Brandon Victor Dixon and Valisia LeKae in the Broadway production of Motown the Musical. Picture: Joan Marcus
The key roles of Marvin Gaye and the young Michael Jackson in the upcoming West End production of Motown the Musical will be cast following open auditions next month.
The auditions will be held on 7 November at the Royal Shakespeare Company Rehearsal Rooms (35 Clapham High Street, London). Those wishing to try out for the role of Marvin Gaye should arrive for registration from 10am, with auditions beginning at 10.30am. The afternoon session will concentrate on those trying out for the role of the Young Michael Jackson. The registration process will begin at 1.30pm with the auditions starting at 2pm.
The latest hit ‘jukebox musical’ to arrive in London following success in the US, Motown the Musical will open in February next year at the Shaftesbury Theatre. London previews will begin on 11 February 2016, with the show booking to 22 October 2016 (press night is 8 March). Directed by Charles Randolph-Wright and with a book by the legendary Berry Gordy, based on his 1994 autobiography To Be Loved: The Music, the Magic, the Memories of Motown, the musical is an account of Gordy’s founding and running of the Motown record label. The show, which features music and lyrics from the extensive Motown catalogue, focuses on Gordy’s personal and professional relationships with Motown artists such as Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye and Michael Jackson.
Casting in some of the leading roles was announced earlier this month – Cedric Neal will play Gordy with Lucy St. Louis taking on the role of Diana Ross. Further casting includes Keisha Amponsa Banson (Mary Wells), Cherelle Williams (Mary Wilson), Cleopatra Rey (Gladys Knight), Cindy Belliot (Anna Gordy), Aisha Jawando (Martha Reeves), Samuel Edwards (Jackie Wilson), Brandon Lee Sears (Tito Jackson), Joshua Liburd (Eddie Kendricks) and Simeon Montague (Jermaine Jackson).
Featuring a 16-piece orchestra playing 50 Motown tracks, the Tony nominated show received its world premiere in April 2013 in New York at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. The first US National tour opened to critical acclaim last spring in Chicago, grossing $20 million during its 16-week run, and continues to play to packed houses across America.
The production 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.
Angela Thomas
www.motownthemusical.co.uk/open-auditions-november
Book Tickets for Motown the Musical: www.musicaltheatrereview.entstix.com/tickets/motown-the-musical
Motown the Musical – Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, New York – Review
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