Casting announced for the upcoming tour of Motown the Musical
Casting has been announced for the UK and Ireland tour of Motown the Musical.
Edward Baruwa (Motown, Les Miserables) will play the leading role of Berry Gordy, while Karis Anderson (member of pop band Stooshe) will play Diana Ross, Nathan Lewis (X-Factor finalist) is Smokey Robinson and Shak Gabbidon-Williams (The Lion King) will be Marvin Gaye.
The ensemble of the show includes Dayo Adeoye, Scott Armstrong, Simeon Beckett, Natalia Brown, Ethan
Davis, Andrew Dillon, Akeem Ellis-Hyman, Christopher Gopaul, Daniel Haswell, Olivia Hibbert,
Karis Jack, Michael Jeremiah, Amana Jones, Abz Kareem, Kane Matthews, DeeArna McClean,
Matt Mills, Cordell Mosteller, Nicole Nyarambi, Spencer O'Brien, Perry O'Dea, Alex Okoampa,
Reece Richards and Emma Robotham-Hunt.
Motown the Musical has music and lyrics from the Motown back catalogue which was founded by Berry Gordy in 1959. Charles Randolph-Wright's production has a live orchestra playing 50 tracks including "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", "I'll Be There", "Dancing In the Street" and "Stop! In the Name of Love".
The piece tells the story of Gordy and record company which launched the careers of the likes of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson and Marvin Gaye.
The West End production opened in 2016 and is currently booking until April 2019.
The tour kicks off in October at Birmingham's Alexandra Theatre and then tours to venues including Leeds Grand Theatre, Edinburgh Playhouse, Bristol Hippodrome and Manchester Opera House.
