skooldem1
06-04-2013, 05:14 PM
There are certain little things in life that bring you so much joy. For me, after months of planning, deciding what day and show I would attend [[06/01/13), watching youtube clips, and interviews from Motown the musical, here I was sitting in my seat looking at the huge Motown [[M) logo that took up the whole stage. This was one of those moments. I was seated in the second row of the front mezzanine- practically looking right down on the stage. The show starts. Here was the guy playing Berry Gordy- the guy I have watched so many times in the preview clips on the internet and interviews. When "Martha" and the cast started to sing "Dancing in the Streets"- something else I had seen so many times, I was so happy because I knew at that moment that I was actually here. At moments like this I get so into what I am seeing that everything becomes a blur. So it is hard for me to remember specifics. The stand out numbers for me were "Dancing in the Streets" and when the cast sang "WAR" which then lead to Berry and Marvin talking and then Marvin sings an acapella version of "Mercy Mercy me". Other highlights were when the Diana character sang "Reach out and touch". She did it just like a real concert with audience participation and all. The audience was really into it. The guy who plays Smokey, he started to sing one song, and he sounded just like Smokey Robinson. Jackie Wilson, the Temptations, all of the singers were really good. You could hear people sitting around you clapping and singing along to their favorite songs. As has been said before, the biggest crowd reactions came when little Michael Jackson/J5 sang. He was exceptional. The audience would go crazy. There was one scene where Berry was telling Diana that he had a movie role for her and he mentioned the title "Lady sings the blues" and the audience hoot and hollered, and broke out in applause at just the mention of the movie. The lady who sang "Heard it through the grapevine" as Gladys Knight was also very good. The guy that played Stevie Wonder also sounded great. The lady that played Mary Wells was also good, but from what I think I know about Mary, she didn't really act like Mary. This lady was wild, and almost raunchy. I never saw Mary Wells live so I can't say for certain if the portrayal was accurate. The play could have done without Rick James, and Teena Marie, but they were needed to explain the success Motown had in later years when many of it's original artist had left the company. The ending was also good. It was the Motown25 finale. Diana's character came through the audience singing "Aint no mountain". I had to laugh to myself seeing Mary Wilson's character up there in her red fringe dress and remembering all the things that have been said about the night on the original M25 taping. You know how at the end of a play all the characters come out and take a bow? Well they did that, but they also, while still singing "Aint no mountain" were doing a dance like the electric slide, or bus stop. The audience was up on its feet groovin, clapping, and cheering wildly. The Berry and Diana characters are in the middle of the stage and then the big M curtain drops. As the curtain was dropping, the Diana character kind of bent down as to smile and wave to the audience one last time before the curtain completely dropped. The story of the play was kind of weak. It basically covered some important milestones, and happenings of the "Motown" legend. It was the performers, the songs, and the singing that holds it all together and saves it. If you are a fan of Motown music, it is a must see. The music and the performers were great.
The theater was completely sold out. So it took a good 15-20 minutes to get down the stairs to exit the theater. When we finally made it down stairs, I said to my friend, lets take a look at the main floor of the theater. I like the architecture of old theaters. From where we were, when you first enter you are standing in the back of the theater in the left aisle. The floor was basically empty except for a few people. As we stood there for a couple of seconds, I'm looking straight down the aisle towards the front of the theater and there are a couple of people walking up the aisle towards me. It only took a second for it all to register, but I said to myself "THAT'S DIANA ROSS". I excitedly turned to my friend who was looking around and said look, there is the REAL Diana Ross. I just stood there as she was walking up the long theater aisle, walking straight towards me. I watched in amazement, knowing in a few seconds I would be face to face with her. It was all so surreal. This moment for me was like WOW. It was like time stood still, but at the same time happened so fast. She was smiling the whole time. She looked good. She looked youthful, happy, and relaxed. For those who like to comment on her looks, or insinuate that she has lightened her skin, she looked just like the time I saw her close up in concert once. A beautiful brown skinned woman. She had little to no makeup on. She had on what looked like the casual clothes she wears while out and about in California. It was a loose fitting black top and pants. So as she approaches me, again this was all happening so fast, my phone was in my back pocket and turned off because I was in the theater. I didn't want to struggle trying to unbutton my pocket, get my phone out, turn it on, and get the camera ready to take a picture. More importantly, I didn't want her to shield her face or turn away, and I didn't want to do anything that would upset her and make her get all diva on me and totally ruin the moment for me. So as she is merely feet away from me she starts to put on her glasses. She stops right in front of me for a few seconds, as the person who appears to be with her is guiding her out and towards the exit. I say Hello Miss Ross as she continues to smile, my friend actually says Hi DIANA and he reaches out and puts is hand/arm around her shoulder. I'm thinking, OMG, don't touch her lol. We all exit through the door together. Once through the door you are standing in the small lobby of the theater, then there are the outside doors of the theater. Her limo was parked directly in front of the theater. There were many people standing out there and I am standing there right besides Diana because we basically walked out together. It took only a quick second for people to realize that this was Diana Ross and then everyone started calling her name out, and people, saying things like oh my God. Diana...Diana...Diana. For some reason the limo guy didn't open the door on the side walk for her to enter. At this point I see Rhonda standing in the limo door on the passenger side as she calls/guides Diana to that side of the vehicle. I call out to Rhonda she looks at me waves and smiles. I must say that Rhonda is beautiful in person. So now I'm standing right in front of the limo and I can see inside. I see Diana and Rhonda smiling, and talking all the while waiving at fans. I was looking around the limo, and then inside through the front windshield to see if Tracee or Ross, or Evan were there. I didn't see them. The limo tried to start moving but by this time people were surrounding the limo. I took a step to the side and got back on the sidewalk. Now I am standing by the side door and window. The window was tinted, but you could still see them inside. I'm standing there acting like a fan, smiling, waiving and calling out her name- at this point I had no shame. I see Diana, hair and all, turn towards me and kind of move closer to the window, and wave back. People around me were like "Diana, roll down the window". She never did, and the car eventually drove off. I turned to my friend and we were like "did this all really just happen?". We gave each other the high five. This was a true NYC experience.
Words really can't describe the joy I felt seeing the Musical, and then coming face to face with Diana. I mean, I planned this weekend for months. It took me a while to decide on which show I would actually attend. What are the odds that the show I got tickets for [[06/01/13) that Diana Ross would actually be there? She had already seen it, so for her to decide to see it again, and of all shows, attend the one I was at, was something I would never have expected in a million years. While at the show looking at the performers on stage during the finale/curtain call I couldn't help but to think back to the historic Supreme's reunion that had taken place there on opening night. I was sitting in my seat thinking that Diana, Mary, Berry and others were up there not too long ago. Never imagining that Diana Ross was also there the night I decided to attend. I now realize that when the curtain slowly dropped, and Valisia Lekae waived and smiled one last time at the end, she was waiving to the woman who she had just portrayed- Diana Ross.
It was truly a night to remember!!!
The theater was completely sold out. So it took a good 15-20 minutes to get down the stairs to exit the theater. When we finally made it down stairs, I said to my friend, lets take a look at the main floor of the theater. I like the architecture of old theaters. From where we were, when you first enter you are standing in the back of the theater in the left aisle. The floor was basically empty except for a few people. As we stood there for a couple of seconds, I'm looking straight down the aisle towards the front of the theater and there are a couple of people walking up the aisle towards me. It only took a second for it all to register, but I said to myself "THAT'S DIANA ROSS". I excitedly turned to my friend who was looking around and said look, there is the REAL Diana Ross. I just stood there as she was walking up the long theater aisle, walking straight towards me. I watched in amazement, knowing in a few seconds I would be face to face with her. It was all so surreal. This moment for me was like WOW. It was like time stood still, but at the same time happened so fast. She was smiling the whole time. She looked good. She looked youthful, happy, and relaxed. For those who like to comment on her looks, or insinuate that she has lightened her skin, she looked just like the time I saw her close up in concert once. A beautiful brown skinned woman. She had little to no makeup on. She had on what looked like the casual clothes she wears while out and about in California. It was a loose fitting black top and pants. So as she approaches me, again this was all happening so fast, my phone was in my back pocket and turned off because I was in the theater. I didn't want to struggle trying to unbutton my pocket, get my phone out, turn it on, and get the camera ready to take a picture. More importantly, I didn't want her to shield her face or turn away, and I didn't want to do anything that would upset her and make her get all diva on me and totally ruin the moment for me. So as she is merely feet away from me she starts to put on her glasses. She stops right in front of me for a few seconds, as the person who appears to be with her is guiding her out and towards the exit. I say Hello Miss Ross as she continues to smile, my friend actually says Hi DIANA and he reaches out and puts is hand/arm around her shoulder. I'm thinking, OMG, don't touch her lol. We all exit through the door together. Once through the door you are standing in the small lobby of the theater, then there are the outside doors of the theater. Her limo was parked directly in front of the theater. There were many people standing out there and I am standing there right besides Diana because we basically walked out together. It took only a quick second for people to realize that this was Diana Ross and then everyone started calling her name out, and people, saying things like oh my God. Diana...Diana...Diana. For some reason the limo guy didn't open the door on the side walk for her to enter. At this point I see Rhonda standing in the limo door on the passenger side as she calls/guides Diana to that side of the vehicle. I call out to Rhonda she looks at me waves and smiles. I must say that Rhonda is beautiful in person. So now I'm standing right in front of the limo and I can see inside. I see Diana and Rhonda smiling, and talking all the while waiving at fans. I was looking around the limo, and then inside through the front windshield to see if Tracee or Ross, or Evan were there. I didn't see them. The limo tried to start moving but by this time people were surrounding the limo. I took a step to the side and got back on the sidewalk. Now I am standing by the side door and window. The window was tinted, but you could still see them inside. I'm standing there acting like a fan, smiling, waiving and calling out her name- at this point I had no shame. I see Diana, hair and all, turn towards me and kind of move closer to the window, and wave back. People around me were like "Diana, roll down the window". She never did, and the car eventually drove off. I turned to my friend and we were like "did this all really just happen?". We gave each other the high five. This was a true NYC experience.
Words really can't describe the joy I felt seeing the Musical, and then coming face to face with Diana. I mean, I planned this weekend for months. It took me a while to decide on which show I would actually attend. What are the odds that the show I got tickets for [[06/01/13) that Diana Ross would actually be there? She had already seen it, so for her to decide to see it again, and of all shows, attend the one I was at, was something I would never have expected in a million years. While at the show looking at the performers on stage during the finale/curtain call I couldn't help but to think back to the historic Supreme's reunion that had taken place there on opening night. I was sitting in my seat thinking that Diana, Mary, Berry and others were up there not too long ago. Never imagining that Diana Ross was also there the night I decided to attend. I now realize that when the curtain slowly dropped, and Valisia Lekae waived and smiled one last time at the end, she was waiving to the woman who she had just portrayed- Diana Ross.
It was truly a night to remember!!!