MUSIC lovers are in for a treat as An Ode To Motown returns to the Joburg Theatre.
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The production stars Lerato Mvelase, Tamara Dey, Hlengiwe Pearl, Anele Mthethwa and Liesl Penniken along iComplete. The talented musicians pay tribute to Motown Records, an American record label that brought the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5, The Temptations, and Smokey Robinson.
The show opens on 4 September and runs until 13 September at the theatre in Braamfontein, Joburg.
Daily Sun went behind the scenes as the cast rehearsed for the production, with Anele and Tamara sharing what audiences can expect this time around.
Anele said the cast is ready to bring more energy to the stage after getting to know the show during its first run.
“We’re still keeping it real, but bringing more energy because we now know the show, a few new songs. We’re just ready to perfect what we thought we didn’t perfect that time. So, this time around we just want to bring all of the energy,” she said.
She admitted there’s some pressure to make the second run even better.
“There’s pressure because now everyone is saying they are excited to have the show back. And I was listening to the audio from the last time. It’s just like, oh, it’s not bad.
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“So, this time around, we want to perfect those things. They didn’t go very well. So yeah, there is a lot of pressure, but it’s exciting,” Anele said.
For Anele, performing in theatre has also been a different experience from what she is used to.
“It’s very different for me because one, I grew up as a Christian. So, I have to bring a bit of sassiness to entertain people.
“But at the same time, I have to be considerate. I’m a child of God. So, I can’t do it really like everyone, but I still need to bring the energy, right? So, it is different for me in that way,” she said.
Tamara said the cast is excited to return after audiences called for the production to come back.
“I think we’re so excited as a cast to be doing the show again and so thank you to all the crowds out there who wanted this to come back.
“We heard you and we answered, and we are thrilled because I think you know we formed incredible bonds during this performance you know. It’s like coming back to your family you haven’t seen in a while,” she said.
The singer said the cast is returning with fresh energy and is determined to take the production to another level.
“I think everyone is coming in with a fresh energy, excited to see each other, excited to reconnect with the material and really excited to just like I said next level it’s even more. So, I think people are really in for an incredible performance from everyone,” she said.
Tamara said they can’t wait for everyone to see them on stage again.
An Ode To Motown opens at the Joburg Theatre on 4 September and runs until 13 September.
