Motown

[Michael]

Motown is a jukebox musical about Berry Gordy founding and running the Motown record label and his relationship to the label's various artists. It opens at London's Shaftesbury Theatre on 11th February.

[Michael]

Previews start tonight. Anyone going - or at least in the near future?

Tbh, I have no real interest in seeing this and I'm likely to give it a complete miss - unless it'll be getting rave reviews on here.

[mrbarnaby]

Nah... No interest at all in this.

[theatrefan77]

I saw the Dress Rehearsal last night. It's just ok. The book is quite bad and the set looks cheap and tacky. They haven't tried very hard since it's a show which relies on people just wanting to hear some of Motown greatest hits. The cast deliver the songs with gusto and there are a few nice numbers, but it's annoying that they only sing small and in some case tiny portions of brilliant songs.

It can be enjoyable if you are prepared to believe the story that Berry Gordy was a lovely guy who cared deeply about all Motown performers, never exploited them and considered them family.

[Michael]

They should have rather made a show about Fat Mike and his label Fat Wreck Chords - now that's a show I'd be rushing to see.

[infofreako]

Feb 11, 2016 19:50:00 GMT Michael said:

They should have rather made a show about Fat Mike and his label Fat Wreck Chords - now that's a show I'd be rushing to see.

Me too. Would be quite a show

[Mr Wallacio]

I completely forgot this was even coming such is the lack of interest I have. Is there even any promotion because I've not seen any? Hopefully it won't stay long.

[Seriously]

It seems odd that someone would chose to write a "Jukebox" musical, but by cramming in as many hits as possible, not give the audience any time to enjoy them.

The restaurant equivalent of having lots of starters, but no main course?

[tayzerpin]

Maybe it should be referred to as a Tapas musical?

[theatremadness]

Already extended to Feb 18th 2017 according to Baz, with 200,000 new tickets on sale!

[wickedgrin]

Heavens - just checked the Shaftesbury Theatre website and limited availability for near future shows! Only premium seats left for some performances at an eye watering £145!!! Looking at the video footage the show looks very cheap! The producers must be making a FORTUNE!

Thank goodness this show is not on my "to see" list! I despair at the state of the theatre industry when this is selling so well and Mrs Henderson I suspect will struggle to get an audience!

[Michael]

Feb 11, 2016 23:30:27 GMT theatremadness said:

Already extended to Feb 18th 2017 according to Baz, with 200,000 new tickets on sale!

If this ends up running longer than Memphis, I'm giving up hope completely.

[Stasia]

I haven't seen lots of advertising for this, this show has no "stars" and yet - no day seats, no offers, ticket prices are way more higher than I'm ready to pay for it - and yet it extends! How does this happen?

[viserys]

I would hope that so far it's been people nostalgic for the Motown sounds - the kind of groups that also flock to see stuff like Mamma mia, Sunny Afternoon, Let it Be and so on. If it's as cheap and tacky as you people say and no song fully played out, word should get around quickly and sales will dry up. Maybe. Hopefully. I feel bad about wishing a show to go away, but I'm so tired of this kind of jukebox musical clogging up theatres.

[infofreako]

Makes no sense whatsoever. Can only imagine its an easy sell to the tourist market just wanting to hear the songs

[Mr Wallacio]

At least it's on at the Shaftesbury, a theatre I only ever pass if I'm going to see a show there, so I won't be looking at the place every time I go to London.

[Deleted]

The show has now extended to February 18, 2017 after taking £5 million at the box office.

www.westendframe.com/2016/02/motown-musical-extends-west-end-booking.html

[infofreako]

Feb 12, 2016 21:01:13 GMT danieljohnson14 said:

The show has now extended to February 18, 2017 after taking £5 million at the box office.

www.westendframe.com/2016/02/motown-musical-extends-west-end-booking.html

I despair

[theatre-turtle]

I don't think the members of this board are the target audience for this show. Looks like it will do a lot better than Memphis, despite having none of the originality and charm.

[mrbarnaby]

That's depressing. The general public sure are easily pleased.

[BurlyBeaR]

Feb 12, 2016 21:01:13 GMT danieljohnson14 said:

The show has now extended to February 18, 2017 after taking £5 million at the box office.

www.westendframe.com/2016/02/motown-musical-extends-west-end-booking.html

Motown the Musical received its world premiere in April 2013 in New York and recouped its $18 million investment by the end of 2014. The first US National Tour opened in Spring 2014 in Chicago, grossing $20 million dollars during its standing room only sixteen-week run. Motown the Musical will return to Broadway at the Nederlander Theatre for an 18 week run in July this year.

Ker-Ching

[Michael]

This is so depressing.

[ali973]

I would be interested to see who actually books to see the production in London.
I think there is something to be said about the demographic of audience in the US. I remember when the show opened in Chicago, my best friend (African American) got numerous calls from family and friends, who are normally not necessarily into the normal "Broadway in Chicago" roster. Same with the Color Purple national tour.

I think to a certain extent, there is a similar kind of behavior in the UK. I remember seeing a lot more diversity in Memphis, Bodyguard, the all-black Cat On a Hot Tin Roof.

So despite it being so pedestrian, minorities want to see minorities onstage, and I feel that producers/creative really need to get out of their comfort zone and examine shows that could reach out to a new demographic. I know this does not apply to a show like Bend It Like Beckham or Memphis, but there must be an untapped market being catered to in the Motown case.

[Deleted]

Feb 15, 2016 8:05:32 GMT Michael said:

This is so depressing.

Why?


God forbid a show should do well...

[Michael]

From all I've heard, Motown is a cheaply produced song revue with next to no set and no story whatsoever. When such a show runs for longer and is more successful than an original show (take Memphis as example, but many new shows failed recently), this will discourage people from trying out or funding new shows and more such shows will be put on.

The West End deserves better shows.