The star of The Magic of Motown, coming to Blackburn next week, reckons audiences won't be able to stop themselves from dancing in the aisles. We spoke to Florida-born Andre Lejaune.
FIFTY years ago Berry Gordy Jnr created the Tamla record label — and five decades on Motown lives strong in the hearts of music fans.
Next Thursday East Lancashire will get the chance to mark Motown’s half century with a live music show, The Magic of Motown. Eight top class performers will re-create the music of the Temptations, Diana Ross, the Supremes, Four Tops, Gladys Knight and The Pips, Marvin Gaye, Lionel Richie, and Martha Reeves with a live orchestra.
“The show is called The Magic of Motown, and that’s really what we try to bring to the stage — the magic of one of the most popular genres of music of all time,” said star performer Andre Lejuane. “We try to keep the spirit of Motown alive and bring back memories people have of the era.
“I keep trying to explain to people that Motown gets under your skin and you can’t get it out of your system. At our shows the audience just has to get up and dance. They’re up in the aisles and at the front of the stage. Sometimes the security tries to stop them, but they always give up in the end because they just can’t stop themselves. So the people of Blackburn better wear their dancing shoes.”
The show, which comes to King George's Hall on Thursday, October 1, features 32 costume changes.
“There’s often as much going on backstage as there is on-stage,” said Andre.
“We've got a whole lot of surprises in store for the audience — things they'll never have expected. It’s a really great show because first and foremost we have fun on stage. I tell my performers: ‘just enjoy it, we’ll talk about the mistakes later’.”
The show has toured the world for the last three years and because of its success in Europe Andre has decided to base himself in England.
“We do a lot of gigs all over Europe so business-wise it’s best to us to be in the UK,” he said.
l See The Magic of Motown at King George’s Hall, Blackburn, on Thursday, October 1. For tickets call box office on 0844 847 1664 or visit www.kinggeorgeshall.com
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