Photo Coverage: Inside the MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL Launch- Arrivals!

Directed by Charles Randolph-Wright, MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL will feature a book by Berry Gordy and music and lyrics from the Motown legendary catalogue. MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL is the real story of the one-of-a-kind sound that hit the airwaves in 1959 and changed America forever. This exhilarating show charts Motown Founder Berry Gordy's incredible journey from featherweight boxer to the heavyweight music mogul who launched the careers of Diana Ross and The Supremes, Michael Jackson and The Jackson Five, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, Marvin Gaye and many more.

MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL tells the gripping story behind the hits as Smokey finds his unique voice, Diana skyrockets to stardom and Berry fights against the odds to turn his improbable dream into a triumphant reality. The music that shattered barriers and shaped our lives finally comes to the Broadway stage in the season's most highly anticipated world-premiere event.

Charles Randolph-Wright recently staged the Pulitzer Prize winning play Ruined and the record breaking musical Sophisticated Ladies at Arena Stage and the 75th anniversary international tour of Porgy and Bess. The acclaimed New York staging of his play Blue has been produced throughout the U.S.

MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL’s creative team will also feature scenic design by David Korins (Bring It On: The Musical, Annie), costume design by Tony Award® nominee ESosa (The Gershwins’ Porgy & Bess, Topdog/Underdog), 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) and choreography by Patricia Wilcox (Blues in the Night) and Warren Adams (Toy Story). The 18 piece orchestra will be supervised by Ethan Popp (Rock of Ages) who will reproduce the classic “Sound of Young America” for the Broadway stage.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride

'Motown: The Musical'

'Motown: The Musical'

Brandon Victor Dixon

Brandon Victor Dixon

Valisia LeKae

Valisia LeKae

Brandon Victor Dixon and Valisia LeKae

Brandon Victor Dixon and Valisia LeKae

Charles Randolph Wright

Brandon Victor Dixon, Valisia LeKae and Charles Randolph Wright

Producers Kevin McCollum and Doug Morris

Kevin McCollum; Doug Morris and Jimmy Iovine

Kevin McCollum and Doug Morris

Berry Gordy Jr. and Eskedar Gobeze

Berry Gordy Jr. and Eskedar Gobeze

Aretha Franklin and William Wilkerson

Erica Reid & L.A. Reid

Robert Pennino and Hoda Kotb

Clive Davis

Frances Robinson & Smokey Robinson

attending the Broadway World Premiere Launch for 'Motown: The Musical' at the Nederlander in New York. Sept. 27, 2012

Jesse Jackson

Brian Holland

Jesse Jackson and Brian Holland

Smokey Robinson and Aretha Franklin

Smokey Robinson and Aretha Franklin

Berry Gordy Jr. and Eskedar Gobeze

Erica Reid & L.A. Reid

Otis Williams

Lamont Dozier

Marcus Canty

Jesse Jackson

Hoda Kotb

Lamont Dozier

Aretha Franklin

Jesse Jackson

L.A. Reid

Smokey Robinson

Hoda Kotb

Nona Hendryx

Rhonda Ross Kendrick

Gayle King

Hoda Kotb

Otis Williams

Frances Robinson, Smokey Robinson, Berry Gordy Jr. and Eskedar Gobeze

Frances Gladney Robinson, Smokey Robinson, Eskedar Gobeze, Berry Gordy Jr., L.A. Reid and Erica Holton Reid

L.A. Reid, Smokey Robinson and Berry Gordy Jr.

Marcus Canty

Nona Hendryx

Star Jones

Rhonda Ross Kendrick

Rhonda Ross Kendrick

Rhonda Ross Kendrick

Hoda Kotb

Sara Gore and Jacque Reid

Sara Gore

Jacque Reid

Gayle King

Richard Ridge and Rhonda Ross

Brandon Victor Dixon

Valisia LeKae

Clive Davis

Clive Davis

Berry Gordy Jr.

Debbie Allen

'Motown: The Musical'