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Charles Randolph-Wright and Berry Gordy (FAR LEFT) talk about Motown the Musical at Sixteen (ABOVE), where the vegan options might include decadent chocolate ganache with cocoa nib tuile and blood orange sorbet (LEFT). MOTOWN MEN What: Vino and vegan bites at Sixteen. When: A crisp Wednesday night on the cusp of spring. Where: Sixteen, 401 N. Wabash Ave., 312-588- 8030; sixteenchicago.com Through the Grapevine WITH MOTOWN THE MUSICAL LAUNCHING ITS NATIONAL TOUR IN CHICAGO, BERRY GORDY AND DIRECTOR CHARLES RANDOLPHWRIGHT RAISE A GLASS AT SIXTEEN TO THE STILLCAPTIVATING, ONEANDONLY MOTOWN SOUND. BY MEG MATHIS PHOTOGRAPHY BY GALDONES PHOTOGRAPHY truth always prevails, and what it means to be loved. You have such a deep-rooted background in the Midwest, but what does Chicago in particular mean to you? Berry Gordy: I have so many great memories here. The Regal Theater mea nt a lot to Motow n. At t he Rega l Theater, Stev ie Wonder made up "Fingertips (Pt. 2)," and it went to number one—it was a big, big hit for us. [In] the old days, the first record that I produced with my own personal production company was put out by the Chess brothers. Phil Chess had my first record with The Miracles: "Bad Girl" was one of our biggest [hits]. Those are just the memories I can rack off my brain now. Charles Randolph-Wright: The film Mahogany, he shot that here. BG: Chicago's like a second home. Shooting Mahogany here was a big deal T he Supremes' "You Can't Hurry Love," The Temptations' "My Girl," T he Fou r Tops' "I Ca n't Help Myself (Suga r Pie Honey Bunch)," Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On?"—each song on Motown's seem- ingly endless hit list is instantly memorable, and collectively they defined a generation. Nearly 20 years after publishing his autobiography, To Be Loved: The Music, the Magic, the Memories of Motown, label founder Berry Gordy adapted his story for Broadway in Motown the Musical, chronicling his rise from boxer to revolutionary record mogul against a soundtrack of more t ha n 60 cla ssics by t he likes of T he Jackson 5, Ma r t ha a nd t he Vandellas, and Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, plus new songs writ- ten for the stage. As the musical kicks off its national tour in Chicago, the living legend shares a meal and a toast with director Charles Randolph- Wright at Sixteen, where they discuss their mutual vegan lifestyle, why the continued on page 106 104 MICHIGANAVEMAG.COM ON THE TOWN 104-106_MA_ST_OTT_May-June_14.indd 104 4/14/14 1:56 PM