From Halloween to MJ: The Musical: Jordan Markus channels the King of Pop

CTV's Ian White speaks with Jordan Markus about his role as Michael Jackson in MJ: The Musical.

Looking back, actor Jordan Markus now sees his childhood fascination with Michael Jackson as a foreshadowing of what he would do for a living.

“I loved and still love Michael Jackson’s music. It was such a catalyst for my love of music in general as a child,” Markus told CTV News.

Markus is the star of MJ: The Musical, on stage until November 23^rd at the Jubilee Auditorium in Calgary.

Raised in Atlanta, Markus would dance Michael Jackson’s moves as a kid and even went as him for Halloween for a few years in a row.

“It’s been the most fun I’ve ever had on stage,” Markus said of the touring Broadway musical, but he admits it’s also taxing on his voice and body.

“I think a lot of the maintenance goes into the cool down process after the show, which a lot of people don’t talk about,” Markus said.

“After the show I cool down my voice, which is basically warming up backwards. I don’t speak for the rest of the night. I ice my knees. I stretch out a little bit to make my muscles a little loose before I lay down and go to sleep.”