Director George C. Wolfe and playwright Keith Glover are poised to join forces on a new musical tentatively titled Do You Love Me?. The show, produced by Dick Clark and Berry Gordy, will be built around the musical legacy of Motown.
As first reported by Variety and confirmed to Playbill On-Line by a production source, Wolfe and Glover -- who will co-write the musical’s book -- will have access to much of Motown’s very extensive musical library. The nature and structure of the show is being kept secret, but it apparently will not take the form of a revue, a la Smokey Joe’s Cafe. In fact, according to one source, Wolfe intends the project to be a response to that very successful Leiber and Stoller tribute.
Wolfe has previously penned the book to Jelly’s Last Jam, as well as the play The Colored Museum. Glover is the author of such works as The Coming of the Hurricane and Thunder Knocking on the Door.
Gordy will act as Creative Executive. Do You Love Me? is targeted for Broadway in either 1999 or 2000.
-- By Robert Simonson