Broadway’s Motown The Musical is a celebration of everything Berry Gordy’s legendary artists exude in their countless hits – family, love, struggle, victory, purpose, strength, artistry, gain, loss and discovery.
The show takes us through Gordy’s journey and decision to never give up on his dreams, no matter what he faced.
Director Charles Randolph-Wright uses history, personal experiences, music, politics, the American dream and romance to propel a story that highlights Gordy’s perseverance and triumph over the limits society often places on people – whether it be age, race, gender or profession.
Adapted from Berry Gordy’s memoir, To Be Loved: The Music, The Magic, The Memories Of Motown, the play begins in 1983, with downtrodden, frustrated and bitter Gordy (Chester Gregory), refusing to attend Motown’s 25th anniversary television special during an intense discussion with Suzanne De Passe (Gabriela Whiting) and Smokey Robinson (David Kaverman).
From there, audiences are taken back to the Gordy family home in 1938; the moment when world heavyweight champion boxer Joe “Brown Bomber” Louis won a fight against Max Schmeling of Germany.
Gordy’s mom (Tavia Reveé) exclaimed that Louis’ win was “a fight between Germany and the U.S.”, and the fact that a black man won the match makes it even better. They expressed their excitement with a performance of the song “Hey Joe (Black Like Me)”, written for the production by Gordy and Michael Lovesmith.
The play constantly weaves Gordy’s struggle to build the iconic Detroit label with the realities of being black and American during the 60s and 70s. Each song is depicted as being birthed from moments in Gordy’s life, from his artist’s lives, or national events.
Adding to the wonder of Motown The Musical were the digital screens used as backdrops to create the sets, including venues for stage performances, meeting rooms, neighborhoods and the Motown house.
In one scene, footage of Vietnam War protests flashed across the screens with a voiceover of Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech against the war. Next, the ensemble gathered to perform “War”, a song by Motown artist and Detroit native Edwin Starr.
The romance between Gordy and Diana Ross (Allison Semmes) was also central to the story. They performed a few songs together, such as “You’re All I Need to Get By”. From singing, to her speaking style and the way she carried herself, Semmes did a great job of capturing Ross’ dreamy, sassy, powerful nature.
Motown The Musical was especially effective in demonstrating that art is often born of reality.
The musical includes over 60 hits from the renowned Motown catalog, with music from The Four Tops to The Jackson 5. Raymond Davis Jr. perfectly embodied young Michael Jackson in tune, stage presence and energy.
Each costume represented the fashion and style of the era, while actors’ singing sounded like they could have been the original recordings. Their peppy steps and smooth dance moves created an ambience true of the period.
Interaction between the cast members and audience kept the energy vibrant, as the cast often persuaded the audience to finish lines during songs or clap to the beat of the music.
While singing “Reach Out and Touch”, Semmes strolled into the audience and handed the mic over to a few men and women to sing. Next, she encouraged theatregoers to grab their neighbor’s hand, wave them from left to right, and sing along.
The conclusion to the show was short of fulfilling – those who attend will be more than satisfied with their experience. And although the production was almost three hours long, the time will fly by and those who attend will find themselves singing, dancing, laughing and smiling over the course of the musical.
Motown The Musical is the perfect balance of soul-awakening sounds and grooves with thoughtful reflection on the past. It is the story of how Berry Gordy built a music empire that changed pop, America and the world. It reveals that a lot has changed, but a lot has stayed the same.
It is empowering, moving and exhilarating. It is a musical worth experiencing.
Performances of Motown The Musical at the Fabulous Fox run March 21 – 26. Show times are Tuesday through Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m., Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Tickets for Motown The Musical at the Fabulous Fox are on sale now online at MetroTix.com, by calling 314-534- 1111 or in person at the Fabulous Fox Box Office.
Sharee Silerio is a St. Louis-based freelance writer, Film and TV writer-producer and blogger. Connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and at ShareeSilerio.com.
