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Photo Flash: MOTOWN Holds Open Auditions for West End Run
By: Tyler Peterson Jul. 07, 2015
The West End production of Motown the Musical, opening at the Shaftesbury Theatre in February next year, held open casting auditions in London today (7 July 2015). Almost 200 people attended and auditioned for the opportunity to portray the iconic artists of Motown in the musical.
With music and lyrics from the legendary Motown catalogue and book by Motown founder Berry Gordy, Motown the Musical is directed by Charles Randolph-Wright. London previews begin on 11 February 2016, with press night on 8 March 2016 and booking until 22 October 2016. Tickets are on sale now.
With just $800 borrowed from his family, Motown founder Berry Gordy, goes from featherweight boxer to heavyweight music mogul, discovering and launching the careers of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye and many more. Motown The Musical uncovers the true story of the legendary record label that changed music history and created the soundtrack of a generation.
Featuring a sixteen piece orchestra playing 50 Motown tracks including Ain''t No Mountain High Enough, I''ll Be There, Dancing In The Street, Stop! In The Name Of Love, My Girl, I Heard It Through The Grapevine and For Once In My Life, Charles Randolph-Wright''s production tells the story behind the classic hits.
Tony nominated Motown the Musical received its world premiere in April 2013 in New York at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre and recouped its $18 million investment by the end of 2014. The first US National Tour opened to critical acclaim last spring in Chicago, grossing $20 million dollars during its standing room only sixteen-week run, and continues to play to packed houses across America.
Motown the Musical has music supervision, orchestrations and arrangements by Ethan Popp, co-orchestrations and additional arrangements by Bryan Cook, dance arrangements by Zane Mark and music direction by Gareth Weedon. Choreography is by Patricia Wilcox and Warren Adams, scenic design by David Korins, costumes by Esosa, lighting by Natasha Katz, sound by Peter Hylenski and projections by Daniel Brodie. Motown the Musical will be produced in the West End by Kevin McCollum, Doug Morris, Berry Gordy and Adam Spiegel."
The original Broadway cast recording of Motown the Musical is available via Motown Records, a label of UMG Recordings - www.classicmotown.com
Photo credit: Craig Sugden
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