There is a new MJ in ‘MJ the Musical.’ And here’s how he transforms himself for every show

After a year of being an understudy, actor, dancer, and songwriter, Jordan Markus is ready to don the mythical fedora, slip into the rhinestone-encrusted glove, and take on the lead role of the national tour of Broadway’s Tony-winning MJ the Musical, which runs through Jan. 19 at the Academy of Music.

“It just feels right,” he said. “I’m ready to do it.”

Here’s a sneak peek into how Markus becomes MJ.

It all starts, Markus said, with “the man in the mirror.”

To settle into character, he arrives hours before showtime. Once he gets to the theater, he takes a seat in the makeup chair, then “zones in” to character.

Becoming MJ, he said, isn’t as simple as just applying contour makeup or putting on loafers and a densely curled hairpiece. It’s a character and story he’s fully embraced. “I’ve obviously never been Michael Jackson, but we share similarities. Lots of them, actually,” Markus said, whether it’s feelings of loneliness, perfectionism, or the unwavering pursuit of one’s musical dreams.

“Really knowing who I am has helped me become, in quotations, Michael. And I kind of live in it every day.”

Costume designer Paul Tazewell grew up emulating the Jackson 5 with his three brothers. To piece together the show’s wardrobe, he referred to images of Jackson throughout his career.

Jackson’s style, he said, reflected the trends of the times, but always came with a twist that was uniquely his own. The challenge for him lay in styling the character of Jackson, from little Michael (Josiah Benson and Bane Griffith) to MJ the icon (Markus), with many fictionalized moments embedded into the show.

“It was about creating a world the audience could believe and stay engaged within,” said Tazewell, who won a Tony Award for best costume design in a musical for 2016’s Hamilton.

Tazewell’s vision is in full bloom throughout the show. He incorporates classic outfits from Jackson’s career — from his earth-shattering debut of the moonwalk at a Motown 25th anniversary concert, to the iconic outfits seen in the “Smooth Criminal” and “Beat It” music videos.

When the direct references aren’t as readily available, Tazewell takes calculated liberties. During the dance rehearsal scenes, Markus’ MJ wears loose cotton shirts, flowingly trim trousers, and hard-bottom dance shoes.

It helps to have Jackson’s moves, too.

Choreographers Rich and Tone Talauega, who were dancers on Jackson’s “HIStory World Tour," taught Markus the techniques and the “king rhythm” that Jackson possessed.

Rich Talauega said Markus, whom he affectionately calls “too tall,” managed to grasp the dance moves and other idiosyncrasies needed to capture the spirit of Michael Jackson. The movement may appear “simple,” but the two brothers said it requires thousands of rehearsal hours and an unrelenting work ethic to achieve. And Markus embraced it all for the role.

“He’s earned it,” Rich Talauega said. “The amount of work he put in resulted in him being able to walk in those loafers, glide from side to side, hit those notes, and play the role of Michael Jackson so big-time. I take my hat off to [Markus].”

“He did the homework,” Tone Talauega added.

Along with crafting the movement for the musical, the duo also served as authenticators of Jackson’s story.

They talked to Markus about the shared prayers, heated rehearsal sessions, and monumental performances that reflected the man, artist, and cultural phenomenon. And Rich Talauega said the result is an “electrifying, in-your-face, bona fide, and pure” telling of the generation-defying talent.

“It’s really surreal to be able to represent this man’s legacy through his dance style,” Rich Talauega said. “We feel so privileged, honored, blessed, and lucky to be able to replicate this man’s dance style as best we can with this new generation of Michaels.”

“MJ the Musical” runs through Jan. 19, Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St., Phila. ensembleartsphilly.org