Chrysler Brand and MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL Drive to Broadway!

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Sept. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Chrysler brand and producers Kevin McCollum, Doug Morris and Berry Gordy are proud to announce an unprecedented relationship with MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL, based on the life of legendary Motown founder and Detroit native Berry Gordy.

"Cars are the heart of Detroit and the music of Motown is its soul. The fortitude and determination of these musical founders who carved their own path and had the faith to overcome any obstacle truly reflects the spirit of the Chrysler brand's 'Imported from Detroit' campaign," said Olivier Francois, Chief Marketing Officer, Chrysler Group LLC. "The Chrysler brand is honored to be part of this epic event that details the history of Motown, celebrates the music of its time and shares with the world how the city of Detroit serves as a source of inspiration. Its extraordinary events such as these that helped to define the values of the Chrysler brand."

MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL producer Kevin McCollum said: "Broadway has never seen anything like this. It's thrilling to bring together the musical legacy of Berry Gordy and one of the most distinguished automotive manufacturers in America - marking the collaboration of two of our country's most groundbreaking and influential brands imported from Detroit: Motown and Chrysler."

MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL will open on Broadway at The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46 Street) on April 14, 2013 following preview performances beginning March 11, 2013.

Directed by Charles Randolph-Wright, MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL will feature a book by Berry Gordy and music and lyrics from the Motown legendary catalogue. MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL is the real story of the one-of-a-kind sound that hit the airwaves in 1959 and changed America forever. This exhilarating show charts Motown founder and Detroit native Berry Gordy's incredible journey from featherweight boxer to the heavyweight music mogul who launched the careers of Diana Ross and The Supremes, Michael Jackson and The Jackson Five, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, Marvin Gaye and many more.

MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL tells the gripping story behind the hits as Smokey finds his unique voice, Diana skyrockets to stardom and Berry fights against the odds to turn his improbable dream into a triumphant reality. The music that shattered barriers and shaped our lives finally comes to the Broadway stage in the season's most highly anticipated world-premiere event.

On January 12, 1959 a young African-American songwriter named Berry Gordy founded Tamla Records in Detroit with a loan of $800 from his family, marking the birth of the "Motown Records Corporation."

Berry Gordy's legendary Motown Records made its mark not just on the music industry, but society at large, with a sound that has become one of the most significant musical accomplishments of all time. Motown communicated and brought together a racially divided country and segregated society, touching people of all ages and races around the world. No other music company in history has exerted such an enormous influence on both the style and substance of popular music and culture. With more than 180 No. 1 hit songs worldwide and counting, that influence is still being felt today.

ABOUT CHRYSLER BRAND
The spirit of hard work. Earning your place without forgetting where you're from. That's what the Chrysler brand and its vehicles are all about. Integrating the first eight-speed automatic transmission in a domestic luxury sedan, the 2012 Chrysler 300 sedans offer world-class innovation and quality while delivering stylistic distinction and premium features with legendary value. Chrysler's 200 sedan inspired the brand's identity: "Imported from Detroit." The 2012 Chrysler 200 sedan delivers exceptional value without compromise with sophisticated design, high-quality craftsmanship, and technology. The Chrysler 200 Convertible—with a power soft or hardtop—offers an open-air experience featuring elegant craftsmanship. The 2012 Chrysler Town & Country minivan is beautifully crafted with high-quality, soft-touch materials and tech-savvy entertainment features and smart storage. Standard leather Stow 'n Go® seating, overhead DVD, and more than 40 safety and security features are some of the Town & Country's innovative offerings.

SOURCE Chrysler Group LLC