Motown the Musical Tour 2014 - Articles Page 11

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!

MOTOWN THE MUSICAL, the smash hit musical featuring the music of the legendary Motown catalogue and a book by Berry Gordy, will play its final performance of its current Broadway engagement this Sunday, January 18, 2015 at The Lunt Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46 Street) and will return to Broadway in a Nederlander theatre to be announced in Summer 2016.

Valentine's weekend just took on new meaning with The Skivvies making their Philadelphia debut in SEI Innovation Studio as part of Kimmel Center Presents program offerings, Thursday, February 12, Friday February 13 and Saturday, February 14 at 8 p.m. The Skivvies features the mastermind talents of two Broadway performers-Lauren Molina and Nick Cearly-who, as a "musically thrilling" undie-rock, comedy-pop duo, don't just strip down their musical arrangements, they literally strip down to their underwear to perform.

MOTOWN THE MUSICAL, the hit musical featuring the music of the legendary Motown catalogue and a book by Berry Gordy, ends its Broadway run today, January 18 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. MOTOWN is set to return to Broadway at a Nederlander theatre to be announced in July 2016. Last spring, the first National Tour of Motown the Musical opened to critical acclaim, grossing an impressive $20 Million dollars during a packed sixteen-week run, and is now heading to major markets across the US. MOTOWN will also head to London's West End this summer.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. The BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards Celebration was great! Now onward to '50 Shades,' 'Mr. Burns' and 'Book Of Merman,' plus two from Christopher Pazdernik,' 'Ordinary Days,' 'First Wives Club,' tributes to John Hughes and Stephen Sondheim and a showtune film cameo!

The Doo Wop Project, featuring current and former cast members of Jersey Boys and Motown The Musical, puts a modern day spin on a classic music style when it comes to the Mayo Performing Arts Center today, January 10, 2015 at 8 pm. Tickets are $29-49.

As 2014 comes to a close, it seems only fitting to look back on the craziest moments of this year- and there were many. From the cancellations of major productions to onstage flubs and unpredictable audience behavior, 2014 was nothing if not buzz-worthy. Below, BroadwayWorld invites you to recall the most bizarre, ridiculous and peculiar things that happened on Broadway this year.

Arbender Robinson, Crystal Dickinson, Jerry Dixon, Lauren Elder and Tony Award-nominee Keala Settle are among Broadway actors participating in 'The Stars Are Brightly Shining: A Broadway Brunchtime Series Holiday Benefit Concert Treat' today, December 18, 2014 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at NYC's Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen .

Producer Kevin McCollum has just announced that SOMETHING ROTTEN!, a completely original new musical comedy directed and choreographed by Tony-winner Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon, Aladdin), with music and lyrics by Grammy -winner Wayne Kirkpatrick and Golden Globe nominee Karey Kirkpatrick and a book by Karey Kirkpatrick and best-selling author John O'Farrell, will begin previews March 23 and officially open April 22, 2015 at Broadway's St. James Theatre (246 West 44th Street).

Producers Kevin McCollum, Doug Morris and Berry Gordy, and Hennepin Theatre Trust are proud to welcome Motown The Musical, tonight, December 16, through the 28th at Hennepin Theatre Trust's Orpheum Theatre (910 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis) as part of the 2014-2015 Thrivent Financial Broadway on Hennepin Season.

The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, in partnership with Florida Theatrical Association and FAIRWINDS Broadway in Orlando, announces that tickets for MOTOWN THE MUSICAL go on sale Friday, December 12 at 10 a.m. MOTOWN THE MUSICAL takes the stage at the Dr. Phillips Center March 10 - 15, 2015.

The Doo Wop Project, featuring current and former cast members of Jersey Boys and Motown The Musical, puts a modern day spin on a classic music style when it comes to the Mayo Performing Arts Center on Saturday, January 10, 2015 at 8 pm.

The 26th annual edition of Gypsy of the Year raised a record-breaking $5,229,611 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS thanks to six weeks of fundraising by 64 Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring companies.

The 26th annual edition of Gypsy of the Year, to be presented today, December 8 (4:30 PM) and tomorrow, December 9 (2 PM) at the New Amsterdam Theatre (214 West 42nd Street, NYC), will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the groundbreaking musical The Wiz and feature performances by the uber-talented 'gypsies' of 12 Broadway and Off-Broadway shows.

Pioneer Theatre Company presents the Tony Award-winning play Peter and the Starcatcher tonight, December 5 through December 20, 2014.

The 26th annual edition of Gypsy of the Year, to be presented Monday, December 8 (4:30 PM) and Tuesday, December 9 (2 PM) at the New Amsterdam Theatre (214 West 42nd Street, NYC), will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the groundbreaking musical The Wiz and feature performances by the uber-talented 'gypsies' of 12 Broadway and Off-Broadway shows.

The 2014 Broadway's Carols for a Cure, Volume 16 is on sale now! This 2-disc, annual CD of original and traditional holiday music features stars and casts from the current Broadway line-up, and benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA), one of the nation's leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations. Broadway's Carols for a Cure, Volume 16 can be ordered for only $25 through BC/EFA at broadwaycares.org or by calling (212) 840-0770 x238 Monday-Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. EST. Volumes from previous seasons are available, too (check online or call for price). BroadwayWorld is excited to continue our exclusive photo coverage of the recording sessions for this year's album with the cast of The Last Ship, who sing 'Soul Cake.' Check out photos of cast members Shawna M. Hamic, Dawn Cantwell, Leah Hocking, Sarah Hunt, Alyssa DiPalma, Rachel Tucker and more below!

Arbender Robinson, Crystal Dickinson, Jerry Dixon, Lauren Elder and Tony Award-nominee Keala Settle are among Broadway actors participating in 'The Stars Are Brightly Shining: A Broadway Brunchtime Series Holiday Benefit Concert Treat' on Thursday, December 18, 2014 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at NYC's Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen (www.holyapostlessoupkitchen.org).

To celebrate this year full of amazing guests and all of the the artists that make Broadway tick, Mo Brady and Nikka Graff Lanzarone announce the first annual "Ensemblist Awards" in collaboration with BLEEP Magazine.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: ASSASSINS opens in London, CHICAGO welcomes a new 'Billy Flynn' and 'Mama Morton', Jim Parsons returns to Roundabout for its 'MERTON' benefit reading and more!

MOTOWN THE MUSICAL's N'Kenge returns to Broadway Tuesday, Dec. 2 in the role of Mary Wells which she originated.

Morgan James Covers The Beatles!

The 2014 Broadway's Carols for a Cure, Volume 16 is on sale now! This 2-disc, annual CD of original and traditional holiday music features stars and casts from the current Broadway line-up, and benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA), one of the nation's leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations. Broadway's Carols for a Cure, Volume 16 can be ordered for only $25 through BC/EFA at broadwaycares.org or by calling (212) 840-0770 x238 Monday-Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. EST. Volumes from previous seasons are available, too (check online or call for price). BroadwayWorld is excited to continue our exclusive photo coverage of the recording sessions for this year's album with the cast of Motown, who sing 'Another Christmas Eve' and 'I Am Here.' Check out photos of cast members Crystal Joy, Rebecca E. Covington, Dionne D. Figgins, Marva Hicks, Moeisha McGill and more below!

I have no doubt that MOTOWN THE MUSICAL will be popular with audiences. It does, after all, contain the music that generations have grown up on, and it's still being played today. And, it's interesting that I was flipping channels on TV and saw an infomercial dedicated to the Motown 25th Anniversary special made in 1983 recently. That's the scene that opens the show, and where we first encounter the man who made it all happen, Berry Gordy. He's angry and doesn't want to attend because all his stars have left him for the greener pastures of other labels. This despite it being his own competitive spirit, and the fact that he instilled that in his roster of talent (songwriters, singers, and musicians), that created their desire to further pursue their careers in the first place. That makes for an interesting dichotomy that would seem ripe for the stage. So, why am I so disappointed? Because I wanted a real narrative (Gordy wrote the book himself) that doesn't gloss over important historical events while, at the same time, giving 60 fabulous tunes short shrift.