Westcoast Black Theatre celebrates music of Marvin Gaye through the years
Sheldon Rhoden didn’t have much stage experience when he first played Marvin Gaye in a 2011 show at the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe. Over the years, the soul singer has become a part of him and audiences keep asking for more.
Rhoden returns to the world of the Motown legend who died at age 44 in 1984 for his fourth run of the original revue “Marvin Gaye: Prince of Soul,” which closes the current WBTT season.
The theater previously presented different versions of this biographical show featuring a couple of dozen Gaye classics and original songs in 2014 and 2018.
“Sheldon never fails to do an incredible job in this role,” WBTT founder and artistic director Nate Jacobs said. “The combination of his charisma and talent and Marvin Gaye’s music have made this show our most-requested, with highly successful runs.”
Jacobs, who created the show and is directing the production once again, said the latest version will feature a couple of new songs and cast members, along with new costumes, sets and staging.’
“Patrons will enjoy a more vibrant and polished show than previous productions,” he said.
The show traces Gaye’s life growing up as the rebellious son of a strict preacher father, and how he channels his love for singing into a major career with Motown Records, leading him to troubling relationships and problems with drugs.
The production features such hits as “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “How Sweet It Is,” “Pride and Joy,” “What’s Goin On,” “Sexual Healing” and “Let’s Get it On.”
In 2018, Rhoden said the more he performed the show and matured as an artist and a person, the more he connected with Gaye’s story.
“When Marvin talks about his kids, before I couldn’t really relate to that. I didn’t have a kid, but now I have a kid and know what unconditional love is.”
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Returning from the 2018 production are Brian L. Boyd as Marvin’s brother Frankie, Ariel Blue as Mama Gaye, Jani Shanae as Gaye’s duet partner Tammi Terrell and Emerald Rose Sullivan as his second wife, Janis. The cast also includes Jada Carson, Jazzmin Carson, Michael Kinsey, LaKesha Lorene, Delores McKenzie, Jonathan Isaac, Michael Mendez, Raleigh Mosely II, Amber Myers, Avery Lamar Pop and Terry Spann.
Matthew McKinnon is the music director.
‘Marvin Gaye: Prince of Soul’
Created and directed by Nate Jacobs. Runs April 17-May 26, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 N. Orange Ave., Sarasota. Tickets are $50, $20 for students and active military. 941-361-1505; westcoastblacktheatre.org
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This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Westcoast Black Theatre flashes back to the life of Marvin Gaye
