THEATRE REVIEW: "Motown the musical" at the Oriental Theatre (Chicago, IL)

      On April 30th, 2014, Theo and I saw a performance of Berry Gordy's "Motown the musical" at the Oriental Theatre (now called the Nederlander Theatre) in Chicago, IL.  The Chicago Engagement played from April 22nd through August 9th, 2014.  This musical featured a selection of songs from The Legendary Motown Catalog.  The production starred Allison Semmes and Clifton Oliver as Diana Ross and Berry Gordy.  




   

     This wasn't so much a Chicago Production as the National Tour Premiere.  Since I never saw the Broadway Production of "Motown the musical," I don't know what, if anything, was lacking from the production that Theo and I saw in Chicago.  David Korins was the scenic designer, and Daniel Brodie the production designer, of both productions.  The production I saw in Chicago was an equity production, so it must have been pretty similar to the one in New York.  In fact, if I remember correctly, the national touring production made a stop on Broadway in 2016, becoming a return engagement for Broadway audiences. That might have been the last stop of the first national tour. 




   
     As far as whether or not I liked "Motown the musical,"  I suppose I enjoyed it for the most part.  Theo and i had great seats (in the premium section, I believe).  That came with the Broadway in Chicago Suite Service.  The tickets were a Christmas present from my parents, and one that must have gotten legitimate live theatre out of my system for awhile.  I think I only saw a couple more shows in 2014.  I don't think I saw any in 2015.  Then I started seeing shows again in 2016 because of the Broadway in Chicago Spring Subscription my parents got me for Christmas of 2015.  At this show, I bought a souvenir brochure of "Motown the Musical" to go with the playbill, and ended up giving both to someone as a meaningless and insensitive gesture.  That was by no means the first.
    








     The cast of "Motown the musical" also included Nicholas Christopher (Smokey Robinson), Jarran Muse (Marvin Gaye), Leon Outlaw, Jr. (Young Berry), and Reed L. Shannon (Young Michael, Young Stevie).  The ensemble included Erick Buckley, Patrice Covington, Christian Dante White, Jamarice Daughtry, Tamar Davis, Lynorris Evans, Melanie Evans, Devon Goffman, Jennie Harney, Latrisa Harper, Rod Harrelson, Robert Hartwell, Rodney Earl Jackson, Jr., Trisha Jeffrey, Grasan Kingsberry, Elijah Ahmad Lewis, Jarvis Manning, Krisha Marcano, Marq Moss, Rashad Naylor, Chadaè Nichol, Ramone Owens, Nicholas Rowe, Jamison Scott, Douglas Storm, Martina Sykes, and Galen Williams.







     This was one of the better jukebox musicals I've seen.  There was one musical number that was sort of awkward in a tortuous way though.  During the Diana Ross song "Reach Out and Touch," Allison Semmes ordered everyone to stand up, join hands, and sing along with her.  When I told Kathryn about it later, she cracked up and said it reminded her of something.  I started laughing then too.  At first I was offended by her laughter.  Here I thought the singing and swaying was some profound moment where the audience was knocking down racial barriers and... I don't know... transcending adversity and such.  I suppose I shouldn't have found it awkward and tortuous then.  Perhaps it didn't ring true for me.  I mean, that was part of every performance of "Motown the musical."  Unless, at some performances, you are supposed to reach out and squeeze the ear lobes of the people on either side of you.


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