Review: Columbus Grooves to MOTOWN THE MUSICAL

Columbus got their groove on at the Ohio Theatre on opening night when an iconic era of social change and racial integration was celebrated through soul, pop, and classic hits such as "My Girl", "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", "ABC", Stop in the Name of Love", "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", and so many more.

Directed by Charles Randolph-Wright, MOTOWN THE MUSICAL is a true 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 others.

Packing in nearly 70 songs in just under 3 hours, MOTOWN THE MUSICAL follows the whole Motown family who fought against the odds to create the soundtrack of change in America. But more than that, you will be transported through your own historic journey as you see your life through the prism of pop music.

Leading the cast as Berry Gordy was Chester Gregory who embodied the passion and ambition of the legendary producer, yet offered a heartfelt interpretation of the man behind the mogul.

Allison Semmes was engaging and captivating as Diana Ross, who had relatable appeal and superb vocal talent. We watched as she evolved from the young, naive, aspiring teen to an extraordinary vocal diva. Her "Reach Out and Touch" was a true audience pleaser in which she invited volunteers to join her in singing, and connected to them with genuine charm.

The entire ensemble was spot-on in their interpretation, including Nik Walker as Marvin Gaye, Chante Carmel as Martha Reeves, Trisha Jeffrey as Mary Wilson, and Elijah Ahmad Lewis as Stevie Wonder. JJ Batteast delivered an incredible scene-stealer as young Michael Jackson who electrified the entire theatre with his star-studded performance.

Covering decades of music in just under three hours, Director Charles Randolph-Wright moved the musical along at a swift pace, and offered mainly snippets of most songs from "Dancing in the Streets" to the later years of Rick James and Teena Marie.

Set design by David Korins was simple yet effective as he seamlessly transitioned scenes to weave iconic songs with significant cultural events such as the civil rights struggles, JFK assassination, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Vietnam war, Richard Nixon and the constantly changing social backdrop that formed our country.

Costume design by Esosa perfectly captured the time period, and lighting by Natasha Katz and projection design by Daniel Brodie further emphasized the era. Patricia Wilcox and Warren Adams's choreography added to the swiftness of the production with their dynamic dancing and brisk movement.

Not to be left out is the outstanding orchestra under the direction of Darryl Archibald, who performed with impeccable skill and filled the Ohio Theatre with vibrant sound.

Although the story line is a little underdeveloped, the focus of the show is clearly the music. A celebration of the greatest artists in history! MOTOWN THE MUSICAL will give you a trip down memory lane as you are transported through decades of some of the best and most significant sounds that shaped our culture.

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MOTOWN THE MUSICAL runs at the Ohio Theatre thru February 28th. Tickets are available via the CAPA Ticket Center, located at 39 E. State St., at all Ticketmaster locations and online on Ticketmaster's website. Tickets are also available for purchase over the phone by calling (800) 745-3000.

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