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.

Check the playlist out, and let us know what you think! Be sure to follow us on Spotify and don’t forget to click shuffle!

The post Strike Up The Band: Broadway Black Comes To Spotify appeared first on Broadway Black.

Uniquely illustrated with over 300 dynamic photographs (many of which have never been published to date), Black Broadway chronicles the journey of black theatre in America, alongside a running timeline of African-American history. Celebrating the performers, playwrights, songwriters, directors, choreographers and designers who changed theatre throughout America and the world, Lane offers a detailed account from Minstrel Shows to Vaudeville, from the Jazz Age to the Golden Age of the American Musical, through the dramas inspired by the Civil Rights Movement to the present day Broadway.

The book features a foreword from Tony-award winning Broadway director Kenny Leon (A Raisin in the Sun, Fences,Stick Fly), who calls Black Broadway “a unique tribute to the many African-American actors, directors, playwrights, and others who have contributed to the fabric of American theater.” Described by Booklist as a “wonderfully illustrated and researched book,” Black Broadway provides an insider’s look at Broadway by focusing the spotlight on landmark shows including A Raisin in the Sun, Porgy and Bess, Dreamgirls, Fences, The Wiz, Purlie Victorious, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Bring in ‘Da Noise Bring in ‘Da Funk,and The Scottsboro Boys; great theatre writers including August Wilson, Lorraine Hansberry, Eubie Blake and Ossie Davis; legendary performers such as Paul Robeson, Ethel Waters, Bill ‘Bojangles’ Robinson, Pearl Bailey, Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier, Bert Williams, Sammy Davis Jr., and Cab Calloway; to Tony-winning stars who continue to light up the boards including Audra McDonald, Denzel Washington, James Earl Jones, Cicely Tyson, Savion Glover, Ben Vereen, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Leslie Uggams, Tonya Pinkins, Whoopi Goldberg, Jennifer Holliday, Billy Porter and more.

“For decades, African Americans have struggled to become a part of Broadway, and while the fight continues, many battles have been won and significant changes have been made,” says Stewart Lane.  “It is my hope that this book serves as a guide to many people who have blazed a trail to the Great White Way and made it more accessible to everyone – black and white – who seeks to entertain and enlighten through the performing arts.”

I first tried to order the book on Amazon to no avail because it was SOLD OUT after only being released about two weeks prior. So I dug a little deeper and I found out that Barnes & Noble was holding an event that included a discussion with Lane, as well as Tony winner Leslie Uggams ( Hallelujah, Baby!, King Hedley II, On Golden Pond) and Broadway director Sheldon Epps (Baby, It’s You!, Play On!) coming up soon. My jaw dropped. I just had to be there. Plus, I know I’d be able to buy the book. So, it was set. I was going.

The day of the event I trekked my way to the Barnes & Noble on 86th street and sat down to listen to a discussion that would soon take my breath away. Listening to the Broadway experts and living legends on the panel was nothing short of amazing. After I pulled myself together, I began to record the conversation happening. Check out a part of the discussion below where they talk about all sorts of good tidbits; Color blind casting, Uggams’ meeting with Lena Horne, and how long it took Lane to write this book, and lots more. It’s a little lengthy and doesn’t necessarily start at the beginning of it all but still worth the listen. Don’t feel like that’s enough? Don’t worry. I’ll have more details from the author himself next week.

While you listen and yearn for more, order your copy of the book today —>> HERE!!!

The post The Book Of All Books: Black Broadway By Stewart F. Lane appeared first on Broadway Black.