Motown the Musical is essentially Motown Mogul Berry Gordy’s life story. The show opened on April 14 and has already been deemed a smash hit. Universal Motown hosted a friends and family preview on Friday April 5. The exclusive star-studded event was held at the show’s Broadway home, the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on West 46th in New York City.
The preview evening and opening night were peppered with stars on stage and in the audience. A few of those included St. Louisan and Temptation Dennis and Brenda Edwards, writer and Motor City icon Berry Gordy and Diana Ross, who is portrayed on stage by Valisia LeKae (she is getting rave reviews and looks very much like Ms. Ross).
Many Universal execs and representatives of artists/groups Motown catapulted to stardom in the sixties were on deck to support and see their likeness on Broadway including Martha Reeves, Stevie Wonder, Brian Holland, Eddie Holland, Brandra Ringo, Universal EVP Ethiopia Habtemariam, Zeek Lewis, Rex Rideout, Phillana Williams, Michelle Sachez Boyce, Vivian Johannes, former Universal CEO Doug Morris (SONY CEO) and many more.
Planning a summer vacation in New York? This Broadway production promises to offer an exciting evening. Buy tickets in advance!
The St. Louis American Foundation’s 13th annual Salute to Excellence in Healthcare will be held Friday, April 26 in the Hilton Frontenac Hotel grand ballroom. Honorees will include Judy Wilson-Griffin, MSN, RNC-OB, C-EFM, Candace T. Wakefield, DMD., Catrina Chambers, Ph.D. and Marsha Fisher, MD. among others. Tickets are $75 each or $750 per table for VIP seating; and $50 each or $500 per table for individual seating. To order tickets, call Kate Daniel or Robin Britt at 314-533-8000 or visit www.stlamerican.com.
St. Louis members of the National Association of Guardsmen celebrated the organizations 80th anniversary in Boca Raton last weekend. The Luxe weekend was hosted by the Florida chapter also celebrating their 45th anniversary. St. Louis attendees had a grand time at the sun-soaked Boca Club and Resort. Guests spent the weekend enjoying the resort’s popular spa, golf, swimming, 24 hour hospitality, the traditional Saturday evening black tie affair and catching up with friends from other chapters.
A few St. Louisans who skipped town for a better weather weekend included Cornell and Faith Thomas, Victor and Nancy Thompson, Joe and Barbara Dorsey, Nat and Sandra Murdock, Victor and Mabeline Julien, Bernard Randolph and Kathy Smith, David and Joyce Price, James and Janet Williams and Wayman and Susan Smith.
I ran into Virvus and Sable Jones this weekend and Sable says her hubby’s book reading at the History Museum was a success. I was sorry to have missed Virvus’ reading from his unpublished novel The Stalking Horse, St. Louis American Managing Editor Chris King reading from his new unpublished novel Big, Black & Good. T.D. El Amin read from his recently published novel, Mia Farone: Lost and Turned Out. Mia Farone is available on Amazon.com.
All the rage is the latest birthday party craze in the city, a rolling Gaming Truck for birthday parties, corporate team building or just an afternoon of fun. Tony “T-Luv” and Gabrielle Davis said son Tony Davis Jr. had a blast a couple of weeks ago when the Game Truck traveled to him for his birthday celebration. TJ’s friends had a fun-filled afternoon playing laser tag Xbox 360, Wii/Wii U, and PlayStation 3. The Game Time limo style party bus is a climate-controlled custom-made mobile video gaming center. TJ’s birthday limousine boasts seven 55” flat screens, 4 inside and 3 outside for 12 additional friends. Sounds like an awesome party. We asked TJ if this beat his 5th birthday party that offered guests train rides throughout his spacious backyard. He said definitely!
Gabrielle (BFree Armcharms) and Tony Sr. (Starpower) told us Gametime Mobile Entertain is owned and operated by longtime friend Brian Benson. If you are looking for a one stop shop for your child’s next birthday party or a corporate team building event call Brian at 636-734-9621 or book online at www.gametimetruck.com.
Have a beautiful weekend! Dana Grace: dgrandolph@live.com; Twitter @dgrandolph.
