The charismatic singer, dancer and musician Jordan Markus wrote a song in 2023 called “Real” that includes a reference to “Black or White” by Michael Jackson. He couldn’t imagine that he’d be playing Jackson in a national tour only a matter of months later.
“It’s so funny because, at that point, I had no idea. I hadn’t even auditioned for the show yet,” says Markus from a tour stop in Philadelphia. “I just love the song; it’s one of my favorite songs ever.”
Markus was a relative musical theater novice with only a few regional productions under his belt before he threw his hat into the ring for consideration to appear in the first national tour of the popular Broadway production, “MJ: The Musical.”
But once he was brought on as an understudy for the lead role in August 2023, his ascendence has seemed almost preordained. In a business where upward mobility is far from assured, Markus moved quickly from understudy to alternate, playing Jackson at least a couple times a week.
Then, at the end of 2024, the principal actor in the role, Jamaal Fields-Green, was recruited to the London production of “MJ” and Markus moved into the top spot. His first performance as the principal was on New Year’s Eve.

While the move was exciting, Markus has been with the production so long now that he says it didn’t require any major changes.
“It’s funny because that was our first Canadian stop on the tour so that was a bigger change,” he says. “We all had to cross the border which we hadn’t done before.
“But I knew by that point that [the casting change] was coming so I was able to prepare myself. I was able to seamlessly step in because the rest of the cast really had my back. We have the best ensemble in the business.”
Difficulties due to abuse allegations
“MJ: The Musical” had a difficult time actually getting started on Broadway.
While still in development, a 2019 run in Chicago was canceled. The opening had been scheduled for 2 weeks after the documentary, “Leaving Neverland,” was set to drop on HBO. The documentary details sexual abuse allegations made against Jackson that the singer’s family and estate have vigorously denied.
The show’s Broadway debut was set for July 2020 and the pandemic scuttled those plans. Since finally opening in February of 2022, the musical has quickly emerged as one of the most lucrative shows ever, already bringing in more than $240 million.
The book of the musical was written by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage and focuses on Jackson as he prepares to embark on his Dangerous Tour in 1992. The time frame perhaps conveniently predates any allegations made against the “King of Pop,” and the show also includes flashbacks to Jackson’s troubled childhood as a rising child star.
For Markus, one of the main attractions of the show is giving people a facsimile of Jackson that they can witness in person.
“I get very sweet messages on my Instagram that are like, ‘this is the closest thing to being able to see Michael Jackson live. I always wanted to and I never got to,’ he says.
“I’m lucky and honored and so humbled to be able to bridge that gap for people. That’s the best experience of this show, really.”
“MJ: The Musical” will be running Jan. 28 through Feb. 2 at the Altria Theater, 6 North Laurel St. Tickets and information available at https://www.broadwayinrichmond.com/.