Motown The Musical Is Back On Broadway Performing A Limited Engagement
July 12 marked the Broadway return of Motown The Musical at the Nederlander Theatre. After concluding its original world premiere at The Lunt Fontanne Theatre on January 2015 and grossing over $300 million in box office sales, the smash hit production has returned for a strictly limited engagement ending July 31. Produced by Kevin McCollum, Doug Morris and Berry Gordy, Motown the Musical depicts the story of Motown Founder Berry Gordy who launched the legendary careers of Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson among others. The 33-member ensemble cast highlights remarkable performances featuring Chester Gregory as Berry Gordy, Allison Semmes as Diana Ross, Jesse Nager as Smokey Robinson, and Jarren Muse as Marvin Gaye.
Motown, founded by Gordy in 1959, played a substantial role in the racial integration of popular music from an African American- owned record label that crossed over to mainstream audience. It broke barriers and shaped the lives and cultures for many creating a harmonious and spectacular soundtrack of soulful melodies, dubbed “ The Motown Sound” that topped the Billboard record charts for decades. Tunes including “I Can’t Help Myself” by The Four Tops and “Where Did Our Love Go?” by The Supremes had the crowd bopping along while Marvin Gaye’s hit “What’s Going On?” that closed Act I, had audience members shed tears surrounding the state of the world at the time with the act of police brutality and violence on Vietnam war and protestors. Motown the Musical features arrangements and orchestrations from Tony and Grammy Award nominees Ethan Popp and Bryan Crook and dance arrangements by Zane Mark. The London production of Motown The Musical at The Shaftsbury Theatre opened in February and has recently extended its run into 2017. Tickets for Motown The Musical are available online at Ticketmaster or by dialing 877-250-2929. Tickets are also available in person at the Nederlander Theatre box office (208 West 41st Street).
Photo Credit: Joan Smalls
