Clifton Oliver, Allison Semmes Set to Star in Motown the Musical Tour

Kevin McCollum, Doug Morris, and Berry Gordy made the announcement that Clifton Oliver and Allison Semmes will star in the touring production Motown the Musical as Berry Gorsy and Diana Ross, respectively. The national tour is set to begin April 22 at the Oriental Theatre in Chicago with an expected run through July 13 before moving on to other tour locations.

Both Oliver and Semmes have a background in the theatre. Oliver has been seen in the Broadway productions of In the Heights as Benny, The Lion King as Simba, and Wicked as Fiyero. Semmes has performed on Broadway in Motown the Musical as Florence Ballard and The Book of Mormon as Nabalungi.

Motown the Musical is the story of some of Motown’s greatest stars as they fight to gain notoriety. It also tells the story of Motown’s founder Berry Gordy who overcomes obstacles in order to make his dreams a reality. It is directed by Charles Randolph-Wright and produced by Gordy, Kevin McCollom, and Doug Morris. Gordy has also created a book for the show while the cast has created an original Broadway album.

Featured in the show are songs from some of Motown’s most notable artists. These artists include Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five, Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, and Stevie Wonder among others. Music direction is handled by Joseph Joubert, arrangements and orchestrations by Ethan Popp, co-orchestrations and additional arrangements by Bryan Crook, as well as dance arrangements by Zane Mark.

In addition to the Oriental Theatre in Chicago, IL, other currently announced stops on the tour include 

San Francisco, CA, at the Orpheum Theatre Aug. 15-Sept. 28
Durham, NC, at the Durham Performing Arts Center Feb. 17-22, 2015
Ft. Lauderdale, FL, at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts Feb. 24-March 8
Los Angeles, CA, at the Pantages Theatre April 28-June 7
Memphis, TN, at the Orpheum Theatre July 14-19
Houston, TX, at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts July 21-26
Atlanta, GA, at the Fox Theatre August 18-23
Charlotte, NC, at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center Aug. 25-Sept. 6