Charles Randolph-Wright News

MOTOWN THE MUSICAL hosted a nationwide open call casting search inside the historic Lunt Fontanne Theatre for African American singers for both the flagship Broadway production and the upcoming national tour. NY1 anchor Cheryl Wills was on hand to capture the excitement as hopefuls lined up around the block to audition for the smash hit musical. In the segment below, Wills speaks with MOTOWN's own Broadway star Tony Award nominee Charl Brown, casting director Bernie Telsey, several auditionees, and even does a little singing of her own! Check out the segment below!

The world premiere of LOVE IN AFGHANISTAN began rehearsals at Arena Stage on Tuesday, September 10. Get a sneak peek at the cast in action below, along with Resident Playwright Charles Randolph-Wright and director Lucie Tiberghien!

The Orlando Repertory Theatre (The REP) is proud to announce a partnership with Theatre UCF to co-present Four Little Girls: Birmingham 1963 by Christina Ham, as part of a national staged reading commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Birmingham Bombing. This reading is September 15th, 2013 at 6pm in Studio 1 of the UCF Performing Arts Center. It is FREEand open to the public (UCF Parking Policies apply).

MOTOWN THE MUSICAL was recently featured on "Culture List," the nationally syndicated weekly entertainment magazine show airing on BET's Centric TV. Host Erik Parker spent some time backstage at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre with stars Valisia LeKae, Brandon Victor Dixon and Charl Brown to get the inside scoop on performing for the real Diana Ross, collaborating on a new musical, and portraying the musical legends of MOTOWN on Broadway. Watch the segment below!

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces the full company for Charles Randolph-Wright's world premiere drama Love in Afghanistan. Randolph-Wright, a Resident Playwright through Arena Stage's American Voices New Play Institute and director of Motown the Musical currently on Broadway, joins forces with director Lucie Tiberghien (MCC Theater's Don't Go Gentle) to bring to life the tale of two fantastically different people discovering love in the most unlikely of places: war-torn Afghanistan. One, an emerging hip-hop artist, the other, a high-level Afghan interpreter, both fight to navigate the pitfalls of romance, religious differences and political unrest. Love in Afghanistan runs October 11-November 17, 2013 in the Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces the full company for Charles Randolph-Wright's world premiere drama Love in Afghanistan. Randolph-Wright, a Resident Playwright through Arena Stage's American Voices New Play Institute and director of Motown the Musical currently on Broadway, joins forces with director Lucie Tiberghien (MCC Theater's Don't Go Gentle) to bring to life the tale of two fantastically different people discovering love in the most unlikely of places: war-torn Afghanistan. One, an emerging hip-hop artist, the other, a high-level Afghan interpreter, both fight to navigate the pitfalls of romance, religious differences and political unrest. Love in Afghanistan runs October 11-November 17, 2013 in the Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle.

Producers Kevin McCollum, Doug Morris and Berry Gordy are proud to announce 'Makin' It Motown,' a nationwide open call casting search for African American singers for both the Broadway production of MOTOWN THE MUSICAL and the upcoming national tour, with a rare opportunity to audition for this hit Broadway musical at the Oriental Theatre (24 W. Randolph) on Saturday, September 14. The first national tour will launch in Chicago in April 2014 at the Oriental Theatre.

MOTOWN THE MUSICAL hosted First Lady Michelle Obama and her daughters Sasha and Malia at the matinee performance on Sunday, August 25, 2013. The Obama family was joined by poet Elizabeth Alexander (who composed and delivered "Praise Song for the Day" for the first inauguration of President Obama), and the party was greeted by a standing ovation upon recognition by the audience inside the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.

Producers Kevin McCollum, Doug Morris and Berry Gordy have announced 'Makin' It Motown,' a nationwide open call casting search for African American singers for both the flagship Broadway production of MOTOWN THE MUSICAL and the upcoming national tour, with a rare opportunity to audition on stage at the Lunt Fontanne Theatre, home of the smash hit musical, on Friday, September 13.

BroadwayWorld has confirmed that Felicia Boswell has stepped into the role of 'Diana Ross' in Broadway's MOTOWN, while Tony nominee Valisia LeKae is on vacation. Boswell first began performances earlier this week on August 13, and will remain through September 23 when LeKae returns to the Lunt-Fontanne.

Celebrating 45 Years as New York City's longest continually running black theatre, Dr. Barbara Ann Teer's National Black Theatre Inc. [NBT] is proud to announce our appointment of Jonathan McCrory as the Director of Theatre Arts Program. McCrory follows in the footsteps of the late Theatre Arts Director, Tunde Samuels, who held the position for 25 years. McCrory with take the helm of the Theatre Arts Program as the Director in November when the launch National Black Theatre's 45h Season with the New York Premiere of "Last Saint On Sugar Hill" by Keith Josef Adkins directed by Seret Scott.

Music legend Smokey Robinson stopped by CBS's THE TALK yesterday and spoke about the early days of his career with Motown founder Berry Gordy. The singer also gushed about MOTOWN THE MUSICAL, currently breaking box office records on Broadway.

Last night I had the privilege of taking a look back on an incredibly impressive recent string of major musicals starring the phenomenally talented Brandon Victor Dixon with the leading man himself, ranging from his work last year Off-Broadway in RENT as well as the Williamstown Theatre Festival mounting of FAR FROM HEAVEN, both directed by Michael Greif, through to his acclaimed performance in Kander & Ebb's THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS through to his new role portraying music titan Berry Gordy himself in the audience hit of the 2012-2013 season, MOTOWN. In addition to eloquently expounding on his various starring roles in those four major musicals and reflecting upon his time spent in each production, Dixon also opens up about his passion for performance in general and the importance of collaboration in the creation of any musical from the ground-up. Dixon also comments upon his experiences originating a role in Oprah Winfrey's recent stage venture THE COLOR PURPLE as well as recounts his association with COTTON CLUB PARADE - set to premiere on Broadway under a new title later this year - as well as the various incarnations of his stage piece based on the life and career of Ray Charles. Most importantly, besides all about MOTOWN and his work with Gordy and the cast on the hit show, Dixon also previews what we can expect from the cast of the show on tonight's A CAPITOL FOURTH PBS concert extravaganza, featuring Dixon alongside MOTOWN standout Saycon Sengbloh. All of that, first news on Dixon's upcoming self-penned solo album project, memories of working on THE GOOD WIFE, thoughts on GLEE and the modern performing arts revolution and much, much more!

The 33rd annual broadcast of A CAPITOL FOURTH on PBS will feature over thirty cast members from Broadways' new smash hit MOTOWN THE MUSICAL, including Tony Award nominee Brandon Victor Dixon, Saycon Sengbloh and 2013 Tony Award nominee Valisia LeKae. The company's medley of legendary Motown hits from the Broadway musical will include "Stop in the Name of Love," "Get Ready" and "Dancing in the Street" arranged and orchestrated for the majestic National Symphony Orchestra by 2013 Tony Award nominees Ethan Popp and Bryan Crook.

Last month, the Broadway community gathered together to celebrate the life and show business legacy of beloved Broadway performer Kevin Gray at The Majestic Theatre (247 West 44th Street). The Majestic Theatre held a special place for Mr. Gray, having starred there in The Phantom of the Opera, first as Raoul and later as The Phantom. Titled A Celebration of the Life of Kevin Gray, the memorial tribute, you can the full event below.

The Ensemble Theatre is one of 30 African American theatres to participate in a national benefit staged play reading of A Soldier's Play by Charles Fuller, tonight, June 17, 2013, 6:30PM at 3535 Main Street, Houston, TX.

At Thursday night's Songwriters Hall of Fame gala, Smokey Robinson took to the stage to perform a new accapella song he wrote for Berry Gordy, who received a lifetime achievement award for creating MOTOWN. Check it out, via Showbiz411, below!

MOTOWN THE MUSICAL's "Jackson 5," led by Raymond Luke Jr. as Michael Jackson, visited Wendy Williams' hit daytime show for a live performance of a medley of Jackson 5 songs and to give Wendy some advice for her upcoming Broadway debut in Chicago. Check out their performance and interview below!

MOTOWN THE MUSICAL's 'The Contours,' led by Broadway triple threat Eric LaJuan Summers, visited Katie Couric's new nationally syndicated afternoon talk show 'Katie' for a special performance of the Motown hit song 'Do You Love Me,' and to teach America's sweetheart 'The Mashed Potato!' Click below to watch the performance!