Thursday, November 23, 2017

Day 248 Motown The Musical -Pittsburgh Broadway Series-Can’t get enough

Temptations -Motown the Musical 
I have always loved the Motown sound. If you are like me, you feel some kind of  connection to it that  always brings your feet moving, your head bopping and your mouth singing. That might have been why I had a “musician connection” for many years before I started this blog that had me listening to this type of music.  Although I took a reprieve from it  in my empty- nest period, when I heard  that the Pittsburgh Broadway Series was bringing Motown The Musical to town,  I was ready to experience that Motown sound again because it’s the type of music that you just can’t get enough of!


Reflection
The musical is based on the founder of Motown, Berry Gordy’s autobiography To Be Loved: The Music, the Magic, the Memories of Motown .  The show begins  in 1983 at the 25th Anniversary Celebration of Motown with the Temptations and the Four Tops  energizing the stage with their sound and dance moves. Then the music keeps going with 66 total songs from Smoky Robinson, Marvin Gay, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Jackson 5 and more!

Gordy starts his record label 
 Motown  not only captures the excitement of  the music but also the development of Gordy’s empire. We are taken  back to 1938 where a young Gordy was enamored with the Joe Louis (African-American) vs. Max Schmeling (a German) boxing match, which was the focus of African American pride at this time. As a boy Gordy excitedly remarks,“Louis is black like me”  as his father encourages him to always remember to be the best, work hard, and trust God.

Diana and Supremes

 Berry Gordy’s ( Kenneth Mosley) determination for the best took him from featherweight boxer, to song writer, to the Motown label that  launched the careers of Smokey Robinson, Steve Wonder, Diana Ross and Michel Jackson and more.  During this musical we are there for the ride and enjoy the music that we all know the words to and love to hear over and over again.

Of course we see  discovery of the  young Diana Ross (Ternyce) and the Supremes  as they burst into “"Stop! In the Name of Love".  Then we enjoy the ride of  her  solo career debut  in Las Vegas  as she sings, “Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand)”. 

Jackson 5
The recreation of all the artists woven though-out Gordy’s story were fantastic. I especially enjoyed Ternyce as Diana during this Vegas show which made us all feel like we were there. The  Jackson 5 medley (ABC watch)  with young Michael (Kia Calhown)  brought a burst of  audience  applause. My mother particularly enjoyed the crisp moves and harmonies of the Temptations.

This show was a celebration of music and the history  that brought white and black America together. It ended with the touching real footage from the 1983 25th Anniversary Celebration of Motown. I say join in on the celebration with Motown the Musical and remember the sound that we can’t get enough of.  

(Motown the Musical runs through Nov 21-26 (excluding Nov 23) at the Benedum Center. For tickets go to Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.)

Spiritual Refection
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, (Colossians 2:23)

Other sources
 Pittsburgh Cultural Trust https://trustarts.org/
Broadway tour schedule http://www.motownthemusical.com/