Bryan Cook News

The Oscars have added a new Best Casting award. The new category will begin with the 98th annual ceremony for films released in 2025. This is the first time a new award has been added since Best Animated Film in 2001.

The studio cast recording has been released of The Big Time, now available on streaming and digital platforms worldwide. Listen to the full album here!

This weekend in Detroit, the birthplace of Motown records, celebrations are being held for Motown's diamond anniversary, marking 60 years of the label founded by Berry Gordy. Motown shares its legacy in the UK with the legendary Motown catalogue which is bought to life in MOTOWN THE MUSICAL, a story by Berry Gordy which uncovers how MOTOWN changed music history and created the soundtrack of a generation.

Motown the Musical will conclude its run on 20 April 2019 having celebrated over 1330 performances since its London premiere in February 2016. The show received its world premiere in April 2013 in New York and opened in the West End three years later. Motown the Musical closes in London in advance of major refurbishments taking place at the Shaftesbury Theatre, while the UK tour continues across the country.

The countdown is on with just two weeks to go until Motown the Musical makes its Scottish premiere at the Edinburgh Playhouse.

The countdown is on with just two weeks to go until Motown the Musical makes its Scottish premiere at the Edinburgh Playhouse.

Stop in the Name of Love! Diana Ross and The Supremes were checking out the vinyl at Britain's oldest record shop The Diskery ahead of the first ever National Album Day (Saturday 13 October)

The producers of "MOTOWN THE MUSICAL" have announced the cast for the UK and Ireland tour. Edward Baruwa will play the leading role of 'Berry Gordy', Karis Anderson will play 'Diana Ross', Nathan Lewis will play 'Smokey Robinson' and Shak Gabbidon-Williams will play 'Marvin Gaye'.

The producers of 'MOTOWN THE MUSICAL' have announced the cast for the UK and Ireland tour. Edward Baruwa will play the leading role of 'Berry Gordy', Karis Anderson will play 'Diana Ross', Nathan Lewis will play 'Smokey Robinson' and Shak Gabbidon-Williams will play 'Marvin Gaye'.

Motown the Musical recently released 450,000 new tickets for sale, taking bookings for the hit West End show at the Shaftesbury Theatre to 2 November 2019

Motown the Musical today releases over 450,000 new tickets for sale, taking bookings for the hit West End show at the Shaftesbury Theatre to 2 November 2019. With music and lyrics from the Motown catalogue and book by Motown founder Berry Gordy, Motown the Musical tells the story behind the legendary classic hits, directed by Charles Randolph-Wright.

Motown the Musical will embark on a major UK and Ireland tour in 2018-2019 arriving at The Bristol Hippodrome for a 4-week a four week  run from Thursday 10 January - Saturday 2 February 2019. Further dates and casting to be announced soon.

Motown the Musical will embark on a major UK and Ireland tour which will be heading to Manchester Opera House from Tuesday 26 February - Saturday 23 March 2019.

The hit West End production of Motown the Musical this weekend will celebrate its second birthday at the Shaftesbury Theatre and announces that from 6 March 2018 the West End cast will be led by Jay Perry as Berry Gordy, Natalie Kassanga as Diana Ross and Carl Spencer as Marvin Gaye. They join David Albury who continues in the role of Smokey Robinson. Cruz Lee-Ojo, 11 years old from Uxbridge also joins the Company to share the role of Young Michael Jackson, Berry Gordy and Stevie Wonder with Tumo Reetsang, 12 years old from Southwark, London.

Motown the Musical will embark on a major UK and Ireland tour opening at the Birmingham New Alexandra Theatre on 11 October 2018 where it will play until 3 November 2018 before visiting Leeds Grand Theatre (6 17 November 2018), Edinburgh Playhouse (20 November 8 December 2018), Bristol Hippodrome (10 January 2 February 2019), Bord Gais Energy Theatre Dublin (5 - 23 February 2019), Manchester Opera House (26 February 23 March 2019) and Wales Millennium Centre Cardiff (26-March - 6 April 2019). Further dates and casting to be announced soon.

Motown the Musical will embark on a major UK and Ireland tour opening at the Birmingham New Alexandra Theatre on 11 October 2018 where it will play until 3 November 2018 before touring the UK and Ireland.

SF Sketchfest was founded in 2001 by David Owen, Cole Stratton, and Janet Varney as a way to showcase the talents of six Bay Area sketch comedy groups: The Fresh Robots, Kasper Hauser, The Meehan Brothers, Please Leave the Bronx, Totally False People, and White Noise Radio Theatre. The festival debuted in January of 2002 at the Shelton Theatre in downtown San Francisco and has grown rapidly into a nationally recognized comedy festival that mixes national headliners, local favorites, and the best up-and-coming groups from throughout North America for a month of sketch, improv, stand-up, and alternative comedy. A favorite with audiences, critics, and performers alike, the festival has grown substantially to become a highly anticipated artistic showcase that consistently delivers top quality comedic performances, tributes, and panel discussions.

Motown the Musical has just released 500,000 new tickets for sale, taking bookings for the hit West End production into 2019 when the show will celebrate its third year in London and Motown will celebrate sixty years since the record company was founded. 

Motown The Musical, which recently celebrated its first birthday in London, is currently booking at the Shaftesbury Theatre to 24 February 2018. With music and lyrics from the Motown catalogue and book by Motown founder Berry Gordy, the production features a sixteen-piece orchestra playing 50 Motown tracks including Ain't No Mountain High Enough, I'll Be There, Dancing In The Street, Stop! In The Name Of Love, My Girl and I Heard It through the Grapevine. Charles Randolph-Wright's production tells the story behind the classic hits. Check out brand-new production shots below!

The hit West End production of Motown the Musical today (10 February 2017) releases over 200,000 new tickets for sale with the show now booking at the Shaftesbury Theatre to 24 February 2018 as the production celebrates its first birthday in London.