MOTOWN THE MUSICAL is the true American dream story of Motown founder Berry Gordy's journey from featherweight boxer to the heavyweight music mogul who launched the careers of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson and so many more. Featuring classic songs such as "My Girl" and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," MOTOWN THE MUSICAL tells the story behind the hits as Diana, Smokey, Berry and the whole Motown family fight against the odds to create the soundtrack that changed America. Motown shattered barriers, shaped our lives and made us all move to the same beat. Now, experience it live on Broadway in the record-breaking smash hit MOTOWN THE MUSICAL!
The generosity of theatre fans during six weeks of fundraising by 57 Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring companies helped push the 28th Annual Easter Bonnet Competition to another record high, raising $4,532,129 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the celebration below!
Rehearsals for HOLLER IF YA HEAR ME, the new Broadway musical inspired by the lyrics of Tupac Shakur begin today, Monday, April 21. Written by Todd Kreidler and directed by Kenny Leon, HOLLER IF YA HEAR ME will begin performances on May 29, 2014 and open June 19, 2014 at the Palace Theatre (1564 Broadway at 47th Street).
The Fabulous Fox Theatre has announced its stellar 2014-2015 U.S. Bank Broadway Series, featuring the smash hit KINKY BOOTS, winner of six 2013 Tony Awards® including Best Musical. Of the six season ticket package shows, four of them will make their Fox Theatre and St. Louis debuts. Fox Theatre audiences can look forward to the unforgettable songs and sensual dancing featured in DIRTY DANCING - The Classic Story On Stage; the American dream story behind the hits in MOTOWN THE MUSICAL; Cameron Mackintosh's spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA; the enchanting revival of Rogers + Hammerstein's CINDERELLA; and the hilarious stage production of A CHRISTMAS STORY.
Guest conductor Jack Everly joins the Utah Symphony on May 2-3 for a trip down memory lane at Abravanel Hall. This special concert, celebrating the Baby Boom generation, highlights songs and television shows from the 1960s. The program features music by the Beach Boys, Frankie Valli, and the Beatles, and guest vocalists Roy Chicas, Jim Hogan, Marissa McGowan, N'Kenge, Kristine Reese and Max Quinlan.
Join Circle Theatre as we celebrate the musical masterpieces of the Grammy and Academy Award-winning composer, Stephen Schwartz.
MOTOWN THE MUSICAL star Brandon Victor Dixon appeared this week on WLNY-TV's 'Live From The Couch' to speak with host John Elliott about working with Berry Gordy on the smash hit musical from the very beginning, the historical significance of Motown's legacy, and bringing that story to Broadway. Check out the interview below!
Ben Edquist, of Houston, won the $15,000 First Prize in the finals of the 2014 Lotte Lenya Competition, sponsored by the Kurt Weill Foundation for Music and held on April 12, 2014, in Kilbourn Hall of the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y. Arlo Hill, of New York, won the Second Prize of $10,000, and the Third Prize of $7,500 was awarded to Natalie Ballenger, also of New York.
On Sunday, April 13, Motown the Musical invites fans to celebrate its first anniversary on Broadway with a one-time-only, free ticket lottery for the 3:00PM performance.
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Hold onto your hats! Shows beginning in late April include 'Avenue Q,' 'Ragtime,' 'Juno,' 'Hey! Dancin'! Hey! Musical!,' 'How To Succeed...,' 'Hair,' 'The Sound Of Music,' 'Motown' and 'The Wizard Of Oz!' AMAZING! Plus news from The Second City, the Goodman, that JCS arena tour, a 2015 'Little Shop' and the return of the Mormons! Whew!
Join Circle Theatre as we celebrate the musical masterpieces of the Grammy and Academy Award-winning composer, Stephen Schwartz.
Award-winning slam poet, actor, singer, musician Saul Williams (Slam), Christopher Jackson (After Midnight), Saycon Sengbloh (Motown The Musical, Fela!), Ben Thompson(Matilda), John Earl Jelks (Radio Golf - Tony nomination), Joshua Boone (Brownsville Song [b side for Tray] at Actors Theatre of Louisville), Dyllon Burnside ('Prison Break') and Tony Award winner Tonya Pinkins (Jelly's Last Jam, Caroline or Change, Play On!) will star in HOLLER IF YA HEAR ME, the new Broadway musical inspired by the lyrics of Tupac Shakur. Written by Todd Kreidler and directed by Kenny Leon, HOLLER IF YA HEAR ME will begin performances on May 29, 2014 and open June 19, 2014 at the Palace Theatre (1564 Broadway at 47th Street).
Broadway Inspirational Voices(BIV), under the direction of Michael McElroy (TONY Award Nominee, Big River) will be the guest choir at First Corinthian Baptist Church Palm Sunday services April 13th, 2014. BIV features members from Motown: The musical, The Lion King, Wicked, Spider-Man, The Book of Mormon, Annie, Kinky Boots, After Midnight and more.
Omaha Performing Arts' 2014/2015 Season will be a spectacular season of award-winning productions and performers. The upcoming season was announced during a subscriber and patron event at the Holland Performing Arts Center on March 31. Two of the iconic Rockettes helped kick off the night and led a dance demonstration for local youth in the lobby after the event. Cast members from the Broadway musical MOTOWN THE MUSICAL closed the event with a performance that featured a medley of Motown hits.
Bring It On: The Musical comes to the Van Wezel tonight, April 2, 2014. Bitingly relevant and sprinkled with sass, Bring It On: The Musical, inspired by the Bring It On film, takes the audience on a high-flying journey filled with the complexities of friendship, jealousy, betrayal and forgiveness. Bring It On: The Musical tells the story of the challenges and unexpected bonds formed through the thrill of extreme competition.
Bring It On: The Musical is coming to Jacksonville's Times-Union Center's Moran Theater tonight, April 1, 2014 at 7:30PM for one performance only!
PNC Bank is the new title sponsor of Blumenthal Performing Arts' flagship series next season. The 2014-2015 blockbuster Broadway season is titled PNC Broadway Lights and is made possible with support from PNC Bank.
'Happy birthday to you,' MOTOWN THE MUSICAL! The smash hit, which celebrates its first Broadway anniversary on April 14, has released a new montage of show clips set to legendary Motown classics from the musical, including 'I Want You Back,' 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours,' 'Get Ready,' 'Dancing In The Street,' and 'Do You Love Me.' Check it out below!
Bring It On: The Musical comes to the Van Wezel on April 2, 2014. Bitingly relevant and sprinkled with sass, Bring It On: The Musical, inspired by the Bring It On film, takes the audience on a high-flying journey filled with the complexities of friendship, jealousy, betrayal and forgiveness. Bring It On: The Musical tells the story of the challenges and unexpected bonds formed through the thrill of extreme competition.
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.
ASU Gammage has announced its 2014/2015 Broadway Across America –Arizona season which marks the 50th Anniversary of ASU Gammage and in celebration ASU Gammage is bringing a season of the hottest shows on Broadway and the biggest blockbusters to ever grace our stage. Hot new Award-winning shows direct from Broadway include 2013 Tony Award for Best Musical winner KINKY BOOTS, PIPPIN, MOTOWN and Rodgers + Hammerstein's CINDERELLA!
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.
MCC THEATER has announced that the annual Miscast 2014 gala has added Billy Porter, Jeremy Jordan, Megan Hilty, and Raul Esparza as performers, joining the previously announced Zosia Mamet, Christian Borle, Anika Noni Rose, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Steven Pasquale, Jesse L. Martin, Sasha Allen, Keala Settle, and Nicole Parker. Phil Reno will serve as Musical Director. Additional performers will be announced at a later date. Miscast 2014 will be held Monday, March 31, 2014 at The Hammerstein Ballroom (311 West 34th Street). The evening will begin with a cocktail hour and gala dinner followed by the Miscast performances. Gala and show-only tickets are now on sale at www.mcctheater.org.
Fourteen exceptionally talented young singer-actors have been selected as finalists in the 2014 Lotte Lenya Competition. They will compete for top prizes of $15,000, $10,000 and $7,500 on Saturday, April 12, 2014, in Rochester, New York. Broadway conductor and Encores! music director Rob Berman, 2-time Tony Award winner Judy Kaye, and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis Artistic Director James Robinson will judge.
The World Premiere of Stories From the Night Before, a new evening of dance theater created by Maurice Brandon Curry, Chair of the Dance Department of Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts, will be presented on Sunday and Monday March 16 and 17 at 7 PM at New York University's Skirball Center, 566 LaGuardia Place (just off Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village), New York, NY 10012.
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.
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