Patricia Wilcox News

The Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF) Observership Program grants emerging Directors and Choreographers 25 paid opportunities to observe the work of master Directors and Choreographers as they create productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway and at leading regional theatres across the country. SDCF Observers have access to the entire rehearsal process, from first rehearsal through previews to opening night. Observers are guaranteed the invaluable opportunity to observe, first-hand, the techniques, disciplines, approaches and insights of master artists as they create new productions and revive classics.

'Happy birthday to you,' MOTOWN THE MUSICAL! The smash hit, which celebrates its first Broadway anniversary on April 14, has released a new montage of show clips set to legendary Motown classics from the musical, including 'I Want You Back,' 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours,' 'Get Ready,' 'Dancing In The Street,' and 'Do You Love Me.' Check it out below!

It is Theatre Development Fund's belief that future audiences are built by engaging students, first-hand, in the vital and exciting activity of the creative process, as well as providing opportunities to see live performances of great theatre. To that end, 1,500 New York City public high school and middle school students from 20 schools (and one school from East Orange, NJ), who are participating in TDF's Stage Doors Program, will be attending a special matinee performance of Broadway's smash hit, MOTOWN THE MUSICAL on Thursday, April 3 at 1pm at the Lunt Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46th Street, NYC).

As previously announced, Clifton Oliver and Allison Semmes will star in the leading roles of Berry Gordy and Diana Ross. Portraying groundbreaking Motown artists, Nicholas Christopher will play Smokey Robinson and Jarran Muse will play Marvin Gaye. Leon Outlaw, Jr. and Reed L. Shannon will portray Berry Gordy's boyhood counterpart and the roles of young stars Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder.

Producers Kevin McCollum, Doug Morris and Berry Gordy have announced that Clifton Oliver and Allison Semmes have been cast in the leading roles of Berry Gordy and Diana Ross in MOTOWN THE MUSICAL. The First National Tour begins performances April 22, 2014 at the Oriental Theatre in Chicago before continuing to cities across the country.

According to The New York Post, Broadway's MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL went uninterrupted after an apparent suicide, when a man leapt from the W New York Hotel on Friday night, landing 50 stories below on the roof of the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.

Broadway In Chicago and Producers Kevin McCollum, Doug Morris and Berry Gordy have announced an additional open call casting search for African American singers for the upcoming national tour of MOTOWN THE MUSICAL, with a rare opportunity to audition for this hit Broadway musical at Ballet Chicago (17 N State Street) on Thursday, February 20 at 12 p.m. The first national tour will launch in Chicago April 22 - July 13, 2014 at the Oriental Theatre.

CBS News Live Experiences' launch of 50 YEARS: THE BEATLES, hosted this past Sunday night by CBS's Anthony Mason and sponsored byMOTOWN THE MUSICAL, is now available to watch online. Check it out below!

The Broadway production of A Night With Janis Joplin plays its final performance tonight, Sunday, February 9 at 7PM at the Lyceum Theatre. The show has played 22 preview performances and 141 regular performances since beginning previews on Friday, September 20 and opening on Thursday, October 10. A Night With Janis Joplin will move to a new home in New York City this March.

Broadway In Detroit has just announced that MOTOWN THE MUSICAL is coming home to the city where it all began. MOTOWN will play Detroit's Fisher Theatre for a four-week engagement, October 21-November 16, 2014.The hit Broadway musical features music and lyrics from the legendary Motown catalogue and a book by Berry Gordy. Ticket information, show times and casting will be announced at a later date.

As part of NBC's TODAY show's 'Wishing Well' series, a single mom will travel to New York City to see Broadway's MOTOWN THE MUSICAL.

The Broadway production of A Night With Janis Joplin will play its final performance on Sunday, February 9 at 7PM at the Lyceum Theatre (149 West 45th Street). On that date, the show will have played 22 preview performances and 141 regular performances. A Night With Janis Joplin will move to a new home in New York City this March.

Fifty years after Motown revolutionized the music industry with its 'Sound of Young America' and countless 1964 Billboard hits by Mary Wells, The Supremes and others, the smash Broadway hit MOTOWN THE MUSICAL is proud to sponsor CBS News Live Experiences launch of 50 YEARS: THE BEATLES, a live, interactive multimedia event marking the 50th anniversary of the band's first American television appearance on CBS's 'The Ed Sullivan Show.'

A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN will play its final performance at the Lyceum Theatre (149 West 45th Street) this February (exact date will be announced shortly), prior to moving to a new home in New York City this March.

A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, the new Broadway musical, is celebrating Joplin's birthday with special activities at the theatre and online on Sunday, January 19.At the theatre for both the matinee and evening performances, there will be a special photo booth, supplied by Top Hat Photo Booths, where audience members can write special messages in honor of Joplin's birthday and take photos with the messages. Following the performance the cast will give a special birthday salute to Joplin. For the evening performance only, there will be custom Joplin birthday cupcakes for audience members as they leave the theatre supplied by Sugarush in Red Bank.

Motown The Musical creator and legendary Motown record label founder Berry Gordy will appear this weekend on Sirius XM's "Broadway Names with Julie James" to chat with Sirius XM's theatre gal-about-town about bringing the legacy of Motown to the Broadway stage.

Broadway Records just announced the release of the Original Broadway Cast Recording of the critically acclaimed, A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN on the occasion of the iconic musician's birthday celebration. The album will be available digitally on January 17, and the CD is currently available at the Lyceum Theatre. The album is also available for pre-orders at Amazon.com and the official show website.

The producers of MOTOWN THE MUSICAL just announced that Krystal Joy Brown (Big Fish, Leap of Faith) will assume the role of “Diana Ross” beginning Thursday, January 23 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.

The Hollywood Pantages, a Nederlander Theatre, reveals its lineup for the 2014-2015 SEASON, featuring six blockbuster productions currently playing to sold-out houses on Broadway and a new production of a beloved title.

Tune in to watch Brandon Victor Dixon, Tony Award-nominated Broadway star of MOTOWN THE MUSICAL, sit down with Steve Adubato, host of PBS' nationally syndicated program "One-On-One with Steve Adubato" and discuss performing in the smash hit musical on Broadway.