by contributor Wendy Gordon
Photo credit: (C) Joan Marcus, 2015
Motown. The name alone conjures up memories (in some of us) of Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, The Jackson 5 and Smokey Robinson (to name a few). For those of us at ‘a certain age,’ those of us who grew up with those that are now ’a certain age,’ and those who just love music, there is no denying Berry Gordy’s self-built American dream of a record company has been the basis of the music of our lives.
Krisha Marcano (Florence Ballard), Allison Semmes (Diana Ross) & Trisha Jeffrey (Mary Wilson)
On Wednesday, at the National Theatre, those of us who lived through the Motown era got to live through it again; and those who didn’t, got to experience the music firsthand. Motown The Musical spans six decades – 1930s through 1980s – and covers Berry Gordy’s rise from boxer to music mogul. The show is framed by Motown’s 25th anniversary show in 1983 – a homecoming for many of its major artists, who, for various reasons, left the label over the course of the years.
Julius Thomas III as Berry Gordy
The musical includes more than 40 hits from the Motown catalogue, arranged and orchestrated to resemble the original Motown recordings.
It’s a trip down memory lane with Motown hits weaved through the story of Gordy’s journey and those of his performers with emphasis on the friendship and loyalty of Smokey Robinson, the relationship between Gordy and Diana Ross and a myriad of spot-on performances by the ensemble. Be prepared to clap, sing along, and perhaps be featured in a duet with Diana Ross.
Jesse Nager as Smokey Robinson
Directed by Charles Randolph-Wright, resident playwright at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater, 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, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, and so many more. Wednesday’s performance was punctuated by an appearance by Berry Gordy himself who graciously thanked an audience on its feet at the end of the show.
Reed L. Shannon as Michael Jackson (center) with the Jackson 5
Motown The Musical features choreography by Patricia Wilcox (A Night with Janis Joplin) and Warren Adams (Toy Story), scenic design by David Korins (Bring It On: The Musical, Annie), costume design by Tony Award® nominee ESosa (The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, “Project Runway”), lighting design by Tony Award® winner Natasha Katz (Once, Sister Act), sound design by Tony Award® nominee Peter Hylenski (Rock of Ages, The Scottsboro Boys).
The Temptations
Music lover or not, there is no question that a seat at this musical will leave you running home to download all of those songs you may have forgotten to immediately get on your iPod, and for an evening, mercy, mercy me, Motown The Musical, mercy me….you’re all we need to get by.
Motown The Musical will be at The National Theatre until January 3, 2016. For tickets and further information, visit TheNationalDC.com or MotownTheMusical.com.
Motown The Musical:
