Motown: The Musical NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (521)
See it if you are a Motown fan and interested in the stories behind the music.
Don't see it if you won't appreciate the songs of the era and couldn't care less about the stories behind them.
See it if You enjoy Motown music!
Don't see it if You are seeking a complex or thought-provoking plot, do not like Motown music.
See it if you're a fan of 1983's tv special "Motown: Yesterday Today Forever". It's the LIVE jukebox musical of that night, w/a ton of B Gordy drama.
Don't see it if you don't want to sit thru B Gordy over-indulgent self-aggrandizing background fluff. How much of it is true or not doesn't add to the show.
See it if you love Motown music. Kept most of the audience swaying all night. Unfortunately some political issues still relevant today; good exposure.
Don't see it if you don't enjoy this genre. Or if you desire a very compelling storyline, although I was pleased by it.
See it if You are a Motown fan and accept that the voices are not identical to the originals. The Diana Ross role was superb.
Don't see it if You do not enjoy biographically-based shows or if you do not enjoy concert-like shows. I found it thoroughly entertaining.
See it if If you love Motown!! This is a must see!! Great singing and acting!! Very entertaining
Don't see it if If u don't like Motown! If you don't like Diana Ross this isn't the show for you!
See it if you enjoy complex musical biographies performed with beauty & integrity. The dancing moves/steps are precision timing.
Don't see it if music icon musical biographies aren’t your choice of musicals.
See it if you love Motown -- the Jackson 5 scenes alone are worth the price of admission!
Don't see it if you don't care for jukebox musicals or medleys
Critic Reviews (23)
"Led by the ultradynamic Chester Gregory, this slightly revised version seems to have more energy and bonhomie than before. Yes, the show is still a bit self-serving and the book is riddled with ridiculous omissions, chronological mistakes, and clichéd dialogue that can make you cringe. But if you love the songs that came from this legendary record label, it’s all ultimately a bit hard to resist...You can shop around for a 'better' show, but not many at which you’ll have more fun!"
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"The newest incarnation of ‘Motown’ is tighter with lines cut, sets scaled back and more reliance on projection video. It’s also -- and this is me talking now -- more endearing…The new cast is noticeably at ease with the material...Chester Gregory, as the central figure, is driven and insistent…Effective, as well, is Jarran Muse as a soulful Marvin Gaye...What we have here is an improved and infectious excuse to revisit dozens of Motor City chestnuts."
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“The revival is alternately catchy and soulful, and overstuffed with memorable melodies...Gordy’s book sometimes awkwardly juxtaposes tragedy with personal moments...The hardworking ensemble of 33 take multiple roles and dance their feet off...Pulsating choreography evolves with the changing times...If Gordy is a little grandiose about his accomplishments, well, he’s telling the story and there’s no denying the enormous contribution he made to American music.”
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"The cast is close to ideal, and the music and lyrics work. The book attempts too much and, in places, tries to tell a fifteen-month story in fifteen seconds. As a result, some of the dialogue reads like narration, and if the acting is stilted in these places...So what? Who goes to a musical called 'Motown' to worry about the playwright’s craft? You’re there for the music, and the show delivers that many times over...The singing is on target and so passionate."
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"Among the best things I’ve ever seen on a stage…Along the way we get top-notch performances of some of our favorite Motown songs…The revival was flawless. There wasn’t one member of the cast who couldn’t sing and didn’t give their all to their role...I felt like the story of 'Motown' is more relevant than ever…While a ticket to a Broadway show can be expensive, I urge you to go see 'Motown' during its limited engagement revival. You will not be disappointed."
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"For all the richness of its gold-and-platinum-plated soundtrack, 'Motown' would be a much more satisfying nostalgia trip if Gordy and his collaborators were more effective curators of both story and song, rather than trying to encompass the whole of the label’s fabled history in two and a half hours. Irresistible as much of the music is, I often had the frustrating impression that I was being forced to listen to an LP being played at the dizzying, distorting speed of a 45."
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"'Motown the Musical' is a solid gold hit...The staggering amount of talent, creativity and love that was the Motown Sound and the story behind its founder Berry Gordy will touch your heart and put the beat back in your feet...Having the through line of racism and Motown's role in affecting change through music was really touching...This theme grounded the show and made it more than just a story."
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"The book is the evening’s weak spot. The dialogue is sometimes so bald it could use an emergency toupet...Bolstered by ingenious, fast-moving, projection-enlivened scenery, expert choreography and sure direction, the cast have a platinum-plated ball...Confronting us with energy and spirit of that irrepressible order, the show moves beyond being a welcome nostalgia fest and becomes an urgent rallying cry for us all to rediscover our Motown mojo."
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