Berry Gordy News

The HistoryMakers will welcome and honor Berry Gordy, Jr., founder of Motown Records, during AN EVENING WITH BERRY GORDY on Saturday, November 17, 2012 at The Art Institute of Chicago.

One of the most beloved and influential figures in the history of popular music, Smokey Robinson will bring his trademark vocal style and his incredible songbook to The McCallum Theatre tonight, October 26 for one special night, celebrating his 50th anniversary in the music business and the 50th anniversary of Motown Records. Smokey has logged an incredible 37 Top 40 hits in his career. He wrote and produced hits for Motown greats including The Temptations, Mary Wells, Brenda Holloway, Marvin Gaye and others. "The Way You Do the Things You Do," "My Girl," "Get Ready," "You Beat Me to the Punch," "Don't Mess with Bill," "Ain't That Peculiar," and "My Guy" are just a few of his songwriting triumphs during those years.

The T.J. Martell Foundation for Leukemia, Cancer and AIDS Research announced that legendary recording artists and songwriters Crosby & Nash will take the stage at the 37th Annual Honors Gala on Tuesday, October 23, 2012 at the legendary Cipriani on 42nd Street in New York.

One of the most beloved and influential figures in the history of popular music, Smokey Robinson will bring his trademark vocal style and his incredible songbook to The McCallum Theatre on Friday, October 26 for one special night, celebrating his 50th anniversary in the music business and the 50th anniversary of Motown Records. Smokey has logged an incredible 37 Top 40 hits in his career. He wrote and produced hits for Motown greats including The Temptations, Mary Wells, Brenda Holloway, Marvin Gaye and others. "The Way You Do the Things You Do," "My Girl," "Get Ready," "You Beat Me to the Punch," "Don't Mess with Bill," "Ain't That Peculiar," and "My Guy" are just a few of his songwriting triumphs during those years.

Producers Kevin McCollum, Doug Morris and Berry Gordy have just announced a nationwide open call audition tour for African American singers for the Broadway world premiere of MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL, based on the life of legendary Motown founder Berry Gordy.

MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL, based on the life of legendary Motown founder Berry Gordy, will open on Broadway at The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46 Street) on April 14, 2013. Preview performances will begin March 11, 2013. A couple of weeks ago, the show held a launch event for the anticipated world premiere at Lunt Fontanne Theatre, and you can check out photos from inside the event below!

On Monday, November 5th at 9:30pm at the Triad Theatre, 158 West 72nd Street, Rhonda Ross, the only daughter of legendary superstar Diana Ross and business mogul Berry Gordy, performs refreshing, emotive, jazz-inspired songs demonstrating 'the apple don't fall far from the tree.' The evening will feature jazz and gospel pianist, Damien Sneed.

MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL, based on the life of legendary Motown founder Berry Gordy, will open on Broadway at The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46 Street) on April 14, 2013. Preview performances will begin March 11, 2013. Last night, the show held a launch event for the anticipated world premiere at Lunt Fontanne Theatre. In the video below, check out highlights from the special event, including a sneak peek at some of the performances!

Today we are talking to a charismatic leading man who has made quite a mark on Broadway over the last few seasons, having participated in the original Broadways casts of Kander & Ebb's THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS (for which he received a Tony nomination for Best Actor), Green Day's AMERICAN IDIOT (as Favorite Son) and, most recently, the rapturously-received revival of THE GERSHWINS' PORGY & BESS (as Jake), which won the 2012 Tony Award for Best Revival - the multi-talented Joshua Henry. Discussing the creation, casting, rehearsal and reception of each of the aforementioned musicals, as well as working with his collaborators on said projects - John Kander, Susan Stroman, Billie Joe Armstrong, Tom Kitt, Michael Mayer, Audra McDonald, Norm Lewis, Diane Paulus and more included - Henry illustrates the process of bringing the three wildly different entities to the stage and how he shaped his disparate characters within them. Additionally, Henry also discusses his role in the original production of Lin-Manuel Miranda's IN THE HEIGHTS and that Tony-winning Best Musical's inception and legacy. Plus, Henry expounds on his new self-composed family-friendly musical, AMIGO DUENDE, directed by Luis Salgado, which begins performances October 5 at El Musio Del Barrio and also shares the inspiration behind it. All of that, first news on his starring role in COTTON CLUB PARADE at City Center (co-starring GLEE's Amber Riley), sharing the screen with Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson and the Fab Four in SEX & THE CITY: THE MOVIE, his role in the recent MOTOWN workshop (as Marvin Gaye), future plans and much, much more!

MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL, based on the life of legendary Motown founder Berry Gordy, will open on Broadway at The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46 Street) on April 14, 2013. Preview performances will begin March 11, 2013. Last night, the show held a launch event for the anticipated world premiere at Lunt Fontanne Theatre. BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was there for the festivities, where he chatted with the cast and creative team. Check out what they had to say and catch an exclusive interview with music legend Aretha Franklin Below!

MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL, based on the life of legendary Motown founder Berry Gordy, will open on Broadway at The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46 Street) on April 14, 2013. Preview performances will begin March 11, 2013. Last night, the show held a launch event for the anticipated world premiere at Lunt Fontanne Theatre. BroadwayWorld was there for the festivities, and you can check out full photo coverage below!

MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL, based on the life of legendary Motown founder Berry Gordy, will open on Broadway at The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46 Street) on April 14, 2013. Preview performances will begin March 11, 2013. Last night, the show held a launch event for the anticipated world premiere at Lunt Fontanne Theatre. BroadwayWorld was there for the festivities, and you can check out a preview below! Be sure to check back later for full coverage!

Following a successful engagement earlier this year, The Temptations - Otis Williams, Bruce Williamson, Terry Weeks, Ron Tyson and Joe Herndon - will bring classic Motown back to The Orleans Showroom October 27 and 28.

One of Motown's prized musical instruments, a nine-foot 1877 Steinway grand piano, made its debut at a charitable event to benefit Motown Museum at Steinway Hall in New York City on Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012, where Motown founder Berry Gordy and Paul McCartney played it for the first time following its extensive restoration.

Here's the cast of MOTOWN performing 'Get Ready'/'Dancing In The Street'!

Multi-talented actress, singer, television host, playwright, songwriter and author Kathie Lee Gifford hosted this year's Broadway on Broadway this morning, Sunday, September 9th, presented by United Airlines and The New York Times. The event kicked off the 2012-2013 Broadway season with star performances from new shows and long-running favorites, accompanied by a live 30-piece live orchestra directed by Alex Lacamoire. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you photos of the casts that participated in the event!

According to the New York Times, MOTOWN The Musical, based on the life of iconic Motown founder Berry Gordy, will start previews at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater on March 11, with opening night set for April 14. The cast will be led by Brandon Victor Dixon (The Color Purple) as 'Berry Gordy Jr.' and Valisia LeKae (Ragtime, The Book of Mormon) as 'Diana Ross.' Additional casting has not yet been announced.

According to an Equity casting notice, MOTOWN The Musical, which is set to open on Broadway in the Spring of 2013, will hold a workshop September 10-30. The show is set to begin Broadway rehearsals in January, with previews set for March 11.

Producers Kevin McCollum (Rent, Avenue Q, In the Heights, The Drowsy Chaperone), Doug Morris (Chairman and CEO of SONY Music Entertainment) and Berry Gordy will present MOTOWN The Musical, based on the life of iconic Motown founder Berry Gordy, will open in the Spring of 2013 on Broadway at a Nederlander Theatre to be announced. Music legend Berry Gordy is looking for a super-talented African-American young man (age 8-11) to play the multiple roles of young MICHAEL JACKSON, little STEVIE WONDER and pre-teen BERRY GORDY in MOTOWN The Musical, coming to Broadway in 2013.