HOP ABOARD THE MOTOWN TRAIN AT THE BUSHNELL

THE JACKSON FIVE IN MOTOWN THE MUSICAL    PHOTO BY JOAN MARCUS

Hop aboard the soul train that’s heading to the Hartford’s Bushnell theatrical station Tuesday, March 22 to Sunday, March 27 for a magnificent ride into musical history.  Let the conductor Berry Gordy punch your ticket to ride for a guaranteed special trip down the pop music tracks as “Motown the Musical” climbs mountains high on an electrifying engine of hits.  Sit back and be transported on the glory train.

First stop up is Detroit where the musical royalty gathered to begin the trip of a lifetime and music mogul record producer Berry Gordy began his energizing conducting feat.  Establishing the record label Motown Recording Corporation in April 1960 on West End Boulevard in a two-story house at #2648, Gordy wasn’t content to be a songwriter, he wanted to produce the stars.  in a converted garage space in the back of the property, one he called Studio A and Hitsville USA, he wanted a virtual unknown singer to walk in one door only to emerge a force to be reckoned with in the music world.  “Motown the Musical” created by Berry Gordy’s vision reveals his extraordinary ability to recognize talent, raw and new, and polish it to a glowing hue.  His discoveries include such names as Diana, Smokey, Michael and Stevie and more and they all shine on stage in a momentous milk train string of stops on the marvelous Motown train that is Gordy’s history.

Starting with an $800 loan from his family, he created groups like the Miracles, the Supremes, the Temptations, the Four Tops, the Commodores and more, giving a platform to a string of African-American artists. Come hear the musical legends and authentic sounds and dancing feet with all the glitz and glamour that were part and parcel of the pop culture package.

For tickets ($25.50-112.50), call the Bushnell, 166 Capitol Avenue, Hartford at 860-987-5900 or online at www.bushnell.org.  Performances are Tuesday at 8 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Come meet the man who you know “is ready for a brand new beat,” one the world will hear and follow on board the little engine that could, conducted by Berry Gordy himself.