In 1959, songwriter Berry Gordy formed his own record company, Tamla
Motown Records, in a timber frame bungalow in Detroit. During the years
that followed, black soul music started to reach a white audience
through a roll call of groups and singers including: the Four Tops, the
Temptations, Marvin Gaye, the Jackson Five, Gladys Knight & the
Pips, the Commodores, Lionel Ritchie, Diana Ross and the Supremes,
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, the Isley Brothers and Martha Reeves
and the Vandellas.
Dancing in the Streets
celebrates the best of the Motown repertoire, which included hits like
“I Heard It Through the Grape Vine“, “Baby Love“, “My Girl“, “I’ll Be
There“, “Signed Sealed Delivered I’m Yours“, “Where Did Our Love Go?“,
“What’s Going On?“, “The Way You Do the Things You Do“, “Please Mr
Postman“, “ABC“, “Heat Wave“, “You Can’t Hurry Love“, “Tears of a
Clown”, “Tracks of My Tears“ and the show’s title song, “Dancing in the
Streets”.
The Motown musical is directed by Keith Strachan, who also provides musical supervision. Choreography is by Carole Todd and set design by Sean Cavanagh. The show is produced by Flying Music, the same outfit behind The Rat Pack – Live from Live Vegas.
Dancing in the Streets is at the Liverpool Empire from 14-19 May and Manchester’s Palace Theatre from 4 – 9 June.