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| Photo by Joan Marcus, courtesy of Broadway in Cincy |
Motown The Musical captures every toe-tapping detail of Gordy's rise and inevitable fall as he competes with corporate record labels. The fast-paced timeline progresses with songs from the eras, such as early hits from Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, and Marvin Gaye. We meet the Supremes during their high school days, croon with a young Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder; all who got their start in a Detroit studio known as Hitsville U.S.A.
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| Berry Gordy and Diana Ross Photo by Joan Marcus, courtesy of Broadway in Cincy |
With success comes trials, as competitors inch in on Gordy's talent, and romantic relationships blossom within his close-knit collaborative.
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| The Supremes Photo by Joan Marcus, courtesy of Broadway in Cincy |
As a fan of the Motown sound, the Broadway cast reenactments of musical legends were spot on -- from appearance to rafter-shaking vocal talent. I particularly enjoyed Reed Shannon, a teenager who owned the roles of young talent that Gordy shaped. While rockin' with the Jackson 5 hit "ABC," his song mastery shined during the audition scene where Shannon belted out a heartfelt "old soul" ballad as Michael Jackson.
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| Jackson 5 Photo by Joan Marcus, courtesy of Broadway in Cincy |
Motown The Musical does a fantastic job of telling the whole story of how Gordy's Motown label pioneered African Americans into the popular music scene. If you're curious on learning about the backstory, a hardcore Motown fan, casual listener, or simply enjoy a musical with a solid story and all-around powerhouse cast -- this show is for you!
Motown The Musical runs through September 20, 2015 at The Aronoff.
