Krisha Marcano News

That old idiom, "History is written by the victors" kept ringing in my head last night as I watched the National Touring Company of "Motown: The Musical" at the Paramount Theatre. Or rather one could say, "History is written by the one telling it." This retelling of the life of Berry Gordy and his creation of Motown Records with a book written by Berry Gordy based on the autobiography by Berry Gordy comes across like a jock in the locker room bragging about all his conquests. But with such bad writing and storytelling coupled with an overabundance of half songs the show feels like a bunch of skewed half-truths and amounts to a tepid and forced evening.

MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL is a jukebox musical that premiered on Broadway in April 2013, receiving four Tony Award nominations. Based on Berry Gordy's 1994 autobiography To Be Loved: The Music, the Magic, the Memories of Motown, it tells the story of how he founded and ran the Motown record label. It also touches on his relationships with Diana Ross (Allison Semmes), Marvin Gaye (Jarran Muse), and Smokey Robinson (Jesse Nager). Digging deep into the Motown catalog, the show contains over 60 songs. With that many songs one would expect a pretty thin book; however, by wisely placing most of the focus on Gordy (Chester Gregory) and Ross' relationship and the rise and fall of Motown, we are given a compelling portrait of both Gordy and the music industry. MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL is a celebration of the Motown sound… that sound that joined black and white America in ways nothing else has equaled before or since...that magical period in our past when we were invited to go dancing in the street to a brand new beat.

Producers Kevin McCollum, Doug Morris and Berry Gordy, and Broadway San Jose, a Nederlander Presentation, are proud to announce that MOTOWN THE MUSICAL will play a one-week engagement at San Jose's Center for the Performing Arts (255 Almaden Blvd.) from June 21-26, 2016.

Producers Kevin McCollum, Doug Morris and Berry Gordy just announced complete casting for the Broadway return of Motown The Musical, beginning performances Tuesday, July 12 at The Nederlander Theatre (208 West 41Street) for a strictly limited 18-week-only engagement through Sunday, November 13, 2016.

MOTOWN the Musical could've been a hokey disaster that tried to cobble great hits together in some strained reach of a storyline, but it isn't. MOTOWN's plot is not contrived but completely realistic and heart-warmingly human. Baltimore and Motor City may be more like strained siblings than kissing cousins, but in some deep sense, Detroit IS Baltimore and this musical will resonate most particularly here, most particularly now. MOTOWN deserves to be not just a Broadway phenomenon but a part of our collective culture. It's fun, it's funny, it's sexy and it's full of the sort of hopeful commitment to brighter futures that used to be part of the American Dream.

For Chester Gregory, the opportunity to portray the founder of the Motown record label, Berry Gordy, was the logical next step in his personal musical journey. "A lot of work has led me to this role. So, it is like a full circle moment for me," said Gregory, who plays Gordy in "Motown the Musical," set to be performed in Columbus Tuesday through Sunday at the Ohio Theatre.

Performances for the Miami premiere of MOTOWN THE MUSICAL begin Tuesday, February 2 for a limited one-week run through Sunday, February 7, 2016 at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County.

Broadway veteran and Broadway Quick Change host, Robert Hartwell today announced the launch of The Broadway Dance Collective, a traveling, multi-disciplinary musical theater master class for youth.

Producers Kevin McCollum, Doug Morris and Berry Gordy are thrilled to announce that Broadway veteran Chester Gregory will join the First National Tour of MOTOWN THE MUSICAL in the leading role of Berry Gordy. Mr. Gregory's first performance will be tonight in Richmond, VA.

Producers Kevin McCollum, Doug Morris and Berry Gordy, and Broadway at the National present the Washington premiere of Motown the Musical, playing the National Theatre now through January 3, 2016. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivities, featuring Berry Gordy himself, below!

The ultimate question with Motown the Musical is not whether you'll like it, but how many songs it takes before you're moving and grooving in your seat at the National Theatre. With an abundance of classic hits, the answer is not too long.

Producers Kevin McCollum, Doug Morris and Berry Gordy, and Broadway at the National are proud to announce casting for the Washington premiere of Motown The Musical, playing the National Theatre December 1, 2015 thru January 3, 2016.   

Actress and singer Jennifer Hudson stopped by this morning's TODAY to chat with Kathie Lee and Hoda about moving to New York to star in the Broadway revival of THE COLOR PURPLE this fall.

For nearly three vigorous hours, MOTOWN - THE MUSICAL provides one helluva show. More like a CONCERT rather than your typical book musical, this dazzling, high-octane extravaganza of music and dance is a visual and aural feast that gamely crams in more than 60 hits from the groundbreaking record company's discography. The story---penned by Motown founder Berry Gordy himself---may be its lone weak spot, but there's no denying how fun it is to see and hear this impressive cast of quintuple-threats recreate these greatest hits live on stage. The rousingly entertaining, exuberantly-performed stage spectacular continues at Costa Mesa's Segerstrom Center for the Arts through June 28.

Turning a profit in the theatre business is challenging at best but it isn't surprising that MOTOWN THE MUSICAL easily recouped its initial investment during its run on Broadway, or its outlay for the First National Tour, now playing at the Hollywood Pantages. The popularity of the Motown sound is undeniable. Even if you wanted to, it's impossible to keep from being carried away by the irresistible groove of the music. And why would you even want to try?

Producers Kevin McCollum, Doug Morris and Berry Gordy present the First National Tour of MOTOWN THE MUSICAL, which plays The Buell Theatre tonight, March 31-April 19 only. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the production below!

Performances for MOTOWN THE MUSICAL begin tonight, February 24 for a limited two week run through Sunday, March 8, 2015. MOTOWN THE MUSICAL is part of the 2014-2015 Broadway in Fort Lauderdale Series presented by Broadway Across America and Florida Theatrical Association in partnership with The Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast in action!

Producers Kevin McCollum, Doug Morris and Berry Gordy present the First National Tour of MOTOWN THE MUSICAL, which plays The Buell Theatre March 31-April 19 only. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the production below!

MOTOWN, Berry Gordy's self-aggrandizing tribute to the independent record label that fused gospel, blues, jazz, doo wop and country into a unique and wildly popular Detroit sound, is currently heating things up at the Boston Opera House through February 15.

Performances for MOTOWN THE MUSICAL begin Tuesday, February 24 for a limited two week run through Sunday, March 8, 2015. MOTOWN THE MUSICAL is part of the 2014-2015 Broadway in Fort Lauderdale Series presented by Broadway Across America and Florida Theatrical Association in partnership with The Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast in action!