ORLANDO, Fla. — Michael Jackson is brought to life in a new musical now in Orlando at the Dr. Phillips Center. The dancing, gestures, vocals, charisma, and moonwalking — they’re all part of a story you might not know about the King of Pop.
- Jordan Markus, 24, portrays Michael Jackson. A few hours before showtime, the young performer said landing the role was almost unthinkable. Fate kicked in, he said, when he was in California performing for a different show. “One of my cast mates just happened to know the casting director for this (MJ) show,” he said. “It’s a crazy story.”
- Markus flew back and forth from California to New York during the audition process. He got the gig, and he's proud to say that he's not a tribute artist. He has never done an MJ tribute show. “I just grew up a fan, like a lot of us. Honestly, I mean, Michael was my entire childhood. I’d like to thank my parents for instilling this in me at such a young age.”
- The musical is nonstop. Markus is dancing for nearly 2.5 hours straight. “It’s the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to do," he said. "Truly. In my life.”
- He is constantly fine-tuning his portrayal of the King of Pop. “Michael is such an untouchable, iconic figure." Markus said. "A lot of times, you forget he’s human. He feels things like all of us do.”
- "MJ The Musical" is now on its second and final week at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. It runs on select nights through Sunday, March 16.
