Motown Research Papers

Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye. What do all of these musical legends have in common? They were all, and continue to be, recognized as legendary superstars in the music industry, whether they are alive or not. But without label-founder Berry Gordy, their stardom would not exist and their unknown reputations would die with them. Motown: The Musical, based on Berry Gordy’s book To Be Loved: The Music, the Magic, the Memories of Motown, incorporates music we all know and love with a story new to many of us. The musical, directed by Charles Randolph-Wright, follows Berry Gordy, considered to be the founder of the Motown sound, as he establishes his record label and creates countless world-renowned superstars.

For Motown: The Musical not only was it meant to be entertaining, it was also a type of history lesson. For starters, throughout the performance, I at least recognized almost every song, many being able to sing along to. However, there were few songs I could tell you when they were written or by who. With the overwhelming presence of remakes and covers by younger, more “current” celebrities, the history of each song is lost and the lyrics, and occasionally the melodies, are all that remain. This musical brought that history to life, bringing back the original versions of each of these iconic songs. Not only is this musical a history lesson to many of us, it brought us into the story, making us feel as though we were part of this performance, and in turn the making of history. The fourth wall, a term used to describe the imagery boundary between the actors on stage and the audience, is broken on multiple occasions. Most predominately, when Diana Ross performs “Reach Out and Touch” at the Frontier Hotel, performing as if the current audience was the audience for her Las Vegas show. We were immediately drawn in, becoming a part of her first performance in Vegas and her debut solo single. The Princess of Wales Theatre was quickly transformed into the Frontier Hotel seamlessly. Following along the non-traditional atmosphere,

There is a reason why awards such as the Oscars and Tony’s have designated categories for supporting actors. This production of this musical perfectly exemplifies this. Leon Outlaw Jr., who played young Berry Gordy, Michael Jackson, and Stevie Wonder, Elijah Ahmad Lewis, who played Stevie Wonder, and Jesse Nager, who played Smokey Robinson, outshone Josh Tower, who played Berry Gordy. Their performances were incredible and true to the famous and well-known celebrities they were on stage. Their mannerisms, voices, and overall presence could easily convince anyone that they were the people they