Motown: The Musical
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Introduction to "Motown: The Musical"
"Motown: The Musical" premiered in London’s West End at the Shaftesbury Theatre on February 11, 2016, following previews from January 27, and ran for 1,335 performances until April 20, 2019. With music and lyrics from the Motown catalog and a book by Berry Gordy, this jukebox musical chronicles Gordy’s founding of Motown Records, based on his 1994 autobiography "To Be Loved." Directed by Charles Randolph-Wright, it starred Cedric Neal as Gordy, Lucy St. Louis as Diana Ross, and Charl Brown as Smokey Robinson. After a Tony-winning Broadway run from 2013 to 2014, its West End transfer featured over 50 hits like "My Girl" and "Ain’t No Mountain High Enough," earning four 2017 Olivier nominations, including Best New Musical. A UK tour followed in 2018, cementing its status as a soulful celebration of music’s power to unite, seen by over 1.5 million in London alone.
The Creative Team Behind the Show
Berry Gordy penned the book, weaving his life into the Motown catalog’s hits, with David Bryan arranging the score though most credit goes to original artists like Smokey Robinson and Marvin Gaye. Charles Randolph-Wright directed, with Patricia Wilcox and Warren Adams’ choreography igniting the ‘60s vibe. Cedric Neal’s Gordy, Lucy St. Louis’ Ross, Charl Brown’s Robinson, and Sifiso Mazibuko’s Gaye led the 2016 cast, joined by a 16-piece orchestra. Producers Gordy, Doug Morris, and Kevin McCollum, with David Korins’ sleek sets and ESosa’s period costumes, crafted a £5 million spectacle. Randolph-Wright’s vision, honed on Broadway, balanced nostalgia with Gordy’s personal lens, delivering a polished tribute though some felt it leaned more concert than drama elevating Motown’s legacy with live, roof-raising flair.
A Soulful Rise from Detroit
In 1983, Berry Gordy hosts Motown’s 25th anniversary at Pasadena Civic Auditorium, reflecting on his journey. Flashback to 1950s Detroit: a young Gordy, inspired by boxer Joe Louis, borrows $800 from his family to found Motown Records. He signs Black talents Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson amid racial divides, crafting crossover hits ("Dancing in the Street") to unite America. His romance with Ross sparks and fades, while stars like the Jackson 5 soar then depart. Songs like "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and "What’s Going On" frame the Vietnam era’s unrest, ending with Gordy’s bittersweet triumph his empire reshaped pop, though personal costs linger. It’s a vibrant, hit-driven saga of ambition, love, and music’s social punch.
Performance and Reception
Opening to anticipation from Broadway’s $120 million haul, "Motown" ran 1,335 shows, grossing over £50 million in the West End. The Daily Telegraph hailed it “triumphant,” with Neal’s “dynamite” Gordy and St. Louis’ “glamorous” Ross, though The Guardian’s Michael Billington called it “thinly plotted,” favoring the music over 300,000 danced in aisles. Its four 2017 Olivier nods Best Musical, Actor (Neal), Choreography, Sound yielded no wins, but a cast recording hit charts, and a 2016 BBC airing reached millions. Critics split: The Times praised its “irresistible” hits, yet some felt 66 songs cramped the story. Facing "The Lion King"’s dazzle, it thrived on nostalgia, closing in 2019 for Shaftesbury renovations after a joyous three-year run.
Legacy in West End Theatre
"Motown: The Musical"’s 1,335 performances and four Olivier nominations slot it below "Mamma Mia!"’s 9,500+ but above many jukebox peers, its four 2010 Tonys including Best Orchestrations foreshadowing its impact. A 2014 US tour, 2018 UK-Ireland run with Edward Baruwa as Gordy, and stagings in Japan and Australia reached 5 million globally. The 2016 Broadway return flopped at 54 shows, but its cast album and 66 hits like Ross’ "Stop! In the Name of Love" endure, with amateur licenses thriving. Gordy’s tale shaped the jukebox genre, influencing "Tina," while its 18-piece orchestra set a live-music bar. In West End lore, it’s a soulful giant less enduring than "Les Mis," yet a vibrant bridge of Motown’s beat to Theatreland’s stage.