Producers Kevin McCollum, Doug Morris and Berry Gordy are proud to announce that First National Tour of MOTOWN THE MUSICAL will celebrate its one year anniversary on May 8, 2015.  The producers are also pleased to announce the return of original Broadway cast member Julius Thomas III to the First National Tour for a limited engagement in the leading role of Berry Gordy.

Photo Courtesy of It Is Done Communications

The First National Tour of MOTOWN THE MUSICAL opened to critical acclaim on May 8, 2014, at Chicago's Oriental Theatre and will celebrate its one-year anniversary during a six-week engagement at Hollywood's Pantages Theatre playing now through June 7, 2015.  Over the first 52 playing weeks, the tour grossed over $62.5 million, playing to more than 875,000 people in 18 different cities.   MOTOWN THE MUSICAL previously announced that the tour recouped its $8.5 million dollar capitalization cost in less than ten months on the road.

Julius Thomas III rejoins the First National Tour in the leading role of Berry Gordy for a limited engagement now through June 28, 2015.

MOTOWN THE MUSICAL is scheduled to perform in the following 2015 cities with additional tour dates announced through 2016:

Los Angeles, CA           Pantages Theatre                                          April 28-June 7, 2015

San Diego, CA              Civic Center                                                 June 9-14, 2015

Costa Mesa, CA            Segerstrom Center for the Arts                    June 16-28, 2015

Milwaukee, WI             Marcus Center for the Performing Arts       July 7-12, 2015

Memphis, TN               Orpheum Theatre                                          July 14-19, 2015

Houston, TX                 Hobby Center for the Performing Arts        July 21-26, 2015

Dallas, TX                    AT&T Performing Arts Center                    July 28-Aug 16, 2015

Atlanta, GA                  Fox Theatre                                                 Aug 18-23, 2015

Charlotte, NC               Blumenthal Performing Arts Center           Aug 25-Sep 6, 2015

Cincinnati, OH             Aronoff Center                                            Sep 8-20, 2015

Toronto, ON                Ed Mirvish Theatre                                      Sep 22-Nov 1, 2015

Providence, RI            Providence Performing Arts Center            Nov 3-8, 2015

Rochester, NY             RBTL's Auditorium Theatre                       Nov 10-15, 2015

Schenectady, NY        Proctors                                                        November 17-22, 2015

Greenville, SC             Peace Center for the Performing Arts         November 24-29, 2015

Washington, DC          National Theatre                                          December 1, 2015-January 3, 2016

A full listing of announced 2015-2016 tour dates is available at www.MotownTheMusical.com/tour .

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.

The National Touring Cast of Motown The Musical

Photo Courtesy of Joan Marcus

Featuring more than 40 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 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 ESosa ( 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 ( Jekyll and Hyde), hair and wig design by Charles LaPointe ( Memphis) and casting by Telsey + Company.

The National Touring Cast of Motown The Musical  - Jackson 5

Photo Courtesy of Joan Marcus

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 "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 is 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.

For more information, visit www.MotownTheMusical.com.