CONTACT Tim Dunn (714) 556-2122 x4209, TDunn@SCFTA.org Laura Lanzi (714) 556-2122 x4371, LLanzi@SCFTA.org Images: SCFTA.org/media RELEASE DATE COMPLETE CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR MOTOWN THE MUSICAL AT SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS December 19 24, 2017 Segerstrom Hall Tickets On Sale Now COSTA MESA, CA Segerstrom Center for the Arts and Work Light Productions are proud to announce the complete cast for the National Tour of MOTOWN THE MUSICAL. Leading this new tour will be Kenneth Mosley as Berry Gordy, Trenyce as Diana Ross, Matt Manuel as Marvin Gaye, and Justin Reynolds as Smokey Robinson, with Kai Calhoun and Chase Phillips portraying Berry Gordy s boyhood counterpart and the roles of young stars Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder. MOTOWN THE MUSICAL will also feature Nick Abbott, Tracy Byrd, Arielle Crosby, Devin Holloway, Quiana Holmes, Kayla Jenerson, EJ King, Brett Michael Lockley, Jasmine Maslanova-Brown, Rob McCaffrey, Trey McCoy, Alia Munsch, Erick Patrick, Eric Peters, Isaac Saunders Jr., Eran Scoggins, Ayla Stackhouse, Nya Trysha, Cartreze Tucker, Dre Woods, Jamari Johnson Williams, and Nazarria Workman. MOTOWN THE MUSICAL returns to the Segerstrom Hall stage for one week only December 19 24, 2017. Single tickets start at $29 and may be purchased online at SCFTA.org, the Box Office at 600 Town
Motown the Musical Casting NEWS 2/5 Center Drive in Costa Mesa or by calling (714) 556-2787. For inquiries about group ticket savings for 10 or more, call the Group Services office at (714) 755-0236. The 2 p.m. performance on Saturday, December 23, 2017 will include audio description, open captioning and sign-language interpretation. Directed by Charles Randolph-Wright, MOTOWN THE MUSICAL is the true American dream story of Motown founder Berry Gordy s journey from featherweight boxer to the heavyweight music mogul who launched the careers of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye and so many more. Featuring more than 50 classic hits such as My Girl and Ain t No Mountain High Enough, MOTOWN THE MUSICAL tells the story behind the hits as Diana, Smokey, Berry and the whole Motown family fight against the odds to create the soundtrack of change in America. Motown shattered barriers, shaped our lives and made us all move to the same beat. MOTOWN THE MUSICAL features staging by Schele Williams, choreography recreated by Brian Harlan Brooks, original choreography by Patricia Wilcox (A Night with Janis Joplin) and Warren Adams (Toy Story), scenic design by David Korins (Bring It On: The Musical, Annie), costume design by Tony Award nominee Emilio Sosa (The Gershwins Porgy and Bess, Project Runway ), lighting design by Tony Award winner Natasha Katz (Once, Sister Act), sound design by Tony Award nominee Peter Hylenski (Rock of Ages, The Scottsboro Boys), projection design by Daniel Brodie (Aladdin), hair and wig design by Charles LaPointe (Memphis) and casting by Wojcik Seay Casting. MOTOWN THE MUSICAL s arrangements and orchestrations are by Grammy and Tony Award nominee Ethan Popp (Rock of Ages), who also serves as music supervisor in reproducing the classic The Sound of Young America, with co-orchestrations and additional arrangements by Tony Award nominee Bryan Crook (Smash) and dance arrangements by Zane Mark (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels). MOTOWN THE MUSICAL was originally produced by Tony Award - winning producer Kevin McCollum (Rent, In the Heights, Avenue Q), Chairman and CEO of SONY Music Entertainment Doug Morris and Motown founder Berry Gordy, in association with Work Lights Productions. For more information, visit www.motownthemusical.com.
Motown the Musical Casting NEWS 3/5 PRINCIPLES KENNETH MOSLEY (Berry Gordy) is thrilled to be a part of the Motown family! Theatre: CMT: Sister Act (TJ), The Little Mermaid (Sebastian U/S) & Children of Eden (Lead Storyteller), MTW: Memphis (Gator). Television: "Grace & Frankie", "Ten Days in the Valley", "Black-ish", "Pitch", "Game Shakers", "Crazy Love". New web comedy, "NTB"+music, "Destiny Fufilled" in October. Bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism: SMU. KennethMosley.com @KenMos TRENYCE (Diana Ross). Grammy nominated Singer/actress from American Idol Season 2 who's career includes shows such as Ain t Misbehavin, Vagina Monologues, Love in the Nick of Tyme w/ Morris Chestnut, Thriller Live West End, Taboo China, and Marvel s Kick Ass 2. Follow on Instagram & Twitter @trenyce1/@trenyce JUSTIN REYNOLDS (Smokey Robinson) was recently seen headlining in Vegas! The Show on the LV Strip. He has toured 85 countries while performing on Silversea, Princess Cruises and The Young Americans. Many thanks to Mr. Gordy, Wojcik Seay Casting, and WLP for making his SMOKEY dream come true in his National Tour debut with Motown! MATT MANUEL (Marvin Gaye) is a Singer/Actor/model from the Detroit area. In 2013, he was a contestant on American Idol. He was the male vocalist for the Simone Vitale Band. In 2016, he played the role of Benjamin in the short film "Akoma". KAI CALHOUN (Young Berry Gordy/Young Stevie Wonder/Young Michael Jackson) is excited about his first appearance with Motown. He is in 7 th grade and can usually be found making videos for his YouTube channel. Kai is grateful for his Mom, his older brothers, his Papa and family. He is very grateful for Mrs. Frost and Vincent for encouraging his love of acting. CHASE PHILLIPS (Young Berry Gordy/Young Stevie Wonder/Young Michael Jackson) is excited about his first national tour! As a native of Louisville, KY he's had roles performing with Lincoln Performing Arts School, Actors Theatre and the Youth Theatre Troupe of Louisville. Chase feels blessed to have the support of his family, church and friends. WORK LIGHT PRODUCTIONS (Producer). Dedicated to creating and producing live entertainment. Current productions: Rent 20th anniversary tour, Cinderella, Mamma Mia!, White Christmas. Currently
Motown the Musical Casting NEWS 4/5 developing Clue, a new stage play based on the Paramount movie. Upcoming: 2016 Olivier Award winning production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Produced Julie Andrews, The Gift of Music at The Hollywood Bowl and London s O2 Arena. Other recent touring productions include the Tony Awardwinners American Idiot, In the Heights and Avenue Q. WLP is led by founding partner and President Stephen Gabriel and Vice President Nancy Gabriel. www.worklightproductions.com Segerstrom Center for the Arts applauds its corporate partners including Kia Motors America, Official Automotive Partner; United Airlines, Official Airline; and Omaha Steaks International, Official Fine Food Retailer. Spectrum Reach is the Media Partner of the Broadway and Curtain Call Series. Segerstrom Center for the Arts is an acclaimed arts institution as well as a beautiful multi-disciplinary cultural campus. It is committed to supporting artistic excellence, offering unsurpassed experiences and to engaging the entire community in new and exciting ways through the unique power of live performance and a diverse array of inspiring arts-based education and community engagement programs. Previously called the Orange County Performing Arts Center, Segerstrom Center is Orange County s largest non-profit arts organization. In addition to its six performance venues, Segerstrom Center is also home to the American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School. The Center presents a broad range of programming for audiences of all ages, including international ballet and dance, national tours of top Broadway shows, jazz and cabaret, contemporary artists, classical music performed by renowned chamber orchestras and ensembles, family-friendly programming, free performances open to the public from outdoor movie screenings to dancing on the plaza and many other special events. Segerstrom Center is a leader among the nation s performing arts centers for providing education programs designed to inspire young people through the arts. The Center s programs reach hundreds of thousands of students each year in five Southern California counties. Community engagement programs developed through the Center for Dance and Innovation and Center Without Boundaries also connect the Center more comprehensively with Orange County s many diverse communities. The CDI supports flagship artistic programming and a wide range of projects that celebrate innovation, nurture creativity and engage audiences of the future. It is home to the ABT Gillespie School and the School of Dance and Music for Children with Disabilities. The Center Without Boundaries develops partnerships with noncultural organizations to help them in their own efforts to respond the ever-changing needs of the community. Segerstrom Center for the Arts is also proud to serve as the artistic home to three of the region s major performing arts organizations: Pacific Symphony, Philharmonic Society of Orange County and Pacific Chorale, who contribute greatly to the artistic life of the region with annual seasons performed at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. In addition to Segerstrom Center for the Arts as a presenting and producing institution, it also identifies
Motown the Musical Casting NEWS 5/5 the beautiful 14-acre campus that embraces the Center s own facilities as well as two independently acclaimed organizations: Tony Award -winning South Coast Repertory and a site designated as the future home of the Orange County Museum of Art. MOTOWN THE MUSICAL Segerstrom Center for the Arts Segerstrom Hall December 19 24, 2017 Tuesday Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Friday at 1 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday at 1 p.m. The 2 p.m. performance on Saturday, December 23, 2017 will include audio description, open captioning and sign-language interpretation. 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA www.scfta.org Tickets - Start at $29 In person - Online - The Box Office 600 Town Center Drive Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Open 10 a.m. 6 p.m. daily SCFTA.org Phone - (714) 556-2787 Open 10 a.m. 6 p.m. daily Group Sales - (714) 755-0236 Information provided is accurate at the time of printing, but is subject to change. Segerstrom Center for the Arts is a private, non-profit organization. Segerstrom Center for the Arts is a registered trademark. # # #