Berry Gordy News

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).

The Temptations - Otis Williams, Bruce Williamson, Terry Weeks, Ron Tyson and Joe Herndon - will bring classic Motown back to The Orleans Showroom April 26 and 27.

Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II were established hit makers when they teamed up to make a musical about cowboys and farmers. What follows was a miracle—Oklahoma!, then Carousel and South Pacific; the list of extraordinary hits goes on. On April 5, 6 and 7 get to know these legends even better at Getting to Know You: Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lyrics & Lyricists first look at the two songwriters as a team. Guest artistic director, writer and host Ted Chapin, head of the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, shares an insider's perspective on the pair, gleaned from his years with the Rodgers and Hammerstein families; joined by vocalists Brandon Victor Dixon, Mandy Gonzalez, Jonathan Groff, Rebecca Luker, and Phillipa Soo.

The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, together with Florida Theatrical Association and Broadway Across America, has unveiled the lineup of shows for the Center's inaugural 2014-2015 Broadway season. To celebrate the historic season, Dr. Phillips Center FAIRWINDS Broadway in Orlando is bringing world-class theater to a world-class stage, headlined by the spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. The season will also include NEWSIES, the smash hit musical from Disney, and the record-breaking sensation MOTOWN THE MUSICAL. Rounding out the 2014-2015 season are the brand new, high-flying production of PIPPIN, the Tony Award-winning revival of ANYTHING GOES, and the hilariously charming I LOVE LUCY LIVE ON STAGE.

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.

As BroadwayWorld reported yesterday, the smash hit Queen & Ben Elton musical We Will Rock You is due finally to close on 31 May 2014, and rumors are circulating that the Tony Award-nominated Motown will open at the theatre in early 2015 to fill the void.

Tony Award-winning productions including 2013 TONY AWARD-WINNER for BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL! (PIPPIN) and 2012 TONY AWARD-WINNER for BEST SCORE & BEST CHOREOGRAPHY! (NEWSIES) will take to Cultural District stages for the 2014-2015 PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh season, along with critically-acclaimed audience favorites and the triumphant return of THE BOOK OF MORMON as part of the season specials.

Having rocked over 6.5 million people in a record-breaking 12 years at the London's Dominion Theatre, the smash hit Queen & Ben Elton musical We Will Rock You is due finally to close on 31 May 2014, as BroadwayWorld reported yesterday. Now the longest running show ever at the Dominion by a margin of nine years, the show takes its rightful place in West End history, sitting proudly in the Top 10 longest running musicals of all time. Now according to the Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye, the Tony Award-nominated Motown will open at the theatre in early 2015 to fill the void.

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.

On Saturday, March 1st, The Orpheum Theatre formally announced its much-anticipated 2014-2015 Broadway Season. The scheduled lineup includes the first national tour of the 2013 Tony® Award Winner for Best Musical KINKY BOOTS, the 2012 Tony Award winner for Best Musical ONCE, 2013 Tony nominated musical A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE MUSICAL, and the record-breaking smash hit MOTOWN THE MUSICAL. The season also features the long-awaited return engagement of Disney's THE LION KING, and Cameron Mackintosh's spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA.

It's Our 'I LOVE New York' Season! Direct-from-New-York, Nederlander presents the SunTrustBroadway at DPAC, 2014/2015 Season. The seventh season of SunTrust Broadway at DPAC has been deemed the 'I Love New York' season as seven of the eight shows are current top ten hits on Broadway while the eighth has received world-wide recognition. Past seasons have always featured the newest and best shows from New York, but this season is truly astonishing. In all, these eight shows have garnered over 70 Tony nominations and over 30 Tony Award wins on Broadway.

BMO Harris Bank Broadway at the Marcus Center and Broadway Across America-Milwaukee invite you to experience the sounds and splendor at the Marcus Center throughout 2014-2015 with the best of Broadway in Milwaukee!

MOTOWN THE MUSICAL creator and legendary Motown record label founder Berry Gordy will receive the Visionary Award during the 2014 'BET Honors' ceremony broadcast nationwide on Monday, February 24th.

Broadway San Diego just announced their upcoming 2014/2015 season. here are some fu facts about the shows in this coming season!

MOTOWN THE MUSICAL star Brandon Victor Dixon performed live on national television yesterday morning on Fox Business News Network's "Imus in the Morning," hosted by legendary radio personality and Motown fan Don Imus himself.

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 Theater League and Broadway Across America this week announced the line-up for the 2014-2015 Kansas City Broadway Series. Performed at the Music Hall and described by Entertainment Weekly as "the funniest musical of all time," The Book of Mormon anchors the season.