February 117 p.m.Marvin Center Ballroom
Blasting music, an enthusiastic crowd and helpings of soul food proved to be the perfect mix for an evening of fun and entertainment at the Soul Revue 2000, Friday night in the Marvin Center Ballroom.
Students of the GW chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People put together an evening of song and dance to celebrate Black History Month.
The purpose of the event was just to have a fun evening and remember the great legends of soul and R&B, said Nicholas Wiggins, the show’s producer.
The audience likely looked twice when Michael Jackson, Tina Turner, The Temptations and many other great soul groups took center stage. Only on second glance did it become clear that the Motown stars were actually students dressed up and lip-synching to the hits of the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s. Dressed in dazzling costumes, the performers did their best to recreate the image of the people they portrayed.
I thought the costumes and performances were great, said freshman Yasmine Hamidi. The performers really put a lot into playing their parts.
We were a little worried at first about the idea of the show and being able to put it together, said Francine Martineau, a crowd favorite who portrayed Michael Jackson. But all in all, everybody gave it their best and put their heart into it, and everything turned out great.
The audience was also invited to become part of the performance instead of just watching.
Feel free to sing and stand up and clap your hands, mistress of ceremonies Karrene Turner said. This is an interactive performance.
The audience needed no further prompting as loud clapping and cheers filled the room.
The audience was also given a brief history of each singer or musical group before the performance.
I think it’s very important for people to learn about Motown and its Golden Years, said performer Sean Jamieson.
Not only was the show a learning and entertaining experience, but the proceeds went to a worthy cause, organizers said. The grand total for the night, more than $500, was donated to the NAACP Scholarship Fund.
