West End's MOTOWN THE MUSICAL Sets Dates & Theater

Tickets for the West End production of Motown the Musical, opening at the Shaftesbury Theatre in February 2016, are released for sale today (15 May 2015). 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 will begin on 11 February 2016 with press night on 8 March 2016 with the show booking to 22 October 2016. Casting and further information about Motown the Musical will be released shortly.

Berry Gordy said: "I am thrilled to be bringing Motown back to the UK fifty years after our first visit back in 1965 when Diana Ross and The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas and I came to London for our very first UK tour. Half a century later we are delighted to be returning, this time bringing our story and the Motown sound on stage at the Shaftesbury Theatre in the legendary West End."

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 house across America.

Motown the Musical has music supervision is by orchestrations and arrangements byEthan Popp, co-orchestrations and additional arrangements by Bryan Cook, dance arrangements by Zane Mark and music direction by Gareth Weedon. Choreography is byPatricia 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.

Berry Gordy is the founder of Motown, the enterprise that nurtured the careers of, amongst others, Diana Ross and The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Michael Jackson and The Jackson 5. Gordy is also a songwriter, producer, director, boxer, innovative entrepreneur, teacher and visionary. Actively involved in the Civil Rights movement, he also released the recorded speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His films include Lady Sings the Blues, which received five Academy Award nominations, and Mahogany. In 2011, President Barack Obama honoured Gordy with a Salute to Motown evening at the White House. Berry Gordy's unparalleled contribution to music and popular culture is chronicled in his autobiography, To Be Loved: The Music, The Magic, The Memories of Motown.

Charles Randolph-Wright is a director, writer and producer for theatre, film, and television. His theatre directing credits include Sophisticated Ladies and the Pulitzer Prize-winning play Ruined at Arena Stage, the 75th Anniversary international tour of Porgy and Bess, Love/Life at Lincoln Center with Brian Stokes Mitchell, the national tour of Guys and Dolls, Blood Knot at ACT in San Francisco and The Diva is Dismissed at the Public Theater. Randolph-Wright wrote the plays Blue, The Night Is a Child, Cuttin' Up, and co-wrote Just Between Friends on Broadway. He directed the award-winning film Preaching to the Choir, and has written screenplays for HBO, Showtime, Disney and Fox. His television credits include directing Lincoln Heights, South of Nowhere, Bebe Winans' special America America, and producing and writing the Showtime series Linc's. Randolph-Wright was chosen for a playwright residency in Arena Stages' American Voices New Play Institute.2013 "Best Orchestrations" Tony Award Nomination for Motown The Musical and 2014 Grammy Nomination as producer of the Original Cast Recording of Motown The Musical. Television: "Smash" (music supervisor, music producer, arranger, orchestrator), "A Capitol Fourth" (PBS), "The 2013 Tony Awards" (CBS), "The 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards" (FOX), "The TonightShow With Jay Leno" (NBC), "The 2009 Tony Awards" (CBS), "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" (NBC). Broadway/theatre: Upcoming: Hedwig and the Angry Inch starring Neil Patrick Harris.Rock of Ages (Broadway, U.S. tour, Toronto, Australia and London productions as music supervisor, arranger, and orchestrator), Disney's Tarzan (Broadway), Glory Days (Broadway),We Will Rock You (German premiere), Disney's Aida (German premiere/ European tour),Mamma Mia! (German premiere), Disney's The Lion King (German premiere), Forever Plaid (U.S. tour), The Radio City Christmas Spectacular (Mexico City production), Fame! (U.S. tour), amongst countless others. He has also orchestrated for The National Symphony Orchestra. Much love to his wife Vanessa and his entire family for their endless suppoDAVID KORINS (Scenic Design)

David Korins is a New York based scenic and production designer for theater, film, opera, television, concerts, festivals, residential and commercial spaces and immersive experiences. His Broadway credits include Annie, Bring It On, Chinglish, An Evening with Patti LuPone & Mandy Patinkin, Magic/Bird, Godspell, The Pee-Wee Herman Show, Lombardi, Passing Strangeand Bridge and Tunnel. He has also worked extensively both Off-Broadway and regionally. David's opera credits include The Gospel of Mary Magdalene at San Francisco Opera andOscar and Life is a Dream at the Santa Fe Opera. In 2011, David served as Kanye West's creative director designing several concerts in the United States and abroad. David has designed installations across the country for festivals including Bonnaroo, Outside Lands and The Great GoogaMooga. He has been the production designer for several feature films, television specials and series on NBC, CBS, HBO, Bravo TV, IFC, Comedy Central, Lifetime and the Game Show Network. David has done commercial work for Target, Samsung, World MasterCard, McDonald's and Friendly's. He has received a Drama Desk Award, a Lucille Lortel Award, three Henry Hewes Awards and the 2009 Obie Award for Sustained Excellence in Design. davidkorinsdesign.com

ROD LEMMOND (Associate Scenic Design)

Rod Lemmond has been Senior Designer and Partner at David Korins Design since its inception. He has been the Lead Associate on more than 200 shows and projects over the past 10 years. His Broadway credits include Annie, Chinglish, An Evening with Patti LuPone & Mandy Patinkin, Magic/Bird, Godspell, The Pee-Wee Herman Show, Lombardi, Passing Strangeand Bridge and Tunnel. Rod has also worked extensively both off-Broadway and regionally and on TV, commercial & film projects around the country. Rod is a fourth generation craftsmen and woodworker. His knowledge of construction, furniture and its design has been a major contribution to the many projects produced by David Korins Design. Rod holds a Masters of Fine Arts from New York University/Tisch School of the Arts with a concentration in design for Theater and Film.

ESOSA (Costume Design)

Broadway: Porgy and Bess (Tony Award nomination), Topdog / Underdog. Off-Broadway: Second Stage: Water by the Spoonful; By the Way, Meet Vera Stark (Lucille Lortel Award);Trust; Crowns. MCC: Break of Noon (Geffen Playhouse). Delacorte: The Capeman. Public Theater: Juan and John, Father Comes Home from the Wars, Romeo and Juliet. NYTW: The Misanthrope, All That I Will Ever Be. Regional: La Jolla/Center Theatre Group: American Night; Arena Stage: Ruined, Cuttin' Up, Senor Discretion Himself (Helen Hayes Award nominee); Alliance: Twist; Pasadena Playhouse: Twist (2011 Ovation Award); A.R.T.: Best of Both Worlds; Geva Theatre: Fences; Berkeley Rep: The Blue Door; Bay Street Theatre: Big Maybelle: Queen of the Blues; Turandot: The Rumble for the Ring; Ain't Misbehavin'; Centerstage: Once on This Island, Gleam; Williamstown Theatre Festival: Whaddabloodclot!!!; Denver Center Theatre Co.: Sense & Sensibility The Musical (upcoming). www.esosadesign.com

NATASHA KATZ (Lighting Design)

has designed extensively for theater, opera, and dance. Recent Broadway credits: Once (Tony Award®), Follies, Sister Act, Elf, The Addams Family, The Little Mermaid, The Coast of Utopia: Salvage (Tony Award), A Chorus Line (revival), Spelling Bee, Tarzan, Aida (Tony Award) andBeauty and the Beast. Other designs include Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Royal Ballet),Buried Child (National Theatre, London), Cyrano (The Met), Carnival of the Animals (NYCB),Don Quixote (ABT); EFX! (Las Vegas). She has worked extensively Off-Broadway includingAltar Boyz and The Normal Heart. Her many regional credits include work at: The Mark Taper Forum, Trinity Rep, ART, Dallas Theatre Center, Spoleto, Alliance and Seattle Rep. Opera/dance: NYC Ballet, London Royal Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, Philadelphia Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, Edinburgh Festival, Metropolitan Opera, and The NYC Opera. Concert acts: Shirley MacLaine, Ann-Margret and Tommy Tune. Las Vegas: EFX!Permanent lighting installations: Niketown NYC and London and the Big Bang at the Museum of Natural History in NYC.

PETER HYLENSKI (Sound Design)

Grammy, Tony and Olivier Award nominated. Selected Broadway designs include: Shrek the Musical (New York, US Tour, London), Rock of Ages (New York, London, Toronto, Australia, US Tour, Las Vegas), The Scottsboro Boys, Lend Me A Tenor, Elf, Wonderland, Cry Baby, The Times They Are A-Changin', The Wedding Singer, Sweet Charity, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me, Little Women, Brooklyn. Other credits: Le Reve at Wynn Las Vegas, Ragtime (London),Rocky das Musical (Hamburg), How To Train Your Dragon, Walking with Dinosaurs, Mame, Opening Doors, Annie. Architectural projects include 54 Below, the Plaza Hotel (New York City), Lake of Dreams at Wynn (Las Vegas), Chicago Auditorium Theater, Big Bang Theatre at the American Museum of Natural History. Peter is also a producer and engineer for film, album and television projects. He holds a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University.

TELSEY + COMPANY (Casting)

Broadway/Tours: If/Then, The Bridges of Madison County, All the Way, Kinky Boots, Newsies, Rock of Ages, Wicked, Evita, Porgy and Bess, Sister Act, Million Dollar Quartet. Off-Broadway: Atlantic, MCC, Signature. Regional: A.R.T., Dallas Theater Center, Goodman, La Jolla, Paper Mill, Signature. Film: Into the Woods, The Last Five Years,The Odd Life of Timothy Green, Friends with Kids, Margin Call, Sex and the City 1 & 2. TV: "Masters of Sex," "The Sound of Music Live!," "Smash," "The Big C," commercials. www.telseyandco.com

CHARLES G. LAPOINTE (Hair & Wig Design)

Broadway: Clybourne Park, Newsies, The Columnist, Magic/Bird, Bonnie and Clyde, The Mountaintop, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Merchant of Venice, Memphis, Henry IV, The Rivals, Cymbeline, Lombardi, Fences, Looped, Miracle Worker, Superior Donuts, 33 Variations, Guys and Dolls, In the Heights, Jersey Boys, The Color Purple, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me, Good Vibrations, The Apple Tree, A Raisin in the Sun, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Lieutenant of Inishmoor, Radio Golf, Sight Unseen, High Fidelity, Xanadu, and Bring it On.

BRYAN CROOK (Co-Orchestrator/Additional Arranger)

is a producer, composer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist for Broadway, TV and films. He is an executive producer of Special Guest Music Productions. In addition to playing woodwinds for The Book of Mormon on Broadway, his recent work can be heard on Ice Age 4 (FOX), "Smash" (NBC), The 2011 Billboard Music Awards and The 2011 Emmy Awards. Other show credits include Rock of Ages, Billy Elliot, Mamma Mia!, West Side Story, Legally Blonde andSpelling Bee. His most important credits, however, are as a husband to Hilary and father to Liam, Ethan, and mystery baby #3.

ZANE MARK (Dance Arranger)

Broadway: Leap of Faith, All Shook Up, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Never Gonna Dance, The Full Monty, Bring in Da Noise, Bring in Da Funk (Tony and Grammy nomination) Bubblin' Brown Sugar and The Wiz. Off-Broadway/Regional: Pippin, Frog Kiss, Crowns, The Brother Sister Plays, Ray Charles Live, Imagine Tap, Radiant Baby, George Wolfe's Harlem Song (Audelco Award), Thunder Knocking On The Door, Insurrection, and Betsy Brown. Film: The Dancer Chronicles, Lackawanna Blues, Frances Ford Coppola's The Cotton Club.

JOSEPH JOUBERT (Music Director/Conductor)

Credits as orchestrator, arranger, conductor, producer, musical director include Broadway's Nice Work If You Can Get It, Leap of Faith; Caroline or Change; The Color Purple; Billy Elliot. Off-Broadway: Violet, Three Mo' Tenors; Three Mo' Divas. TV: "We Shall Not Be Moved;" "Macy's Fireworks 2010." Film: Nights in Rodanthe. Recording: Fantasia's "I'm Here;" Century Men'sBeautiful Star; Total Praise, Broadway Inspirational Voices' Great Joy. Accompanist/arrangements include Patti Labelle, Ashford & Simpson, Diana Ross, George Benson, and Kathleen Battle (White House and Carnegie Hall). Grammy, Emmy and Drama Desk Award nominee.

The original Broadway cast recording of Motown the Musical is available via Motown Records, a label of UMG Recordings - www.classicmotown.com

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