FOLLOWING A NATIONWIDE CASTING SEARCH RAYMOND LUKE JR. and JIBREEL MAWRY will play Young Berry Gordy, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder in MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL
BRYAN TERRELL CLARK will play Marvin Gaye, joining BRANDON VICTOR DIXON and VALISIA LE KAE as Berry Gordy and Diana Rossand an Ensemble Cast of 40
PERFORMANCES BEGIN MARCH 11, 2013 at THE LUNT-FONTANNE THEATRE ON BROADWAY
Producers Kevin McCollum, Doug Morris and Berry Gordy are proud to announce additional Broadway casting for the world premiere of MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL, based on the life of iconic Motown founder Berry Gordy.
Following a nationwide casting search for a young super-talent with an Olympic high tenor singing voice, exceptional dance ability and the range to play multiple roles, Motown founder Berry Gordy has discovered not one, but two, aspiring young men to portray his boyhood counterpart and the roles of young stars Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder. Raymond Luke Jr. and Jibreel Mawry will both make their Broadway debut charting the rise of three entertainment icons.
Bryan Terrell Clark will also make his Broadway debut portraying another groundbreaking Motown artist Marvin Gaye. Clark is a co-writer on Mary J. Blige’s new album “Irreversible,” and has performed with such music royalty as Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle.
As previously announced, Tony Award® nominee Brandon Victor Dixon (The Color Purple) and Valisia LeKae (The Book of Mormon) will star in the leading roles of Berry Gordy and Diana Ross and Charl Brown (Jersey Boys) will play Smokey Robinson, leading an ensemble cast of 40 featuring Timothy J. Alex, Michael Arnold, Nicholas Christopher, Rebecca E. Covington, Ariana DeBose, Andrea Dora, Preston W. Dugger III,Wilkie Ferguson, Dionne Figgins, Marva Hicks, Tiffany Janene Howard, Sasha Hutchings, Jawan M. Jackson, Lauren Lim Jackson, Morgan James, John Jellison, Crystal Joy, Jamie LaVerdiere, Grasan Kingsberry, Marielys Molina, Sydney Morton, Maurice Murphy, Jarran Muse, Jesse Nager, Milton Craig Nealy, N’Kenge, Dominic Nolfi, Saycon Sengbloh, Ryan Shaw, Jamal Story, Eric LaJuan Summers, Ephraim Sykes,Julius Thomas III, Daniel J. Watts and Donald Webber, Jr.
Preview performances begin March 11 and open on Broadway on April 14, 2013 at The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46 Street).
Directed by Charles Randolph-Wright, MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL will feature a book by Berry Gordy and music and lyrics from the legendary Motown catalogue.
MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL is the real story of the one-of-a-kind sound that hit the airwaves in 1959 and changed our culture forever. This exhilarating show charts Motown Founder Berry Gordy’s incredible journey from featherweight boxer to the heavyweight music mogul who launched the careers of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, and so many more.
Featuring all the classics you love, MOTOWN: THE MUSICALtells the story behind the hits as Diana, Smokey, Berry and the whole Motown family fight against the odds to create the soundtrack of change in America. The music that shattered barriers, shaped our lives and made us all move to the same beat finally comes to Broadway in the season’s most anticipated world-premiere event.
The creative team features choreography by Patricia Wilcox (Blues in the Night) andWarren Adams (Toy Story), scenic design by David Korins (Bring It On: The Musical, Annie), costume design by Tony Award®nominee ESosa (The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, “Project Runway”), lighting design by Tony Award® winner Natasha Katz(Once, Sister Act), sound design by Tony Award® nominee Peter Hylenski (Rock of Ages, The Scottsboro Boys), projection design by Daniel Brodie (Jekyll and Hyde).
MOTOWN : THE MUSICAL will feature arrangements and orchestrations by Ethan Popp (Rock of Ages), who will supervise the 18 piece orchestra and reproduce the classic “Sound of Young America” for the Broadway stage, with co-orchestrations and additional arrangements by Bryan Crook(“Smash”), dance arrangements by Zane Mark (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) and music direction by Joseph Joubert (Nice Work If You Can Get It).
BIOGRAPHIES
RAYMOND LUKE JR. (Young Berry Gordy, Michael Jackson,Stevie Wonder). Broadway debut. Raymond has been singing since he was 3 years old after being taught by his grandmother. In the summer of 2011, he attended Beverly Hills Acting School FABA (For Actors by Actors) President Alex Fieldman. He graduated earlier this year and has completed two commercials for Toys”R”Us and Volkswagen in association with ESPN. Stage credits include the Tammi Mac Minute Mixer hosted by Vanessa Bell Calloway and Tammi Mac, and he has also sung the National Anthem for the Penny Marshall Celebrity Softball game. Film: Bad Father, directed and produced by Jerry Jackson, and is currently shooting the filmFailure is Not an Option, written by Lavell Grisom. He is also a band member of the new group “3 plus 1.”
JIBREEL MAWRY (Young Berry Gordy, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder). Broadway debut. Jibreel is from the heart of Detroit, Michigan – home of Motown! Jibreel is a vocal artist who is deeply inspired by Michael Jackson and his message to heal the world, and has captured audiences with his heart-felt performances and humble spirit. Jibreel has been an advocate and peer mentor for the “Artist in Action: Stand up Against Bullying” initiative. He performed in the concert/rally for the campaign at Wayne State University singing Michael Jacksons “Beat It.” Television: Co-host for “YE TV.” Publications: YE 313 Magazine. Training: acting/commercial /modeling World Talent, “Acting on Instinct”
BRYAN TERRELL CLARK (Marvin Gaye). After graduating from Yale School of Drama, he moved to California to begin a career as actor, singer/songwriter and host. He has starred opposite Laurence Fisburne and Angela Bassett in the film Fences and appeared in television shows such as “CSI New York,” “The Unit” and “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne.” He is a co-writer on Mary J. Blige’s current album release “Irreversible,” on My Life II. Musically he has performed with such artists as Ne-Yo, Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle, Ciara, Yolanda Adams and Maxwell. He is a featured vocalist on Michael Buble’s new release “Crazy Love” and is currently in the studio recording his solo album. He is the host of “Bryan Terrell Clark’s Tribute” which has featured such artists as Stevie Wonder, Ledisi, Lalah Hathaway, Rahsaan Patterson and Kenny Latimore. Baltimore, Maryland native.
MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL will play the following performance schedule during preview performances:
March 11 – March 24: Mon – Sat at 8pm; Sat at 2pm; Dark Sun (no Wed matinee)
March 25 – April 7: Mon – Sat at 8pm; Wed and Sat at 2pm; Dark Sun
April 8 – April 14: Tues – Sat at 8pm; Wed and Sat at 2pm; Sun at 6:30pm (Opening Night); Dark Mon
Beginning April 15: Tues at 7pm; Wed – Sat at 8pm; Wed and Sat at 2pm; Sun at 3pm; Dark Mon.
Tickets are available by calling Ticketmaster at 877-250-2929 or visiting www.ticketmaster.com.
