Darrin Ross of Ross Live Entertainment describes one of the proudest milestones of his stage production career is now rooted in Northwest Indiana this month.

Ross is the man and mind who is the director, producer and creator of “Invincible: A Glorious Tribute to Michael Jackson,” being performed Aug. 26 at Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana’s Hard Rock Live stage.

“I’ve had this concert production for 13 years, and it has played in Las Vegas and around the country, so to finally have this show play at the Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana in Michael Jackson’s hometown is a long-awaited honor,” Ross said.

“Our show is billed as the number one Michael Jackson tribute in the world, and the only one personally endorsed by the Jackson Family.”

Ross describes his stage creation as a multi-sensory experience with striking lighting and captivating sound paired with projections, costuming, visuals, and pyrotechnics for “a thrilling production to celebrate the King of Pop.”

The musical revue features three tribute artists with both a live band and backup dancers to showcase the highlights of Jackson’s musical career and greatest hits, such as “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” “Smooth Criminal,” “Thriller,” and other song sensations.

“I’ve cast multiple talents to morph into this music icon with Jeffrey Perez as the identity I refer to as ‘Concert Michael,’ and Perez is one of the best Michael Jackson vocal impersonators and sound-alike tribute artists in the world,” Ross said during a telephone interview earlier this month.

“For the Michael Jackson dance sequences, I have dancer Pete Carter, and he has been with the show since the first season, and he began imitating Michael’s dance numbers when he was 8 years old. I always wanted to work with Michael Jackson before he passed, and this tribute production gives me the opportunity to give audiences the experience of what it was like to see him perform live.”

The show also features performer Prince Michael Jackson, not to be confused with the late Jackson’s real son, also named “Prince” Michael Joseph Jackson Jr., now age 26. The tribute artist Prince Michael Jackson was cast as Michael Jackson in the 2013 Jon Turteltaub film “Last Vegas” and was hand-picked by his co-star actor Morgan Freeman.

“Invincible: A Glorious Tribute to Michael Jackson” features choreography by longtime Michael Jackson choreographer and dancer Lavelle Smith Jr.

“I searched the world to find people who could emulate the spirit of Michael Jackson, and choreographer Lavelle Smith helped me make my selections,” Ross said.

“Michael Jackson fans are like no other fans. We already have tour dates now booked for Australia, and global fans are just as dedicated to Michael Jackson’s memory. Michael Jackson’s legacy and brand is international, but it all started right here in Gary.”

Ross said having his production booked at Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana has a symbolic inspiration for what he describes as “the show’s roots” and “the guitar that changed the world.”

He said it was in 1964 when a 10-year-old Tito Jackson changed his family’s destiny after he was caught playing his father Joe Jackson’s 1961 Supro Airline Town and Country guitar, because of the evidence of a broken guitar string.

The Jackson family’s patriarch was a musician in a band called the Falcons and enforced a strict family rule that no one was to touch his guitar. After Tito played the guitar for his father, his brothers joined in singing and the idea for a new family headlining entertainment act was born.

“I love that the actual guitar that belonged to Joe Jackson is on display inside the new Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana,” Ross said.

“And not only is the giant guitar marquee at the casino front entrance a replica of the same guitar, but there is also a custom guitar chandelier suspended over the main casino floor in homage to this same guitar, including a representation of that broken guitar string that started it all.”

‘Invincible: A Glorious Tribute to Michael Jackson’

Where: Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, 5400 W. 29th Ave., Gary

When: 7 p.m. Aug. 26

Cost: $29.50-$39.50

Information: 219-228-2383; hardrockcasinonorthernindiana.com/entertainment

Philip Potempa is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.