Attention, Michael Jackson Wannabes: Berry Gordy Announces Nationwide Talent Search for Motown the Musical

Motown Records founder Berry Gordy has launched a nationwide talent search and audition website to cast a single actor with the versatility to play three demanding roles—a young Michael Jackson, little Stevie Wonder and pre-teen Gordy himself—in the previously announced Motown the Musical. Directed by Charles Randolph-Wright and featuring a book by Gordy, Motown the Musical is set to open on Broadway in the spring of 2013 at a Nederlander theater. Additional creative team, dates and theater will be announced shortly.

To audition for Motown the Musical, African-American young men ages 8 to 11 are being asked to perform Jackson Five classics “I Want You Back,” “I’ll Be There” or “Who’s Loving You” and upload their performances to YouTube.

 To qualify, the young actors will need a strong high tenor singing voice and the ability to move and sound like Michael Jackson during his years as lead singer of the Jackson 5. 

On January 12, 1959, a young African-American songwriter named Berry Gordy founded Tamla Records with a loan of $800 from his family, marking the birth of the “Motown Records Corporation.” Motown is the story of the protégés and stars of a uniquely talented musical family who, under Berry’s guidance, went on to become some of the greatest superstars of all time. 

 





Produced by Kevin McCollum (Rent, Avenue Q, In the Heights, The Drowsy Chaperone) and Doug Morris, Motown the Musical will feature music and lyrics from the Motown catalogue, including songs made famous by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, the Temptations, Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five.



Watch below as Gordy explains what he is looking for in the young man who will play these iconic characters, then visit the casting website for your chance to star on Broadway.