Broadway's MOTOWN Continues On After Man Lands on Roof of Lunt-Fontanne

According to The New York Post, Broadway's MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL went uninterrupted after an apparent suicide, when a man leapt from the W New York Hotel on Friday night, landing 50 stories below on the roof of the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.

"People paid good money for their tickets, so the show had to go on," a law-enforcement officer told the publication, despite the "deafening sound" prior to the 8 p.m. curtain call. Cast and crew reportedly ignored the noise during the pre-show "scramble." His body was discovered Saturday morning.

"It was a loud boom. We didn't know what it was," actor Ephraim Sykes told The Post.

The man, Wesley Hunter of Brooklyn, was not a guest at the hotel. Per The Post's law-enforcement source, he came into the hotel and went straight to the roof, leaving no note.

MOTOWN THE MUSICAL, based on the life of iconic Motown founder Berry Gordy, featuring music and lyrics from the legendary Motown catalogue and a book by Berry Gordy, began performances March 11, 2013, at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46th Street), and officially opened April 14, 2013.

Directed by Charles Randolph-Wright, Motown The Musical is the true American dream story of Motown founderBerry 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.

Featuring classic songs such as "My Girl" and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," Motown The Musical tells the story behind the hits as Diana, Smokey, Berry and the whole Motown family fight against the odds to create the soundtrack that changed America. Motown shattered barriers, shaped our lives and made us all move to the same beat. Now, the next electrifying chapter in the Motown story, can be experienced on Broadway in the record-breaking smash hit Motown The Musical and soon around the country as the national tour launches in 2014.

MOTOWN THE MUSICAL's creative team features choreography by Patricia Wilcox (Blues in the Night) 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), projection design by Daniel Brodie (Jekyll and Hyde).

MOTOWN THE MUSICAL features arrangements and orchestrations by Tony Award nominee Ethan Popp (Rock of Ages), who also serves as musical supervisor for the 18 piece orchestra that reproduces the classic "Sound of Young America" for the Broadway stage, with co-orchestrations and additional arrangements by Tony Award nominee Bryan Crook ("Smash"), dance arrangements byZane Mark (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) and music direction byJoseph Joubert (Nice Work If You Can Get It).

MOTOWN THE MUSICAL is produced by Tony Award winning producer Kevin McCollum (Rent, In the Heights, Avenue Q), Chairman and CEO of SONY Music Entertainment Doug Morris and Motown founder Berry Gordy.

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus