Motown: Charl Brown to play Smokey Robinson

Charl Brown will star as 'Smokey Robinson' in the upcoming world premiere of Motown: The Musical, based on the life of Motown founder Berry Gordy, opening on Broadway at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on 14 Apr 2013, following previews from 11 Mar 2013, and is booking through to 24 Nov 2013.

Charl Brown currently appears in the Broadway musical 'Jersey Boys,' playing the ensemble role of 'Hal Miller.' He made his Broadway debut in the ensemble of 'Sister Act.'

Brown joins the previously announced Tony Award-nominee Brandon Victor Dixon as 'Berry Gordy' and Valisia LeKae as 'Diana Ross.'

The show's 40 member ensemble has also been announced and will featue Timothy J. Alex, Nicholas Christopher, Bryan Terrell Clark, Rebecca E. Covington, Ariana DeBose, Andrea Dora, Preston W. Dugger III, Wilkie Ferguson, Dionne Figgins, Marva Hicks, Sasha Hutchings, Lauren Lim Jackson, Morgan James, John Jellison, Crystal Joy, Grasan Kingsberry, Marielys Molina, Sydney Morton, Jarran Muse, Jesse Nager, Milton Craig Nealy, N'Kenge, Dominic Nolfi, Saycon Sengbloh, Ryan Shaw, Jamal Story, Eric Lajuan Summers, Ephraim Sykes, Julius Thomas III, Daniel J. Watts and Donald Webber, Jr.

Additional casting is still to be announced.

Directed by Charles Randolph-Wright and choreographed by Patricia Wilcox, Motown: The Musical will feature a book by Berry Gordy and music and lyrics from the Motown catalogue.

Press notes desribe Motown: The Musical as, "the real story of the one-of-a-kind sound that hit the airwaves in 1959 and changed America forever. This exhilarating show charts Motown Founder Berry Gordy's incredible journey from featherweight boxer to the heavyweight music mogul who launched the careers of Diana Ross and The Supremes, Michael Jackson and The Jackson Five, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, Marvin Gaye and many more."

The show tells the story behind the hits as Smokey finds his unique voice, Diana skyrockets to stardom and Berry fights against the odds to turn his improbable dream into a triumphant reality.

Charles Randolph-Wright recently staged the Pulitzer Prize winning play 'Ruined' and the musical 'Sophisticated Ladies' at Arena Stage and the 75th anniversary international tour of 'Porgy and Bess.' The New York staging of his play 'Blue' has been produced throughout the U.S.

The creative team will feature scenic design by David Korins, costume design by ESosa, lighting design by Natasha Katz and sound design by Peter Hylenski.