Theater News

Motown Announces Casting for Broadway Return Engagement

The musical featuring the hits of Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, and more, will come back to New York City.

Chester Gregory will star in the Broadway return engagement of Motown the Musical.
Chester Gregory will star in the Broadway return engagement of Motown the Musical.
(© David Gordon)

Casting has been announced for the upcoming Broadway return of Motown the Musical, which will play an 18-week engagement later this year at the Nederlander Theatre. The show will begin previews July 12 and run through November 13.

The company will be led by Chester Gregory as Berry Gordy, Allison Semmes as Diana Ross, Jesse Nager as Smokey Robinson, Jarran Muse as Marvin Gaye, and J.J. Batteast and Leon Outlaw, Jr. as Young Berry Gordy/Stevie Wonder/Michael Jackson.

The 33-member ensemble will feature Nik Alexander, Erick Buckley, Chante Carmel, Chadaé, Lynorris Evans, Anissa Felix, Talya Groves, Rod Harrelson, Robert Hartwell, Rodney Earl Jackson, Jr., Trisha Jeffrey, Jamie LaVerdiere, Elijah Ahmad Lewis, Loren Lott, Jarvis B. Manning, Jr., Krisha Marcano, Marq Moss, Rashad Naylor, Ramone Owens, Olivia Puckett, Nicholas Ryan, Jamison Scott, Joey Stone, Doug Storm, Martina Sykes, Nik Walker, and Galen J. Williams.

Filled with songs from the legendary songbook of Motown Records, the musical tracks label founder Berry Gordy's journey through his illustrious career, his marriage to the great Diana Ross, and his impact on music icons like Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and many more.

Directed by Charles Randolph-Wright and featuring a book by Gordy, Motown the Musical opened April 14, 2013 at Broadway's Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. It closed after 775 performances on January 18, 2015, and recouped its initial investment. The first national tour of Motown The Musical opened in Chicago in April 2014 and continues around the country. A London production began performances February 11, 2016.

Motown The Musical features choreography by Patricia Wilcox and Warren Adams, scenic design by David Korins, costume design by ESosa, lighting design by Natasha Katz, sound design by Peter Hylenski, projection design by Daniel Brodie, arrangements and orchestrations by Ethan Popp, co-orchestrations and additional arrangements by Bryan Crook, dance arrangements by Zane Mark, and music direction by Joseph Joubert.

The Nederlander Theatre is currently home to Disaster!, which is expected to end its run July 3.

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Motown The Musical

Closed: July 31, 2016