By RUSSELL INGOLD / Published: Sunday, August 18, 2013 1:42 PM PDT
Candlelight Pavilion’s latest production, “The Sound of Motown,” features 12 singers and 10 musicians, all of whom are talented performers.
But there’s no doubt about who is the biggest star of this show: the littlest person on the stage.
CJ Wright, a seven-year-old Upland resident, brings down the house with his delightful impersonation of Michael Jackson, ensuring that this musical revue will be one to remember.
CJ and the others in the “Motown” cast take the audience on a happy journey through time, presenting some of the greatest hits of the 1960s and ’70s. Both individually and in groups, the Candlelight singers give their renditions of classic tunes by such artists as Stevie Wonder, the Temptations, Gladys Knight and the Pips, the Supremes, the Jackson 5, and Marvin Gaye.
RaShonda Johnson, making her debut at Candlelight, is one of the standout singers because of her powerful voice. Other vocalists making this show worthwhile are Eric Bailey, Paul David Bryant, Desmond Clark, Allisonne E. Crawford, Lawrence Cummings, Jo-Rhea Dalcour, Gary Lewis, Jazz Madison, Jessica Mason, and Valentina Merchant.
Bringing fine accompaniment are the members of the Motown Band — Alan Waddington, Brandon Shaw, Andrew Reyes, Bob Slack, Gino Munoz, Mark Bollinger, Nathaniel Jorge, Dan Silva, Julius Lopez, and Sal Flores. Reyes serves as the musical director of the production and also sings one of the numbers.
“The Sound of Motown” starts off with “Dancing in the Street” (the big hit by Martha and the Vandellas), and audience members are encouraged throughout the show to follow that theme and demonstrate their dance moves.
Some of my personal favorites in the show are Smokey Robinson’s “Tears of a Clown” and the Four Tops’ “Reach Out I’ll Be There.”
But really, how can any of those songs compete with the Jackson 5′s “ABC” when it’s sung so endearingly by a youngster whose charm factor hits an “11″ on a scale of 1 to 10? Little CJ Wright began playing the piano at age 5 and singing at age 6, and one year later he is performing at a theater for the first time, making the second act of “The Sound of Motown” something quite special.
Also special is the food at Candlelight Pavilion; entree choices include slow-roasted tri tip, marinated grilled chicken breast, marinated grilled garlic and bail red snapper, and vegetarian pockets.
“The Sound of Motown” runs through Sept. 8 on Thursday through Saturday evenings at 6 p.m., Sunday evenings at 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 11 a.m.
Tickets range from $53 to $68 for adults and $25 for children 12 and under. The ticket price includes meal, show, and sales tax. Appetizers, desserts, beverages, and waiter’s gratuity are additional within the theater.
Claremont Pavilion is located at 455 West Foothill Boulevard in Claremont.
For more information, call (909) 626-1254 or visit www.candlelightpavilion.com.
Source: fontanaheraldnews / MJ-Upbeat.com
Article: http://www.fontanaheraldnews.com/articles/2013/08/18/entertainment/doc520d0238bb7a1520808186.txt
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