The actors in the new Broadway musical, “Motown: The Musical,” may not have been born in the ’60s (or even ’70s), but the stars portraying Diana Ross, Berry Gordy, Smokey Robinson and Martha Reeves are definitely cut from the same cloth as the groundbreaking icons they play, with the help of a Motown-worthy wardrobe that is still smokin’ today. The musical spans four decades, which means plenty of fashion evolutions, and hair that has as many ups and downs as the tumultuous story behind the show.
The musical explores the birth of the motown sound, one of the world’s greatest music movements, a style of soul with a distinct pop influence, and tells the back story of its founder, producer and songwriter, Berry Gordy and his journey to discovering Motown’s superstar singers.
In previews until its opening on April 14 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, the toe-tapping show is apparently not just easy on the ears, with such iconic hits as “Tears of a Clown” and “Reach Out and Touch,” but a feast for the eyes as well. With looks that range from casual resort wear to formal couture beaded gowns, costumedesigner Emilio Sosa has created head-turning numbers worthy of a musical legend.
A “Project Runway” alum, Sosa says “Motown” is “one of the largest costumed shows to hit Broadway in a very long time” with an estimated 350 outfits — 70 percent of which are his designs — and 135 different wigs.
He says picking a favorite look is as cruel as picking a favorite child, but Diana Ross’ wardrobe is enough to make this design guru swoon: “All of Diana Ross’ gowns are drop-dead. One red-beaded gown took the beaders four weeks just to bead. It’s so freaking amazing — it blows your mind.”
We’ve gathered together the cast of the soon-to-be-hit show to model some mind-blowing Motown-inspired looks that are available from a swinging store near you.
Diana Ross (Valisia LeKae)
Killer tune: “Aint’ No Mountain High Enough”
LeKae, a Memphis native has real reverence for the story: “In our household growing up, the music of Motown played a huge role. We had gospel and Motown. I’ve been singing to [Ross’] music and the music of Motown throughout my life.”
Plus LeKae has a certain connection to Ross’ story: “She grew up in the church and wanted to be a dancer. I can relate to that.” I saw her not as an icon, but as a girl like myself — performing and doing what I dreamed I would do — to inspire and entertain people.”
In the show, the delicate 5-foot-4 stunner wears an impressive custom-made beehive wig that she swears won’t tip her off balance. “I never wear my own hair. I’ve never worn my own hair in any show. Wigs are just a part of my world.”
The Broadway vet previously seen in “Book of Mormon” and “Ragtime,” is about Ross’ height and exudes the same sensuality. “Because she’s so slender and the hair was so big, people assumed she was 5-foot-10,” says LeKae.
Despite 26 outfit changes — the show follows Ross from the ages of 15 to 39 — LeKae has no trouble picking a favorite from her show closet: “Emilio designed an amazing white-beaded gown for ‘Reach Out and Touch’ — it’s the best stuff I’ve ever seen on Broadway. Back then, [Ross] had Bob Mackie designing for her. So you can’t sleep on that. Emilio has such an eye for the texture and materials. He’s spectacular. ”
The vintage clothing collector feels right at home in these gorgeous throwback looks: “The ’60s is my favorite era — the clothing, the elegance, the fit and femininity of the waist. Everything was very sexy, yet sophisticated. The clothes make you stand a certain way, sit a certain way. The cinched waist: It’s the epitome of a lady.”
Berry Gordy (Brandon Victor Dixon)
Killer tune: “You’re All I Need To Get By”
“Style and image — it’s what Motown is about,” says Dixon. “They had a charm school led by Maxine Powell. There was literally an artists’ development department,” adding, “Berry’s goal was an assembly line, putting in the raw materials on the conveyor belt, and they went through the process and at the end came out a brand-new car, or star.”
Unlike other ego-tastic producers (then and now), Gordy assumed all responsibility for an act sinking or sailing, and blamed himself, re-evaulating his methodology when artists didn’t take off, which, for four years, was the “No Hits Supremes,” as they were dubbed, until the group became the biggest success story to come out of Motown.
“[Gordy’s] not just a dreamer for himself. All he wants is to make the dreams of others come true.”
Dixon has met the legendary producer and says it’s clear he’s still got his swagger: “He’ll see me and say, ‘You look good, man! Not as good as me, but you look good,’ ” Dixon recounts with a laugh.
Smokey Robinson (Charl Brown)
Killer tune: “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me”
It’s not just the women having a field day in the costume closet. “It’s so fun to re-create these fashions,” says Brown, who racks up 10 costume changes — and an awful lot of hair metamorphoses in his role as Smokey. “He had a lot of different hair styles — from ’70s afro to ’80s curls. My favorite wig is the ’60s — it’s the most period and historical.”
But Brown is passionate about the substance behind the style of the show, too: “The story is that we had to overcome a lot of things — this is all pre-civil rights movement. It was a completely different country. I don’t think we’d have the president we do today if not for Motown,” says Brown. “I’m so excited for the audience to learn this story.”
The show follows Smokey’s own personal journey, too. “He was so lucky to meet Berry; he was 17, Berry was 10 years older. The Miracles and Smokey were [Gordy’s] first group. He took him under his wing. They’re still best friends to this day. I’m still waiting for the moment we get to sit down and talk. But he gave me a hug, and in that moment I got his blessing.”
Martha Reeves (Saycon Sengbloh)
Killer tune: “Dancing in the Street”
Sengbloh, an Atlanta native, previously seen in “Wicked” and “The Color Purple,” was a big Motown fan as a kid: “My mom took me to a Jackson 5 concert when I was six — it had a huge impact on me.”
A New Yorker for the past decade, Sengbloh gushes about the show’s styles: “Someone told me I look like a black Betty Boop with my Martha wig. We’re having so much fun with the looks.”
Though she says she loves the “beautiful — and very form-fitting” gold sequin dress that she wears, high fashion never comes without a price: “Those sequins are so heavy!”
Her favorite among the eight costume changes and four wigs?
“I really love my ’80s blown-out roller set. I also have this spandex and sparkly sequin bronze gown.”
But beyond the sparkles, she recognizes the privilege and responsibility of the role “It’s so important for me to do justice to these characters. It’s like a big episode of ‘This Is Your Life.’ ”
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