A black curtain inscribed with a luminous Motown logo rises up to reveal The Temptations performing “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg.” The signature choreography and matching outfits provide authenticity to the performance. Similar to a Motown concert, the audience screams, whistles, and claps.

The March 1 performance of Motown: The Musical was an exquisite portrayal of not only Motown’s greatest hits but also Berry Gordy’s journey from an 8-year-old witnessing American boxer Joe Louis defeat German boxer Max Schmeling to becoming a mogul of the music industry.

The musical also includes several historical items of American society, such as racial tension and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s empowering words. During one scene in particular, after receiving news of King’s assassination, the community becomes distraught. People bury their faces in their hands and kneel on the stage as if they just lost all capability in their legs. Minorities, and many others, clung to King’s words as if the words were their only hope for a better, more equal society.

Throughout the entire musical, the Broadway stars danced and sang to almost 60 songs by Motown artists, including The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, The Supremes, Diana Ross, The Jackson Five, and Stevie Wonder.

Each cast member captured the essence of these music icons well, seemingly bringing them back to the live concerts they once performed during Motown’s earlier decades. Through strong vocals, dancing, and familiar outfits and backdrops from each artist’s shows, the Broadway stars immersed the audience into another decade.

More thought-provoking surprises came when Trenyce, who plays Diana Ross, began interacting with the audience by asking people to sing with her. At that moment, two audience members became part of the show, singing the chorus, “Reach out and touch/Somebody’s hand/Make this world a better place.”

“Who cares if you don’t know them … you’re going to meet someone new tonight,” said Trenyce when giving the audience instructions.

The action encompassed everything Motown is about — people coming together, regardless of their differences of opinion or race, to enjoy great music.

The musical flawlessly conveyed obstacles in Gordy’s career, as the large conglomerate record labels attempted to consume each other, making Gordy’s independent record label seem insignificant. However, as we know, it did not stop Gordy from producing music for all races to enjoy.

Throughout this discouragement brought on by major record labels, Gordy successfully sustained Motown’s lasting legacy.

During a discussion later that night, ensemble stars Isaac Saunders Jr., Devin Holloway, and Brett Michael Lockley, who is also the dance captain for Motown: The Musical, described a time when they toured in Canada.

Because Canada is not so familiar with Gordy’s story as America is, audiences are immensely focused on the learning experience, making audience interaction difficult. However, that did not prevent the audiences from providing the cast with a standing ovation.

At the end, the cast paid tribute to Gordy and Motown’s artists who transformed the music industry into an enjoyment for all races. Gordy inspired people to be persistent no matter how competitive an industry becomes. As he states in the musical, “Competition creates champions.” The Broadway stars emphasized the notion that all people can do is continue to be themselves and keep trying.