Charl Brown Joins Motown: The Musical as Smokey Robinson

Charl Brown (Jersey Boys, Sister Act) will star as Smokey Robinson in Motown: The Musical, the new bio musical about the life of iconic Motown founder Berry Gordy. Brown joins previously-announced stars Brandon Victor Dixon as Berry Gordy and Valisia LeKae as Diana Ross, leading an ensemble cast of 40 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre when the show opens on April 14, 2013.

In addition to Brown, Dixon and LeKae, Motown: The Musical will feature an ensemble including Timothy J. Alex, Nicholas Christopher, Bryan Terrell Clark, Rebecca E. Covington, Ariana Debose, Andrea Dora, Preston W. Dugger III, Wilkie Ferguson, Dionne Figgins, Marva Hicks, Sasha Hutchings, Lauren Lim Jackson, Morgan James, John Jellison, Crystal Joy, Grasan Kingsberry, Marielys Molina, Sydney Morton, Jarran Muse, Jesse Nager, Milton Craig Nealy, N’Kenge, Dominic Nolfi, Saycon Sengbloh, Ryan Shaw, Jamal Story, Eric LaJuan Summers, Ephraim Sykes, Julius Thomas III, Daniel J. Watts and Donald Webber, Jr..

Directed by Charles Randolph-Wright, Motown: The Musical tells the real-life story of Motown founder Berry Gordy (who penned the show's book) and his meteoric rise to becoming the music mogul who launched the careers of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson and more. The show’s score is pulled directly from the top of the Motown charts and will feature songs that are immediately recognizable to fans of the record label's sound.

The production includes choreography by Patricia Wilcox and Warren Adams, scenic design by David Korins, costumes by ESosa, lighting by Natasha Katz, sound by Peter Hylenski, projections by Daniel Brodie, arrangements/orchestrations by Ethan Popp, co-orchestrations by Bryan Crook, dance arrangements by Zane Mark and music direction by Joseph Joubert.

Additional casting will be announced at a later date.