did just that when he booked\u00a0\u2018MJ: The Musical.’\u201d<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>Jordan Markus plays Michael Jackson in the national tour of \u201cMJ: The Musical.\u201d (Photo by Matthew Murphy\/Broadway San Diego)<\/p>\n

\u201cThese are humans that have walked the earth and some of the most famous and notable humans at that,\u201d Markus said. \u201cSo the pressure to be as accurate as possible is definitely there, but that came through all the work.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u2019s present day is set, as possible. Markus trained with former Jackson dancers and choreographers Rich and Tone Talauega.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\u2019s show.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt sort of does seep into your life a bit,\u201d Markus said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But bringing his dog on tour helps him stay grounded. \u201cHe reminds me of real world things and just keeps me, me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite that challenge, the role has been fulfilling for Markus, who grew up loving everything Michael.\u00a0And his hard work and sacrifices show, said Townsend.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Jordan Markus as MJ and Devin Bowles as Rob in the first \u201cMJ\u201d national tour. (Photo by Matthew Murphy\/Broadway San Diego)<\/p>\n

\u201cJordan\u2019s unforgettable performance as the King of Pop is outstanding, and his performance is not to be missed,\u201d she said. \u201cWe are so proud to have been a small part of his journey.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then there\u2019s the \u201cMichael\u201d 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cMichael\u2019s music really brings people together in that way,\u201d Markus said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

See Markus in the national tour of \u201cMJ: The Musical\u201d at the Civic Theatre, opening Tuesday and continuing through May 10. Find tickets at broadwaysd.com<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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