'Motown: The Musical' to hold auditions in Detroit next month

DETROIT (WXYZ) -  Motown is ready to embrace some Detroit talent again.

Berry Gordy's "Motown: The Musical" will hold auditions in Detroit next month as the Broadway show works up to its spring premiere.

The open-call audition will run 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 3 at Winans Academy of Performing Arts, 9740 McKinney in Detroit. Sign-ins for auditions will start at 9 a.m. Full details are at www.motownthemusical.com/casting .

One key cast member is a single young actor-singer to play the boyhood Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Gordy. Show creators are seeking an African-American male 8 to 11 years old who "must be charismatic and have a great, high tenor singing voice," according to the casting page.

Also sought are two male twentysomethings for the parts of Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinson, along with female singers and a male bass singer. No previous theatrical experience is required.

The Detroit audition is one of several taking place nationwide. Others will be in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Chicago.

"It's very important to me that we reach out to the Detroit community and let them know this is theirs, too," show director Charles Randolph-Wright told the Free Press last month at a New York launch event for the musical.

"Motown: The Musical" will debut April 14 at Broadway's Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.

The show announced a relationship with Chrysler, including a national TV spot that will roll out in coming weeks.