Written by Berry Gordy and Directed by Charles Randolph-Wright this is an excellent performance with great music, actors and more. Running time: Two hours and 45 minutes.
A fantastic play that everyone will enjoy. The staging is magnificent and this celebration of the music of Motown is being enjoyed and reveled in by audiences nationwide. The musical artistry–and those whose songs are presented–showcases some of the most irresistible, infectious and energetic popular music of the 20th century.
“Motown: The Musical” captures the history of the establishment of the Detroit independent record label, from its founding in 1959 to its acquisition by a corporate conglomerate in the late ’80s. Motown founder, Barry Gordy, and his collaborators are seen is a never before light onstage. Throughout the story line their characters are unveiled, while in-between a whole lot of hit songs are made. The small town wroster of singers and groups continues to grow and the word is made a better place because of it all.
Clifton Oliver is cast as the ingenious Berry Gordy and Allison Semmes magnificently portrays the lovely Diana Ross. The entire look and sound of her performance is as if one were looking directly in a mirror of the iconic Ross.
Captured from the point of view of Motown Founder Berry Gordy, “Motown: The Musical” is teeming with good beats of music. Altogether, the program showcases 60 songs.
“Motown: The Musical” has been a hit on Broadway ever since it opened in April of last year. And the long lines outside the ticket box is a strong indicator that it is a definite crowd-pleaser.
The show starts off with The Temptations and the Four Tops in a Battle of the Bands and ends with the amazing Diana Ross, crooning “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” and usually the audience is always on its feet at this point in the show!
There is no sitting still in your seat at this musical. One is almost pulled up to stand, clapping and joining in with the cast to sing these popular history-making songs. Some may see that there’s a dichotomy at work in the show. Because, within, you have all of these amazing, great songs like “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” and “I Can’t Get Next to You” vivaciously performed by both the cast, under the direction of Charles Randolph-Wright, and the 15-piece live band, under the direction of Darryl Archibald. Then you have the autobiography that was written by Gordy, that he says is based on his life, entitled “To Be Loved: The Music, the Magic, the Memories of Motown.”
In the musical, Berry portrays a one-dimensional protagonist (played by Clifton Oliver). He’s strong-willed, exuberant and more than determined to have his company succeed. What “Motown” the musical has that other musicals lack, is an awesome songbook to back up their story line.
The mighty hits go on, and on, and on…. The audience is very excited when a young Reed L. Shannon (as Michael Jackson) performs many Jackson 5 hits including “I Want You Back,” “ABC,” “The Love You Save” and “I’ll Be There.” He’s a great singer and captures the hearts of the full house.
Then, there is the magnificent Nicholas Christopher, who portrays Smokey Robinson. He’s Barry’s right-hand man, and partner in Motown’s founding. Christopher is ‘right on’ in his performance. He belts out hit, after hit including “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me”.
Jarran Muse take on the part as a talented Marvin Gaye. Muse showcases his talents and acting skills while delivering many of Gaye’s hits including “What’s Going On” and “Mercy, Mercy Me (The Ecology).” All of the great memories are captured in this musical….
All in all, there’s so very much more to “Motown: The Musical” than can be put to pen. It is electrifying and dazzles all of the senses. Great talent. Great Story.
Catch this on tour wherever you can!
