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The magic of ‘Motown’ comes to Boston this summer – Metro US

The magic of ‘Motown’ comes to Boston this summer

Motown the Musical Boston Opera House

The sweet sounds of “Motown: The Musical” will take over the Boston Opera House this summer.

Based on the life and successes of acclaimed music mogul Berry Gordy, the Tony-nominated production will have audiences grooving to tunes by Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder and other Motown icons when the show comes to town June 12 to 17. 

Being apart of this musical tribute means a lot to cast member Devin Holloway, an Emerson College graduate who plays the legendary Jackie Wilson and several other music stars in “Motown.” The Boston Opera House became a second home for Holloway during his stay in Boston, as he never got the chance to see any big theater shows in his hometown of New Orleans due to Hurricane Katrina.

“I got into theater kind of after Katrina, so I never really saw any of the big Broadway shows come through the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans,” Holloway tells Metro. “Coming to Boston, I saw all the big Broadway shows at the Opera House. The fact that I’m coming back to Boston with this show and performing at the Opera House, it’s a dream come true.”

Katrina forced Holloway and his family to relocate to Gonzales, Louisiana, about an hour away from New Orleans, when he was a boy. Holloway considers the move a “silver lining,” as he ended up falling in love with theater while living in the new neighborhood.

After auditioning for a musical in middle school, the owner of a local performing arts academy told him to audition for a summer show, which ended up being Holloway’s first foray into theater. The actor went on to study at a creative arts school back in New Orleans, which eventually led to his enrollment at Emerson, where he earned a B.A. in musical theater and acting.

“The theater bug bit me then,” Holloway says. “The rest was history.”

While Holloway has performed in a number of productions in the past, working on “Motown” is particularly special, as it brings to life music that has touched the hearts of so many over the decades.

“It’s all about love,” Holloway says. “It’s really about the love and the joy that this music brings multiple generations.”

If you go:

June 12-17, Boston Opera House, 539 Washington St., Boston, $20+, motownthemusical.com