The Broadway return of the 2013 jukebox musical Motown begins performances July 12 at the Nederlander Theatre. The show brims with songs made famous by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, Diana Ross and The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Michael Jackson, The Jackson Five and other pop acts of the 1960s and 1970s, whose work was released by Motown Records.
The musical returns to Broadway after premiering in 2013. This encore engagement incorporates revisions to the show’s book and structure, which were reflected in the national tour and current London production.
Directed by Charles Randolph-Wright, the show has a book by Motown Records founder Berry Gordy, who is also co-producer with Tony winner Kevin McCollum (Rent, In the Heights, Avenue Q) and Sony Music CEO Doug Morris.
No formal opening night will be held for this production. The limited, 18-week Broadway engagement of Motown is built into the show’s current national tour. Members of that same company perform as part of the Broadway return.
The cast includes Chester Gregory as Berry Gordy, Allison Semmes as Diana Ross, Jesse Nager as Smokey Robinson, Jarran Muse as Marvin Gaye, and J.J. Batteast and Leon Outlaw, Jr. as Young Berry Gordy/Stevie Wonder/Michael Jackson.
The ensemble includes Nik Alexander, Erick Buckley, Chante Carmel, Chadaé, Lynorris Evans, Anissa Felix, Talya Groves, Rod Harrelson, Robert Hartwell, Trisha Jeffrey, Jamie LaVerdiere, Elijah Ahmad Lewis, Loren Lott, Jarvis B. Manning, Jr., Krisha Marcano, Marq Moss, Rashad Naylor, Ramone Owens, Olivia Puckett, Nicholas Ryan, Jamison Scott, Joey Stone, Doug Storm, Martina Sykes, Julius Thomas III, Nik Walker and Galen J. Williams.
Motown arrived on Broadway March 11, 2013, and officially opened April 11. It ended its original run January 18, 2015. The production has since opened in London.
For tickets visit Ticketmaster.com or MotownTheMusical.com.