http://youtu.be/zqV2Md6qLsM

When the show closed in January, producers already had plans for a New York return. The opening date and venue have been set: July 12. Nederlander Theatre. The number of weeks: 18.

At the end of its debut run, which began in April 2013, 738 performances and 37 previews graced the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. The musical frequently reached $1 million a week in box office sales prior to its hiatus; it netted four Tony nominations; and by April 2014, it embarked on a national tour – which is still underway.

Capturing Gordy’s autobiography “To Be Loved: The Music, The Magic, The Memories of Motown,” the musical has had audiences mesmerized by its set list of 66 numbers. CBS Sunday Morning called it “more than a Broadway show… a celebration of music that transformed America.” Other reviews have bcalled Motown:

“A joy ride!” – The New York Times

“Stunning!” – Associated Press

“Something close to a rapture spreads through the audience!” – The New York Times

“Sets the theatre on fire!” – Time Out New York

“This hit machine is running on all cylinders!” – USA Today

Some production and creative changes (casting has yet to be announced) are expected to streamline the show before it sets the New York stage afire again. Yet, it surely will still have a hold on all who participate in listening to “the beat of a generation, the soul of a nation.”

Tickets now are on sale HERE for the West End premiere, which opens February 2016 at London’s Shaftesbury Theatre.

The post Motown The Musical Returns To Broadway Summer 2016 appeared first on Broadway Black.

 “Motown:The Musical is Broadway’s record-breaking smash hit that tells the true story behind the beat that changed minds, touched lives and took the world by storm. Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations – Motown: The Musical  shows how these legendary artists and so many more created the soundtrack that transformed America. With over 40 classic songs such as “My Girl,” “What’s Going On,” “Dancing in the Street,” “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” this explosive Broadway event is the next chapter of Motown’s incredible history – and an experience you’ll never forget.”

https://youtu.be/7ScXWusn2AU

Based upon Berry Gordy’s 1994 memoir “To Be Loved,” Motown:The Musical foregoes much of the the drama to focus squarely on the hits.  Attendees can expect blistering hot renditions of the music of Black R&B icons that shaped nearly every musical genre of today. If you missed the show during its Broadway run, don’t despair. After a two year hiatus, the show has begun its American tour. So far, the reviews have been exactly what one would expect from a show that captures the music chronicling the spectrum of Black life, love and politics.

“A towering stack of musical memories! The greatest pop hits of our collective lifetimes just keep on coming! Motown rocks the rafters! –New Jersey Newsroom

Audiences who have already seen the show on tour agree.

After tonight @AllisonSemmes is officially bae! SHE SLAYED THAT SHOW TONIGHT LIKE WHAT?!?!! It's should be illegal to slay that much

— bri. (@Pumkin_Poo) August 13, 2015

The niece and nephew loved @MotownMusical SO much. It's 11pm and they're singing the Jackson 5. No one is sleeping tonight.

— Farrah Rochon (@FarrahRochon) August 10, 2015

Had a wonderful evening jamming out to @MotownMusical at @ATTPAC. Highly recommend for Broadway lovers and music aficionados alike!

— paige (@paigeraiczyk) August 9, 2015

The original tour cast included Clifton Oliver and Allison Semmes as Berry Gordy and Diana Ross, Nicholas Christopher as Smokey Robinson, Jarran Muse as Marvin Gaye, and Leon Outlaw, Jr. and Reed L. Shannon as  Young Berry Gordy and the roles of Young Michael Jackson and Young Stevie Wonder.  Also, ensemble members Erick Buckley, Patrice Covington, Christian Dante White, Jamarice Daughtry, Tamar Davis, Lynorris Evans, Melanie Evans, Devon Goffman, Jennie Harney, Latrisa Harper, Rod Harrelson, Robert Hartwell, Rodney Earl Jackson, Jr., Trisha Jeffrey, Grasan Kingsberry, Elijah Ahmad Lewis, Jarvis Manning, Krisha Marcano, Marq Moss, Rashad Naylor, Chadaè , Ramone Owens, Nicholas Rowe, Jamison Scott, Douglas Storm, Martina Sykes and Galen Williams all graced the stage that opening night in Chicago.

For more information on tickets and upcoming tour stops, click here.

To see the current tour cast check here.

The post Here Come’s Motown: The Musical on Tour! appeared first on Broadway Black.

In his initial audition for the judges, Shaw belted out a powerful rendering of the Beatles “Yesterday” prompting judge’s Howard Stern and Heidi Klum to emphatically send him on to the next round. Shaw, who is a native of Decatur, Georgia, has been singing since the age of 5. As the son of a Pentecostal Minister, Shaw did not begin singing pop music until he left home and began working at the now closed Motown Café in New York City. His star continued to rise as he toured with Tyler Perry’s I Know I’ve Been Changed.

After touring with the play, Shaw joined doo-wop group the Fabulous Soul Shakers. His first album, “This is Ryan Shaw”, for Columbia, earned him a 2008 Grammy nomination for “I Am Your Man.” In 2011 Shaw received another Grammy nomination for “In Between,” and in 2014 received his third for “Yesterday”. Shaw also snagged an audition with Berry Gordy and was then cast as Stevie Wonder. Shaw says of playing that iconic role “Initially it was very frightening because as an up and coming artist, I had the fear of failing him in some way. I had come to terms that I will never be Stevie and so my challenge became not how to imitate him, but rather how to embody him. It took pressure off and gave me a sense of freedom to be Stevie to each audience every night. It is a brilliant honor each and every time.”

On his second performance for “America’s Got Talent”, Shaw performed Bonnie Rait’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me”. Unfortunately, the judges found his performance less than stellar and he did not advance to the quarterfinals. Fans on Twitter strongly disagreed with the judge’s ruling and voiced their support of the charismatic singer.

@thisisRyanShaw Saw your performance on #AGT & your voice is amazing! Will be keeping my eye on you…something good is coming your way!!!

— FeliciaRenee (@TheFeliciaRenee) July 25, 2015

.@thisisRyanShaw The choir was good… but man you are on a whole other level. #AGT judges got this one wrong @howiemandel @howerdstern

— Brian Jackson (@brianleejackson) July 24, 2015

@thisisRyanShaw I hope you stay encouraged. Your voice is amazing. I am downloading your albums as we speak! #shouldvewentthrough

— Chef Wyze (@WyzeWordz) July 22, 2015

Shaw took the time out to reply to many of the fans on Twitter with grace and humility.

Thanks for the love #AGT #JudgeCuts #teamryanshaw https://t.co/KTE8guUPAL

— Ryan Shaw (@thisisRyanShaw) July 23, 2015

This made me smile. I believe music should move people and that why I do it. Thanks for the love #AGT #JudgeCuts https://t.co/QkkLU5wQP8

— Ryan Shaw (@thisisRyanShaw) July 22, 2015

There is no doubt that appearing on the show further grew Shaw’s fan base and we are quite sure that we haven’t heard the last from this talented singer.

The post ‘America’s Got Talent’ Fans Say Judges Miss The Mark On Ryan Shaw appeared first on Broadway Black.

Berry Gordy created the book for this show based on his 1994 autobiography To Be Loved: The Music, the Magic, the Memories of Motown. The play follows Gordy’s life as he creates and runs Motown with an all-too-familiar cast of characters.  Major players in the musical are Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, and Michael Jackson.

The show was nominated for four Tony awards: Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Musical) (Valisia LeKae); Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role (Musical) (Charl Brown); Best Orchestrations (Ethan Popp and Bryan Crook); and Best Sound Design of a Musical (Peter Hylenski). Despite all of the rave reviews for this show it did not receive a nomination for Best Musical.

Rumors have bubbled up several times since this show hit stages that a film would be certain to come.  However, there has not seemed to be a solid answer from Gordy or a definitive timeline.

“Oh yeah, it’s always in the works — been in the works a long time with different people talking to us about it. But we’re just focusing on this right now. The movie will come when it comes.” says Gordy in an interview with The Detroit News this past October.

For now, you can get your Motown: The Musical fix with the national tour that started in April 2014. In addition, Motown is scheduled to return to Broadway in Summer 2016 and make it’s debut on The West End in February 2016. For more information on the show or how to get tickets visit Motownthemusical.com

The post Motown: The Musical Coming to a Movie Theatre Near You? appeared first on Broadway Black.