Don’t close the door on Motown

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Many anxious people meandered into the Orpheum theater in Minneapolis on Tuesday night awaiting the experience they wouldn’t soon forget. Opening night of Motown the Musical did not disappoint. Starting in the one and only “Motor City” of Detroit, Michigan, Motown begins with a lively overture from the orchestra followed by a high-energy medley of some of the classic music from the time period, instantly pulling the audience in. In just two and a half hours Motown spans a time period of 45 years, highlighting the struggle to obtain equality among musicians of different races. Going into the production with some background knowledge may not be a bad thing. Continue Reading

Callin’ out around the world: Are you ready for a brand new beat? Motown the Musical will have you dancin’ in the seats

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Motown The Musical instantly fills the Orpheum theater in downtown Minneapolis with sound and energy. This show is a full body experience. From the music that rushes through you, making any audience member want to move their feet, to the heart warming/wrenching moments around creating change and standing up for racial justice. Motown The Musical leaves nothing to complain about besides some minor technical difficulties and a stumble here and there, which can be attributed to it being opening night. Continue Reading

Motown? More like Woahtown!

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Berry Gordy’s “Motown the Musical” is a rare mix of merriment and poignancy, full of wit and history. Cutting between fantastic musical numbers and hard-hitting scenes reminding us about racial tension during the motown period, the musical tells the story of Berry Gordy (Julius Thomas III) and the rise of Motown Records from 1938 to the 1980’s. The history aspect of the show was interesting and added more dimension to the plot. The whole show was very interactive- from audience members cheering when a familiar name or band was brought up to a moment when volunteers from the audience sang along to “Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand).” Continue Reading

Motown: Dancing in their seats!

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To be frank, I had no clue what I was getting myself into when I entered the Orpheum Theatre on December 16th, a Tuesday night, to see Motown the musical. The only thing people provided me about the show was how much they loved the music. I tried searching for a bit of story in the playbill, but ended up getting lost in a section of songs, which were written in alphabetical order if I might add! The musical started off with an explosion of music that felt like a roller coaster launching back to 1960’s. The entire show turned out to be a long, but absolute blast! Continue Reading

I heard it through the grapevine that Motown is amazing

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What do you think of when you hear Motown? The 70s? Detroit? Berry Gordy? All of these things are present in Motown The Musical. It is the story of how Motown (short for “Motor Town” a.k.a. Detroit) came to be. Filled with 60 songs from Diana Ross, The Jackson 5, Smokey Robinson and more, this show is bound to make you dance in your seat. Continue Reading

A night on the town with Motown

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Motown the Musical is playing at the Orpheum Theater in Minneapolis through December 28 and you do not want to miss it. Motown was an American record company founded in 1959 by Berry Gordy. Gordy went from dreaming of boxing to launching the careers of some of the most well-known artists of all time, such as the Supremes, Smokey Robinson, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and many more. This show follows the story of Motown, specifically focusing on Gordy’s relationships with many of his stars, including his romantic relationship with Dianna Ross. Continue Reading

Get your groove on!

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On opening night of Motown the Musical at the Orpheum Theatre, the last show I had witnessed at the Orpheum was Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, which hit Minneapolis just as the jury verdict hit Ferguson.  With unfortunate timing to boot, White Christmas had lived up to its name.  I was ready for a more colorful show.  I was not disappointed. Continue Reading

One ticket to Hitsville, please!

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On December 16th, the seats of the Orpheum Theatre were filled with eager audience members ready to live, or re-live, the thrilling sounds of Motown. Motown the Musical will be transforming Minneapolis into the fast paced and inspiring town of Hitsville, U.S.A from December 16-28th. This exhilarating show takes audience members back in time to the 50s and 60s, allowing them to join their favorite Motown artists on their paths to success. Legendary founder of Motown, Berry Gordy, leaps over obstacles to catapult the careers of Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, Jackson Five and many more. The show does a brilliant job of not only just showcasing great music and tons of talent, but also shows the racial struggles the characters went through and the important historical events of the time period. This musical is made of heart, soul, and an unbelieveable amount of passion. Continue Reading