Portland Symphony Orchestra Celebrates Fifty Golden Years of Music From Motown

Portland, MAINE – The Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) celebrates “The Golden Age of Motown” in two performances, February 12-13, at Merrill Auditorium. Vocalists Joy Lynn Matthews and Tituss Burgess join the musicians of the PSO and Music Director Robert Moody for a musical event celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the Motown record label and the lasting influence of the Motown sound. “The Golden Age of Motown” will feature a Jackson Five Medley, renditions of Aretha Franklin’s Respect and Marvin Gaye’s Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, a Temptations vs. Four Tops showdown and much more.

The Motown record label was incorporated in Detroit in 1960. Throughout its history, Motown represented seminal American artists such as Lionel Richie, Martha and the Vandellas, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, The Commodores, and The Jackson Five; and played an important role in the racial integration of American pop music throughout the twentieth century.

Joy Lynn Matthews, originally from Philadelphia, is a veteran of musical theater. She has performed in Anything Goes, The King & I, West Side Story, Showboat, Carmen, and others. Broadway roles have included The Music Man and Marie Christine. Tituss Burgess originated the role of “Sebastian the Crab” in the musical The Little Mermaid in 2007 and went on to the role of Nicely-Nicely Johnson in the revival of Guys and Dolls in 2009. He has also performed in several regional theater productions, including The Wiz and Jesus Christ Superstar.

PSO’s “The Golden Age of Motown” is sponsored by MPX and the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram. Performances are Saturday February 12 at 7:30 PM
and Sunday, February 13 at 2:30 PM at Portland’s Merrill Auditorium.

Tickets range from $20-$70 and are available through PortTIX at (207) 842-0800 or www.porttix.com. Phone and internet orders are subject to per-ticket handling fees. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the box office at 20 Myrtle St., Monday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Special pricing for students, seniors, and groups may be available. Subscriptions (up to 20% off single ticket prices) and Compose Your Own packages (up to 10% off single ticket prices) are available all season long.