Holiday traditions take on a distinct sound in the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe’s debut of “A Motown Christmas,” opening Dec. 5.
The cast of 'A Motown Christmas' features (back row) Nate Jacobs and Leon S. Pitts II; and front row from left, Mandi Jo John, Christopher Eisenberg, Marta McKinnon, Ariel Blue, Michael Mendez and Marah Williams. DON DALY PHOTO/PROVIDED BY WBTT
Founder and artistic director Nate Jacobs has created a musical revue that features more than two dozen favorite Christmas carols filtered through a Motown style, along with some songs written during the company’s heyday by such stars as Smokey Robinson and Marvin Gaye that may not have reached standard status.
“The unique thing is that Motown had a lot of original Christmas music that will be familiar to some people who listened to those albums back in the day,” Jacobs said. There were new songs in the '60s and '70s introduced by Robinson, the Jackson 5, the Supremes and Martha and the Vandellas, among others.
“Most of their albums included the traditional songs like ‘Silent Night’ or 'Hark the Herald Angels Sing,' and they had a catalog of original holiday music that they wrote in their world, some hot stuff that really spiced up the holiday traditions,” he said.
From left, Christopher Eisenberg, Nate Jacobs, Leon Pitts II and Michael Mendez in "A Motown Christmas" at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe. DON DALY PHOTO/PROVIDED BY WBTT
Jacobs expects to spice things up from tradition with the show because of the sound of the Motown arrangements, which he has been working on with musical director James Dodge II.
“People are going to hear ‘Silent Night’ 10 times or more during the holiday, and the ‘First Noel,’ so we thought let’s give them another taste of holiday spirit. We tried to lean toward things that are unique,” he said.
Jacobs describes the show as “mostly about the music, but we’ve put some one-liners in it to keep it fun, some comedy and some corny, quirky stuff that you do during Christmas time.” And there’s also a little Motown history thrown in.
In addition to creating the show, Jacobs is directing and starring with Michael Mendez, Mandi Jo John, Sheldon Roden, Christopher Eisenberg, MaRah Williams, Ariel Blue and Marta McKinnon, along with dancers Josh Thompson and Derric Gobourne Jr.
Donald Frison is the choreographer.
From left, Ariel Blue, Marah Williams, Marta McKinnon and Mandi Jo John star in "A Motown Christmas" at the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe. DON DALY PHOTO/PROVIDED BY WBTT
The evening also includes an original song Jacobs wrote called “What’s Up Under the Christmas Tree.” He was trying to find a song for the second act and “it just came to me out of the air while I was driving to work this morning.”
THEATER PREVIEW
"A Motown Christmas" runs Dec. 5-31 at the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1646 10th Way, Sarasota. Tickets are $38, $27 for students or active military. Ticket availability is extremely limited. For more information: 366-1505; westcoastblacktheatre.org
