Nathaniel Cullors was dynamic as the young Michael Jackson, fronting the hyper-kinetic Jackson 5.Įlijah Ahmad Lewis embraced the role of Stevie Wonder with zest. Jarran Muse, as Marvin Gaye, proved a charismatic crooner. Nicholas Ryan, another understudy, was a smooth customer as Smokey Robinson. Semmes ad-libbed warmly with Tuesday’s audience. His big Act 2 song, “Can I Close the Door,” was a knockout.Īllison Semmes brought a radiant voice and sparkling presence to Diana Ross. Nik Walker, the understudy in the central role of Berry Gordy, was suave in voice and acting. On Tuesday’s opening night, some understudies stepped in the for the principal actors, but all performances were top-drawer. The cast of three dozen boasts some fantastic voices. Some songs, like the irrepressible “Dancing in the Street,” make you want to shout for joy.ĭirector Charles Randolph-Wright and choreographers Patricia Wilcox and Warren Adams have produced a sleek, energetic and hugely entertaining musical. The story is fairly engrossing, even if it fails to burrow very deeply into its characters’ lives. It touches also on the racism Motown’s black singers often encountered and subtly suggests how those same artists and their music helped to unite a divided America in the 1950s and 60s. The tale flashes back to Gordy’s childhood and then forward to 1957 as Gordy creates his own record label and assembles the stars that fashion the Motown sound.Īlong the way, the show delves into Gordy’s romantic involvement with Ross and his tumultuous professional relationship with Gaye. The story, written by Gordy, begins in 1983 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium with several recording stars gathered to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Motown Records. The show charges forward for more than two hours and 30 minutes (with intermission), rarely pausing to catch its breath.Īt the center of the musical is Motown founder Berry Gordy, the music mogul who launched the careers of many legendary soul, R&B and pop-music artists. “Motown” opens with a thrilling musical duel between groups portraying The Temptations and The Four Tops. The cast is first-rate, and it was announced only a few days ago that this national tour would return to Broadway in 2016. These are delivered by actors who nimbly impersonate such great Motown singers and groups as Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, the Jackson 5 and many others. Postman,” “Shop Around,” Signed, Sealed Delivered I’m Yours,” “What’s Going On” and “Stop in the Name of Love” - to name a few. It often feels more like a pumped-up, bass-heavy rock concert than a traditional musical, however, with more than 60 classic Motown tunes like “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “Baby I Need Your Lovin,” “Do You Love Me,” “My Girl,” “My Guy,” “Please, Mr. Bam bam bam, one irresistible hit quickly follows another in “Motown: the Musical,” which roared into the Peace Center this week for eight performances through Sunday.
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