Motown the Musical - casting announced
Casting news
CEDRIC Neal (as Berry Gordy) and Lucy St. Louis (Diana Ross) will lead the cast in the West End production of Motown the Musical, which opens at the Shaftesbury Theatre on March 8, 2016, following preview performances from February 11.
With music and lyrics from the legendary Motown catalogue and book by Motown founder Berry Gordy, Motown the Musical is directed by Charles Randolph-Wright.
Further casting includes Keisha Amponsa Banson (as Mary Wells), Cherelle Williams (Mary Wilson), Cleopatra Rey (Gladys Knight), Cindy Belliot (Anna Gordy), Aisha Jawondo (Martha Reeves), Samuel Edwards (Jackie Wilson), Brandon Lee Sears (Tito Jackson), Joshua Liburd (Eddie Kendricks) and Simeon Montague (Jermaine Jackson).
They are joined by Daniel Bailey, Edward Baruwa, Tanya Nicola Edwards, Eddie Elliot, Portia Harry and Simon Ray Harvey. Final full casting will be announced shortly.
Cedric Neal’s US theatre credits include After Midnight on Broadway, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess on Broadway and for Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Dreamgirls for the Signature Theatre for which he won a Helen Hayes Award, and The Who’s Tommy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Stagger Lee for the Dallas Theater Center.
Neal has also worked at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, American Repertory Theater, Zach Theater and was a recurring character on the television series Friday Night Lights.
Lucy St. Louis is currently performing in Beautiful – The Carole King Musical at the Aldwych Theatre. Her previous theatre credits include The Book of Mormon (Prince of Wales Theatre), Ragtime (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Peter Pan (Venue Cymru, Llandudno) and Ultimate Broadway (Shanghai Culture Square Theatre). Her film work includes the upcoming Disney live-action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast.
With just $800 borrowed from his family, Motown founder Berry Gordy, goes from featherweight boxer to heavyweight music mogul, discovering and launching the careers of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye and many more. Motown the Musical uncovers the true story of the legendary record label that changed music history and created the soundtrack of a generation.
Featuring a sixteen piece orchestra playing 50 Motown tracks including Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, I’ll Be There, Dancing In The Street, Stop! In The Name Of Love, My Girl and I Heard It through the Grapevine, Charles Randolph-Wright’s production tells the story behind the classic hits.
Tickets: Monday to Thursday, £19.50 – £69.50; Friday and Saturday, £19.50 – £75. No booking fees via www.motownthemusical.co.uk/, over the phone on 020 7379 5399 or in person at the Shaftesbury Theatre Box Office.
NB: Day seats will go on sale from the Box Office, in person only, from 10am on the day of performance.
Times: Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm; Thursday and Saturday matinees at 3pm (first midweek matinee February 18, 2016).
Read more about Motown the Musical.
Motown the Musical is initially booking until October 22, 2016.
Memphis The Musical continues at the Shaftesbury Theatre until October 31. It will be followed – from November 14, 2015 to January 3, 2016 – by The Illusionists – Witness The Impossible.