'Motown: The Musical' Makes Its Broadway Debut

NEW YORK -- With the warmth of a family reunion and the sizzle of an opening night, many of Motown's best-known figures gathered Thursday for a glimpse of Berry Gordy Jr.'s upcoming Broadway show.

At the Nederlander Theatre in Manhattan, it was a starry evening that drew Detroit icons -- Gordy, Smokey Robinson, Aretha Franklin -- alongside a host of show biz bigwigs and long-loved Motown figures, from Valerie Simpson to songwriters Holland-Dozier-Holland.

They were among a crowd of 1,200 that had come for a 90-minute peek at "Motown: The Musical," which looks to be a lively romp through Hitsville history in the eyes of label founder Gordy. The 2 1/2-hour show will debut in the spring at Broadway's Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.

Out on the red carpet, Franklin called the musical "a major moment" for Detroit and said it was...click to continue reading