Berry Gordy Jr. announces Broadway musical on Motown

Berry Gordy Jr., the founder of the influential Motown label, is turning his life into a Broadway musical simply titled Motown: The Musical.

Gordy, 82, made the announcement on Tuesday, reports The New York Times. He wrote the book himself and is working with veteran Broadway producer Kevin McCollum and Sony Music Entertainment chairman Doug Morris, who will produce the show.

McCollum is the producer behind hits like Avenue Q and Rent.

The show promises to feature songs from the label’s legendary catalog to help tell the story of the R&B label’s beginnings. Songs from Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson and many others will be featured and all are characters in the musical.

The announcement promises to include a handful of new songs to go with the classics.

“This is an amazing opportunity for everyone to experience the Motown phenomenon through the eyes of the man who lived it,” Morris said in a statement.

Gordy added that he believes that Broadway and Motown “...have a lot in common — a family of wonderfully talented, passionate, hard-working young people, fiercely competitive but also full of love and appreciation for the work, for each other and for the people in the audience. I can’t wait to feel that same Motown spirit come alive on stage every night.”

Charles Randolph-Wright will direct the musical, which could be as successful as other musicals built around classic pop hits like Jersey Boys and Mamma Mia!.

Motown: The Musical is set to open in Spring 2013 at a Nederlander Theatre that will be announced later. The cast will also be announced at a later date.