Thoughts on MOTOWN- Page 2

[egghumor]

Posted: 3/28/13 at 5:11pm

Thanks for your post, Sauja. For you, and others, here's the original MOTOWN discussion thread that's buried several archive pages deep:

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=1057480&dt=84

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/28/13 at 5:58pm

Interesting to hear about the book. There his been so much talk about how Gordy wanted to put everything out there. Sounds like that didn"t happen. I see it this Tuesday.

[JayG 2]

Posted: 3/28/13 at 6:50pm

I'm curious . Why would anyone who cares about theater (even musical theater) care about Motown?

[Playbilly]

Posted: 3/28/13 at 10:32pm

There was a time when a show of Porter or Berlin tunes might be considered a jukebox musical.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 3/28/13 at 10:46pm

JayG 2, I'm not sure I understand the basis of your question.

Why would anyone who cares about theater care about a red-haired orphan girl? Or a woman who kills her lover and makes the headlines? Or about some boys from Jersey who become international superstars? Or a brother and sister who strive to achieve a higher purpose in life but settle for the comfort that comes from living off the wealth of a relative?

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 3/28/13 at 10:49pm

Jay's question is dumb. I am curious to hear an update on the frequency of fans singing along.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 3/28/13 at 10:52pm

word of mouth seems to be strong so far, and it's a show that tourists will eat up. I see it selling very well now through the summer at least. As I've said before, I think we have another Memphis here(though it is selling better then when Memphis started out).

[Michelle4]

Posted: 3/29/13 at 4:53pm

Saw the show last night from rear orchestra side. The fans in the back of center orchestra were singing along and occasionally talking loudly. People infront of me did look over when this happened but many were also dancing along in their seats and didn't seem to mind. The show got a standing ovation as well. Personally, I liked the show but didn't love it because I wanted a little more story development to it. In the first act, it seemed that whenever a story began, it was suddenly interrupted by a song. The actors were very talented and I am glad I saw this but I don't know if I liked it enough to splurge on several full price tickets for the rest of the family. Updated On: 3/29/13 at 04:53 PM

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 3/29/13 at 5:06pm

The show got a standing ovation? It's probably going to win the Tony then.

[AntV]

Posted: 4/1/13 at 6:55am

There are some clips of the show in this interview: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50143916n

At around 1:30, 5:30, 7:00, 7:30

Then scroll up the recommended section there's another short video with a clip at the beginning and end. Updated On: 4/1/13 at 06:55 AM

[Nick Murphy]

Posted: 4/1/13 at 9:44pm

This show is going to be a hit

[WellsNYC]

Posted: 4/3/13 at 11:57am

Aren't there a few original songs in Motown?? I think the song Young Barry Gordy sings in the very beginning "Black Like Me" and "Can I Close The Door" are both original? I may be wrong, but I think there could possibly be a few more originals...most of the songs from the Motown catalog are very recognizable, and there were a few (of the 60) that I hadn't heard. I have to say, I found the audience participation more enjoyable than annoying. Yes, everyone sang along. Yes, everyone danced and clapped. Yes, people were jumping around and sometimes blocking my view...but it sort of added to the event! I'd see it again...if I can afford a ticket! The actual story of Barry Gordy seemed very one-sided, and I doubt that it all happened just as he says...but, I really didn't care! For me, it wasn't as much about falling in love with the story as it was falling in love with the production numbers. And, I have to say...the cast was FANTASTIC! A few of my favorite parts/performers were: Jackson 5, Temptations (Cant get Ball of Confusion out of my head), and Smokey!

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 4/3/13 at 8:38pm

Yep, agreed. This will be a huge hit. Good for the shrewd producers, but seriously, this is theatre? I guess it doesn't matter if it is any good or not. People just want to hear these songs live on stage, for whatever reasons. What is the next song catalogue to be mined for no other purpose but a cynical cash grab? Let me know so I can avoid it.

[WellsNYC]

Posted: 4/3/13 at 8:59pm

I respect what you're saying Matt... Broadway is for everyone, but not all Broadway shows are for everyone. Motown will BE great; will DO great. But it will never compare to any of the greats... It'll collect a few tonys, do a few years on Broadway, then a few tours...making Barry Gordy and a few others a couple more MILLIONS. Period. End of story.

[April Saul]

Posted: 4/3/13 at 8:59pm

Well, I'm prejudiced because I just bought a ticket and I do love Motown music...but I think there are some positives here. It seems to be a show paying tribute to a genre that played a huge role in the racial integration of pop music. And because it came to the forefront during a period of great racial tension in America, it was even more special.

I found this Smokey Robinson quote a few minutes ago:
"Into the '60s, I was still not of a frame of mind that we were not only making music, we were making history. But I did recognize the impact because acts were going all over the world at that time. I recognized the bridges that we crossed, the racial problems and the barriers that we broke down with music. I recognized that because I lived it. I would come to the South in the early days of Motown and the audiences would be segregated. Then they started to get the Motown music and we would go back and the audiences were integrated and the kids were dancing together and holding hands."

Anyway, I'm not trying to preach, state the obvious, or even argue that this elevates it above the level of jukebox musical, but I do think people might have a special affection for this music, because of what it did for our country. And if they're jumping out of their seats and dancing in the aisles remembering how it felt back then, that's priceless.

[WellsNYC]

Posted: 4/3/13 at 9:03pm

Anybody going opening night?? Its Black Tie.

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/3/13 at 9:21pm

My understanding was that there were supposed to be a few original songs in the show. I am almost positive they said this at the sneek peek. Is that not the case now? I see it next Tuesday. It sounds like all of this talk about Berry Gordy "baring it all" has kind of gone by the wayside also. Or maybe not?

[WellsNYC]

Posted: 4/3/13 at 9:33pm

Yes, there ARE original songs (I actually posted that earlier today)... The new songs that I remember were: Hey Joe (Black Like Me), Whats in the Grooves, Can I close the Door, and Hail to the Beat...I'm sure there are more. Those specifically, I didnt recognize during the show as Motown classics, so I came home and did my research. They are, in fact new songs written by Barry Gordy for this musical.

[jayinchelsea]

Posted: 4/4/13 at 9:38am

Will we ever see the day again when a really good original musical comes to Broadway? The dumbing-down, the Disneyfied family-driven (where do families get this kind of money to spend on these tickets?), the jukebox musicals...in many ways, and love his work though I do, Sondheim began and ended the last great era of musical theatre, and almost nothing has occurred in the 20 years since he stopped. Okay, we did get SPRING AWAKENING, and too few people went to see it.

It makes me very sad that MOTOWN is the best creative effort we have, and that this season's new musicals are so woefully inept.

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 4/4/13 at 9:53am

jayinchelsea, we do have a really good original musical on Broadway right now and it's called HANDS ON A HARDBODY. It fits into the specifics that you have laid out perfectly. No one is seeing it though because it's not dumbed down or Disneyfied or a jukebox musical. Have you seen it?

I will never see a show where people think it's ok to sing along, stand up and dance around. This isn't some Motown cover band concert, it's still a Broadway musical and I'm not here for that nonsense.

[April Saul]

Posted: 4/4/13 at 10:05am

Clyde--Thanks for that post; I have taken a lot of grief on this board for supporting Hardbody. Even though I don't love it, I enjoyed it quite a bit and I agree with you. Insofar as people standing up and dancing, joy goes a long way with me, and I was moving quite a bit in my seat for Hairspray, American Idiot and Spring Awakening...so much so for the latter while sitting onstage at the Atlantic that Jon Groff called me the best audience member of all time when I met him after the performance. I do stop short of standing up, however.

[StageStruckLad]

Posted: 4/4/13 at 10:05am

Have to agree with several others here that the best NEW musical on Broadway right now is Hands on a Hardbody. I loved it.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/4/13 at 3:48pm

Will we ever see the day again when a really good original musical comes to Broadway? The dumbing-down, the Disneyfied family-driven (where do families get this kind of money to spend on these tickets?), the jukebox musicals...in many ways, and love his work though I do, Sondheim began and ended the last great era of musical theatre, and almost nothing has occurred in the 20 years since he stopped. Okay, we did get SPRING AWAKENING, and too few people went to see it.

Almost nothing? Was Spring Awakening the only musical you've seen in 20 years because I can think of several even the academics and critics have enjoyed. But I don't think Sondheim stopped. Into the Woods was over 20 years ago and the awful Wise Gold Bouncy Road Show Guys has been presented and revised and represented several times over the last 20 years. And personally, Spring Awakening would not be an example I'd use.

It makes me very sad that MOTOWN is the best creative effort we have

Why do you think it is the best creative effort we have? I don't think anyone else thinks so.

[ratherbewhaling]

Posted: 4/4/13 at 7:46pm

jayinchelsea I agree with your frustrations. I think, unfortunately, that people don't want to be challenged with something new and unfamiliar.

Broadway has changed a lot, but this is a problem not only of the theater. Think about how many movies and TV shows are sequels and retreads of old stories and franchises these days?

We notice it more because there are only a few new musicals premiering on broadway per year verses the dozens and dozens of movie and tv shows made annually, and I fear that we will only see more shows like Motown and Spider-Man in coming years.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/4/13 at 8:11pm

I think, unfortunately, that people don't want to be challenged with something new and unfamiliar.

Except that we've seen new and unfamiliar musicals financially succeed like Urinetown, Avenue Q, In the Heights, Spring Awakening, Next to Normal, Spelling Bee, Drowsy Chaperone, and Book of Mormon. Even Light in the Piazza ran over a year. There are shows designed for popular entertainment and shows designed for families and shows designed for artistic expression. Some achieve success and some don't. Original shows don't prove to be better because they are original (Glory Days, Brooklyn, In My Life, Story of My Life, Scandalous, People in the Picture) and familiar material doesn't always make money (Baby It's You, Lennon, Good Vibrations, Tarzan, Little Mermaid, Cry-Baby, Catch Me If You Can, Ghost, Young Frankenstein, Seussical). And some shows just get buried by recent blockbusters and lost in the shuffle (Caroline or Change, Grey Gardens).

Updated On: 4/4/13 at 08:11 PM