Motown the Musical
The Original Broadway Cast of Motown The Musical was comprised of a Who’s-Who of Broadway superstars, most of whom would go onto deservedly wild success on Broadway, film, and television. Check out more stories about Motown founder, Berry Gordy and co-script consultant Dick Scanlan.
Brandon Victor Dixon as Berry Gordy presiding over a “Quality Control Meeting.” Left to right: Dominic Nolfi, Nicholas Christopher, Marva Hicks, Julius Thomas III (behind Hicks), Dixon, (the late) Eric LaJuan Summers (Winner, Astaire Award, best featured dancer), Daniel J Watts, Donald Webber, Jr., Sasha Hutchings, Milton Neely.
The Temptations sing “My Girl” (choreography by Patti Wilcox and Warren Adams, inspired by Cholly Atkins). Left to right: Jesse Warren-Nager, Donald Webber, Jr., Julius Thomas III, Ephraim Sykes (Tony nominee, Ain’t Too Proud; Michael Jackson in Broadway’s MJ, whenever Broadway should return), Jawan Jackson. Jawan, seen here in his Broadway debut as Melvyn Franklin, would later play Franklin a second time in the OBC of Ain’t Too Proud.
Diana Ross & The Supremes sing “You’re Nobody ‘Til Somebody Loves You” at Hullaballoo in Manchester, England. Left to right: Sydney Morton (“She’s Gotta Have It”), Valisia Lekae (Tony nominee, Best Actress), Ariana Debose (OBC “Hamilton,” Anita in Spielberg’s West Side Story).
Saycon Sengbloh (Tony nominee, Best Actress, Eclipsed) as Martha Reeves.
Brandon and Valisia as Berry Gordy and Diana Ross sing “Remember Me.”
Foreground, left to right: Rebecca Covington, Charl Brown (Tony nominee, Best Actor as Smokey Robinson), Morgan James, recording artist as Racist White Lady, Brandon Victor Dixon, Sydney Morton, Marva Hicks. B/G, Julius Thomas III, Nicholas Christopher, and on the ladder, Jawan Jackson. Rebecca would later marry Donald Webber Jr., and perform as Eliza Schuyler opposite his Alexander Hamilton in one of the National Touring companies of Hamilton.
David with Mr. Gordy and director Charles Randolph Wright, the day the marquees went up outside the Lunt-Fontanne.