BOX INFO: ArtsEmerson presents the New England premiere of new musical “Born for This,” based on the true story of BeBe Winans, through July 15: Tuesdays-Thursdays, excluding July 4, at 7:30 p.m.; Fridays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 2,8 p.m.; Sundays 2,7 p.m. Emerson Cutler Majestic Theater, 219 Tremont St., Boston.$20-$80, prices subject to change; senior, student, group, package discounts. ArtsEmerson.org, 617-824-8400.
Hey, you sinners and believers, get ready to shout, sing, clap those hands and rejoice with hallelujahs and hosannas at new musical “Born for This.” A high-powered, stellar, spectacular, 20-strong member cast of well-known Broadway, national and international fame drives this vibrant two-act, two-hour production. Because the play began had its infancy in Boston in 2013 and 2014, Mayor Thomas J. Walsh declared its official opening this year, June 22, as Boston’s “Born for This” Day. The show’s last day is July 15, so grab the kids, and don’t miss this inspirational story of reaching for the stars and achieving it.
Opening in Detroit, the play is based on the true story of multiple award-winning, 55-year -old American gospel-rhythm and blues singer, Benjamin “BeBe” Winans, his sister, Priscilla “Cece,” and their family of famous gospel singers. BeBe Winans wrote the original music and lyrics, and co-wrote the book with Charles Randolph-Wright, (director of this production), and Lisa D’Amour. Also, conductor Steven Jamail on keyboard and his musicians hit all the right notes in every song.
BeBe’s longtime career took off when he was a teen-ager, when he and Cece traveled to Pineville, NC, to audition for a televangical, all-white Christian show, The PTL Club, (the infamous Bakkers). As the sole African-American singers on the show, the brother-sister duo, (whom Tammy Faye called her precious little “chocolate drops”), outshone everyone, and their fame skyrocketed.
Through the years, BeBe broke family tradition by performing rhythm and blues, singing for MoTown, acting on stage and screen, and starting his own radio show. He also became good friends and performed with internationally celebrated performers, including Whitney Huston (glitteringly portrayed by LilSl LaFontaine). In fact, BeBe and CeCe sang at her funeral.
Although Pop (Milton Craig Nealy) has taken a back seat for years, and Mom has stoked the family fires and religious devotion, Dad shows he still has “it,” by breaking into song, “I Got a New Home,” melodiously backed by the family. Mom (Nita Whitaker) earns huge applause, too, with her solo, “Seventh Son,” and Pop and BeBe’s duet of theme song “Born for This” also touches hearts.
The teen-age brother and sister’s road to fame and glory isn’t all joy and happiness, though. Although their songs and appearances score off the charts, BeBe waves from the path of glory to secular music and lifestyle, while becoming upset later with CeCe when she falls in love, marries, and wants to quit show business to be a housewife and mother. The family also bears tragedy when their benevolent brother dies in his 40s.
Portraying BeBe is iconic Donald Webber Jr., who hails from a family of Who’s Who in the performing industry. Webber portrayed Hamilton in the play of the same name, and was in “Motown the Musical,” to name a few, on Broadway. Born in Detroit in1962, the authentic, iconic, devoted Christian singer-songwriter Winans performed for five years on the PTL (Praise the Lord) Network, with Jimmy and Tammy Faye Bakker, raising millions of dollars for their cause. In his day, BeBe’s dad was a headlining gospel performer, too, and BeBe’s brothers earned their own fame as a devoted, harmonious ensemble on the gospel circuit. In the play, there are four performing brothers, and sister Priscilla “CeCe,” (terrific Loren Lott) but BeBe’s biography claims he had six brothers and three sisters. Other than that, the play follows the Winans fairly accurately, but at times skims over dramatic events that impacted their lives and their tightly-knit family.
This splendid cast of 20 is harmonious and touching, but Kirsten Wyatt is hilariously caricaturish as overly made up, hypocritical Christian revival leader, Tammy Faye Bakker, while Chaz Pofahl as her fallen-from-grace, crooked husband, Jim Bakker, is a low-key foil to Tammy’s overwhelming personality and verve.
From overture to finale, “Born for This” is an uplifting story, overflowing with gospel, praise-the-lord, upbeat rock, rhythm and blues, that raises the heart, soul and spirit.
