Motown The Musical Review

Glamazons,

On this, the day of our Lady Diana Ross‘s birth, I thought it’d be an opportune time to gush about Motown The Musical, which I had the pleasure of seeing with my little sister one weekend ago. I’ve wanted to see it since it was first announced because Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye are my favorite artists of all time, and I regard the great Diana Ross as a second mother to me (she’s the original Glamazon). I knew I was in for a treat but the musical exceeded my expectations!

Here are three reasons you should see Motown The Musical!

1. Duh, The Music

The thing about Motown is that the musical catalogue is so extensive and so brilliant you can’t really go wrong in a musical celebrating its legacy. In fact, you could get a couple of extraordinary singers onstage with a mic and just have them go through renditions of hits by Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, The Temptations and The Jackson Five and people would still come out in droves to see the show. Since we grew up with our Dad playing those legendary songs, the music was near and dear to my sister and I (we sang along loudly in the audience without shame). Young Michael Jackson (played by Raymond Luke) deserves special mention. He has the voice of an angel!

2. The Plot

Berry Gordy was played here by Brandon Victor Dixon

On top of the fantastic singing, the musical gave us a compelling look into the life of Berry Gordy (played by Julius Thomas III in the production I saw) and his journey to build Motown in the racist climate of the late 1960s-70s. It builds up to the historic 25th anniversary where Michael Jackson did the moonwalk for the first time. Berry Gordy is the embodiment of the American dream since we meet him as a young child who wants to be a featherweight boxer and when the musical ends, he has become one of the most influential names in contemporary music. Motown always had a special place in my heart but the musical helped me fully understand its place in American history. Its success is proof that beautiful music, and the joy it brings, can transcend racial divides and triumph over hate.

3. The Acting

Diana Ross was played here by Valisia LeKae

OK, this is the part where I obsess over Diana Ross. Her character was played masterfully by Krystal Joy Brown in the musical I saw (her credits include Josephine in “Big Fish” and Ornella in “Leap of Faith”). Krystal had Diana‘s voice, mannerisms and flair for the dramatic down pact. My sister and I felt like we were at a Diana Ross concert! It’s really mind-blowing to see an actress transform into a beloved icon right before your eyes. From her glittery gowns to her sly, seductive attitude toward Mr. Berry Gordy (who Diana hilariously called “Black”), Krystal stole the show.