USA - The history of "Motown" depicts the journey of racial integration, as seen through the eyes of it's founder icon, Berry Gordy. The unique sound that created the heart and soul of music in America as we know it today is on Broadway in "Motown the Musical". Berry Gordy shares one of the most personal stories to date, his own. Nothing is left unturned telling a historic American story with the help of the legendary music catalog of songs, now known as the "Motown Sound".
Motown artists that recorded at Hitsville U.S.A created more than soundtracks. The recorded music that changed America and launched the careers of Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson and Michael Jackson. The "Motown Sound " is our international language, the soul of our United Nations and undoubtedly groundbreaking during the civil rights movement in the 1960's.
Berry Gordy had a discerning eye for business as he skillfully introduced the look of his brand through the new sound of the music. Motown artists were groomed as ambassadors for African Americans allowing songs to be accepted with all people around the world. The presentation branding down to the dress, walk, talk, choreography were all the success of him and Motown.
Motown is the soul of our now United Nations! Music is an international language, you don't need to understand the words to feel the emotion of "Motown". "Motown brought our society together through the love of music with a whole lot of soul. Now "Motown" is making record breaking history on Broadway." The sound of Motown really inspired the most prolific musical "Dreamgirls" so now a new musical "Motown" is the only true reflection." Theatre Chat.
"Motown" is the true reality musical the globe has been waiting for! Berry Gordy's first release was "Come to Me" and his first hit was "Money - That's What I Want" describe the American dream! "Money"! BroadwayGlobal.
"Come to Me" - "Motown The Musical" on Broadway, let the truth be told with the heart and soul of Hitsville U.S.A studio with iconic Motown music. There has never been a Broadway musical with this many #1 hits in the history of stage." BroadwayGlobal.
Berry Gordy wrote music but realized the real big "Money" was producing, not in writing. Gordy's journey was a chosen one from the God above. When you see Berry pictured in Motown Museum pictures with Martin Luther King you know those leaders were destined! Without the ups and downs of the every changing record industry, the selling of Motown, the fights, the business, the truth, the message, the racial tension, the magic of Motown could not have inspired the globe to come together. BroadwayGlobal top pick "Motown the Musical" sets history on Broadway!
Motown artists were groomed as ambassadors for African Americans allowing songs to be accepted with all people around the world. The presentation branding down to the dress, walk, talk, choreography were all the success of Berry Gordy and Motown. Motown artists played on more number-one records than The Beatles, Elvis, The Rolling Stones, and The Beach Boys combined and now those record breaking statistics join Broadway.
Berry Gordy's first act Matadors, who changed their name to Miracles with lead singer Smokey Robinson first release was "Got A Job". "Bad Girl" was the debut record released on Motown, but most of their hits would be released nationally on other labels and soon the music would emulate love, relationships that are the driving force for everyone around the globe.
Smokey Robinson later became the vice president of Motown in its Hitsville U.S.A. studio. Soon the second label would be called Motown Records and merge into Motown Record Corporation with Berry continuing the journey with Motown Productions. Even after Universal Motown the branding went back to the original concept of Motown.
Now Berry Gordy shares the entire "Motown" journey through the new Broadway musical that is expecting to set its own history on Broadway. Musicals like "Hairspray" told the same journey, but used original music to inspire the story of racial integration. Now the real music that brought the world together with the true stories of iconic stars is shared as a gift for eternity from the man who created this magical Motown. Berry Gordy with close friends like Smokey Robinson had a passion for music, as well as the bravery to introduce their message through music.
Today we have iPhones that inspire us with music, emails, apps bringing our friends together through sharing music on apps like Spotify, but "Motown" was the iPhone of its time. Songs like "Please Mr. Postman" tells the excitement of the times that we can relate to, just like one is happy receiving a text or email. The music that was shared with radio stations soon hit the air waves bringing the culture of what we now know as America today. The music brought whites and blacks dancing together around the globe. Motown's monumental music made the world a bit smaller.
Some may not remember Berry's sister Anna was married to Marvin Gaye so one-of-a-kind sound and songs like "My Guy" may represent women's respect for men at those times. But songs like "What's Going On" or "Let's Get It On" may really tell the behind the scenes of passion of relationships for the times, changing our culture forever. The songs mentioned in this article might not even be in the Broadway version, but you can bet the message and journey of Motown will be deafening.
Producers Kevin McCollum, Doug Morris and of course Berry Gordy bring Broadway one of the most talented cast for the most anticipated world premiere "Motown The Musical". Tony Award® nominee Brandon Victor Dixon ("The Color Purple") and Valisia LeKae ("The Book of Mormon") star in the leading roles of Berry Gordy and Diana Ross.
Broadway veteran Charl Brown joins them as Smokey Robinson. The "Motown" cast of 40 features Timothy J. Alex, Nicholas Christopher, Bryan Terrell Clark, Rebecca E. Covington, Ariana DeBose, Andrea Dora, Preston W. Dugger III, Wilkie Ferguson, Dionne Figgins, Marva Hicks, Sasha Hutchings, Lauren Lim Jackson, Morgan James, John Jellison, Crystal Joy, Grasan Kingsberry, Marielys Molina, Sydney Morton, Jarran Muse, Jesse Nager, Milton Craig Nealy, N’Kenge, Dominic Nolfi, Saycon Sengbloh, Ryan Shaw, Jamal Story, Eric LaJuan Summers, Ephraim Sykes, Julius Thomas III, Daniel J. Watts and Donald Webber, Jr.
"Motown: The Musical" opens on Broadway at The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre located at 205 West 46 Street, NYC on April 14, 2013 following preview performances beginning March 11, 2013. For tickets visit www.motownthemusical.com.
Directed by Charles Randolph-Wright, "Motown: The Musical" features a book by Berry Gordy and music and lyrics from the legendary Motown catalogue. The featherweight boxer to the heavyweight music mogul who launched the careers of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, and so many more hit the airwaves on Broadway.
Featuring all the classics you love, "Motown The Musical" tells the story behind the hits as Diana, Smokey, Berry and the whole Motown family fight against the odds to create the soundtrack of change in America. The music that shattered barriers, shaped our lives and made us all move to the same beat finally comes to Broadway in the season's most anticipated world-premiere.
"Motown The Musical" creative team features choreography by Patricia Wilcox ("Blues in the Night") and Warren Adams (Toy Story), scenic design by David Korins ("Bring It On: The Musical", "Annie"), costume design by Tony Award® nominee ESosa ("The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess", Project Runway), lighting design by Tony Award® winner Natasha Katz ("Once", "Sister Act"), sound design by Tony Award® nominee Peter Hylenski ("Rock of Ages", "The Scottsboro Boys"), projection design by Daniel Brodie ("Jekyll and Hyde").
"Motown The Musical" features arrangements and orchestrations by Ethan Popp ("Rock of Ages"), who will supervise the 18 piece orchestra and reproduce the classic “Sound of Young America” for the Broadway stage, with co-orchestrations and additional arrangements by Bryan Crook (Smash), dance arrangements by Zane Mark ("Dirty Rotten Scoundrels") and music direction by Joseph Joubert ("Nice Work If You Can Get It").
Tickets are now on sale and available by calling Ticketmaster at 877-250-2929 or by visiting www.MotownTheMusical.com. Special thanks to Motown Museum that shares the journey of Motown with iconic stars in pictures and historic memorabilia.
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