‘Motown: The Musical,’ Life Story of Berry Gordy, to Open on Broadway in 2013

Brandon Victor Dixon and Valisia LeKae are cast as Berry Gordy and Diana Ross

Berry Gordy, the legendary music producer behind such acts as The Supremes and The Jackson Five, will have his life story spun into a new Broadway musical.

Getty ImagesTitled, appropriately enough, "Motown: The Musical," the show will open on at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre  on April 14, 2013.  Preview performances will begin March 11, 2013.

In addition to its opening dates, the show announced that Brandon Victor Dixon and Valisia LeKae have been cast in the leading roles of Gordy and Supremes frontwoman Diana Ross. Dixon received a Tony Award nomination for his performance in "The Color Purple." LeKae has appeared in "The Book of Mormon" and "Ragtime."

Gordy said the show will help audiences rediscover and remember the influence that his stable of pop stars had on American music and culture.

"I feel that Motown is Broadway and Broadway is Motown," Gordy said in a video announcement Tuesday.

Charles Randolph-Wright ("Ruined") will direct the show, which will feature music and lyrics from the Motown catalogue — a collection that includes songs made famous by such hit-makers as Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles and Marvin Gaye.

Gordy will play a key role in the creative direction of the show, having written its book, meaning it may not be a warts and all biography of the Motown record label founder. He will also serve as a producer along with  Kevin McCollum and Doug Morris

Kevin McCollum, Doug Morris and Gordy are producing. The producers said additional casting will be announced shortly.

 

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