Mama I Want To Singの１ヶ月に渡る日本公演が大成功のうちに１月５日をもって終了しました。初演から３０周年、初来日から２５周年という記念すべき来日公演。ツアー後半の会場は東京六本木のアミューズ・シアター。元ブルーマン・シアターという、あのブルーマン・グループが２年間に渡りロングランした場所、つまり本格ミュージカルのパフォーマンスのために作られた劇場なんです。
そして気になるのはお客さんの反応。ハーレムの観客は即座にステージにエンゲージ、彼らの一挙一動、言葉の一つ一つに反応し、「ハレルヤ」「エイメン」とステージ客席が一体になって一つのパフォーマンスを繰り広げるけれど、果たして東京のお客さんは？
はっきり言って最初は様子をうかがっている感じ。ステージ両側に字幕があり、それを読むのも忙しかったのかも。でもだんだん体と心が暖まって来ているのが目に見えてわかる。そしてラストにキャストが登場し大合唱になる部分、ハーレムならここで観客総立ちになっていっしょに歌い踊る場面。その瞬間ノエルがハキハキした日本語で「タッテクダサイ！」と連呼すると次々にみんなが立ち上がる。続いて「日本人にもゴスペルを歌う人がたくさんいると聞いています。この会場にもゴスペルシンガーがたくさんいるでしょう？ ステージに出て来てください。もし来ないならこちらから迎えに行きます！」と言った瞬間、キャストたちが客席に突進！ 私も目の前に走って来たミュージック・ミニスター役のイライジャに「オーメグミ！来てたのかー」ととっつかまりステージに押し出されてしまいました。
ステージの上では「初めましてー」「久しぶりー」のハグ＆キス大会。そして定番「This little light of mine」の大合唱。その瞬間客席を見ると、総立ちとなったお客さんの満面の笑顔、笑顔、笑顔！！
Mama I want to sing’s month long Japan tour is now over with a great success.
The second half of the performances took place at Amuse Theater in Ropongi, Tokyo. It was originally built for Blue Man Group which had made unprecedented 2 year long run. It’s a spacious 900 seats theater yet it has a unique intimate feeling,
First, I was impressed by the spectators who are coming through the entrance. In harlem, the majority of the audience is African American, who often charter the buses with fellow church members. However, here in Tokyo, The seats were getting filled with young families, couples, group of students and seasoned fans like me who saw them 25 years ago.
Roppongi Amuse Theater
As always, producer and former radio DJ Vy Higginsen opened the show with her eloquent yet passionate MC. Her DJ booth has obviously been upgraded to a two story building.The Rest of the sets you can say minimalist simplicity as Dempsy. But the lighting got distinctively whiter and crisper, created Tokyo style sophistication.
The show’s biggest star, Knoelle Higginsen (Doris Winter) was unbelievable. Her 6 octave singing voice never lost the power and control after more than 30 performances both day and night. She shined even more in front of adoring Tokyo audiences. Also, I was so proud of ” Harlem Teen Choir aka Gospel For Teens.” This was their first overseas performances. It looked like they got new confidence and descipline after the long journey.
I was curious the most about the reaction by the Japanese audiences.
Harlem crowds respond to each and every move and word of the cast members. They are part of the stage performance. But how will Japanese audiences react? At the beginning, they were quiet. They must have been busy reading the subtitles. But it’s obvious that they were warming up little by little and looked like they were waiting for the right moment to erupt.
Roppongi Amuse Theater
Finally the moment has come. After the finale, all the cast members came back on stage and the band resumed playing music again, Knoelle started shouting ” Tatte kudasai (stand up)” then ” I know there are lots of gospel singers out there! Come to the stage or we’ll come get you!”
People began swelling on stage and hugged and kissed each other. Then their classic gospel number ” This Little Light of Mine” broke out. As everyone on stage was singing and dancing, the rest standing by their seats were smiling, clapping and stomping for joy. They did it. Notoriously shy Japanese audiences became a part of the performance just like harlem crowds.
Gods love delivered. It never changes even if the time and place changes.Mama I Want To Sing proved that. Truly an international response !
Dempsey Theater – 127 West 127th Street (bet. Lenox & 7th Aves), Harlem, NY 10027 MAP
ハーレムのゴスペル魂は永遠に受け継がれてゆくのです。
「ママ、あたし、どうしても歌を歌いたいの！」と叫んだ少女、ドリスは約30年を経た今も健在。1983年初演の ゴスペル・オフ・ブロードウェイ・ショー、「Mama, I Want To Sing」はさまざまなアーティストに歌い継がれ、なんと前シーズンより作者ヴァイ・ヒギンセンの実の娘、ノエル・ヒギンソンが主演、地元ハーレムはもちろん、全世界の人々を魅了しています。
2月25日、待ちに待った「 Mama, I Want To Sing」春のシーズンの幕開けです。外はまだ真冬の寒さですが、デンプシー・シアターのドアを開けると満員御礼、汗をかいてしまうほど熱気に包まれていました。ハーレムの住人全員が集まってしまったかのようです。正面ステージの前のピットにミュージシャンが待機、右端に設置された架空ラジオ局（WBLSなのは明らかなのですが……）のブースにOn Air という赤いライトが灯りヴァイ・ヒギンセンのナレーションが始まります…….。第一幕ではあどけないドリス・トロイがパパ、ウィンター牧師の教会の聖歌隊のメンバーに加わることを許され、ゴスペルが会場いっぱいに響き渡ります。パパもママもシスター・キャリーもみんなゴスペル・シンガーです。ソウルフルなヴァイブがみなぎります。Amen, Sweet Jesus, Good Lord………コール＆リスポンス、日曜日の教会を彷彿とさせます。
ハーレム126丁目にあった父親の教会で育ったヴァイ・ヒギンセンは同じブロックに「ゴスペル・フォー・ティーンズ(Gospel For Teens)」という非営利団体を設立し、歌を志すティーンたちの音楽指導にあたっています。ゴスペルといっても宗教ではなく、音楽を基礎から勉強するという意味合いのほうが強いそうです。ここで勉強した若者は実力を認められれば様々なチャンスを与えられます。ヴァイのプロデュースする「ママ、アイ・ワント・トゥ・シング」に聖歌隊として出演しているティーンのほとんどがこのプログラムの出身です。ステージで音楽ディレクターを演じているエライジャもGospel For Teens の卒業生です。
Mama, I Want to Sing: The Next Generation, the acclaimed revival of Mama, I Want to Sing – the 1983 musical based on the life and times of singer Doris Troy – re-opened at The Dempsey Theater in Harlem on February 25.
People who missed the show in the 80’s are excited about seeing it now, people who saw it in the past will enjoy seeing it again. While the story line is the same, the presentation is exciting, hip, popping, and full of energy.
Mama, I Want to Sing has played to hundreds of thousands of people of many cultures, races, and faiths. The show has touched the hearts of audiences around the world through its universal story and rousing music. The show works well no matter where it plays because the story is timeless and the music is inspired!
Mama, I Want to Sing: The Next Generation tells the story of a talented young gospel singer who embraces secular music, despite the strong objections of her mother. As a tribute to many of the African-American singers who rose from church choirs to stardom during the 1960s and 70s, Vy Higginsen based the musical on the life of her sister, Doris Troy, whose 1963 hit “Just One Look,” launched her to international fame.
The cast of Mama, I Want to Sing: The Next Generation features Ahmaya Knoelle Higginson as Doris, Bettina Pennon as Mama, Sandra Huff as Sister Carrie, Tyrone Flowers as Reverend Winters, Elijah Ahmad Lewis as Minister of Music and Vy Higginsen as The Narrator.
The show also features performers from Ms. Higginsen’s Gospel for Teens, a program of the Mama Foundation for the Arts, Ms. Higginsen’s School of Gospel, Jazz and R&B Arts, which has grown to be a highly respected and influential program for youth between the ages of 13 and 19.
Previous Cast Members Who Played Doris
1982 Tisha Campbell
1983 Desiree Coleman
1984 Octavia Lambertis
1985 Lynda McConnell
1985 D.K. Dyson
1986 – 1990 D’Atra Hicks
1987 Ramona Keller
1988 – 1990 Noreen Clayton
1989 Sharlene Nelson
1992 – 1996 Stacy Francis
2004 – Present Ahmaya Knoelle Higginson
Pass the legacy of gospel music on…….
Tickets
$35 general admission
$30 groups of ten or more
$30 students and seniors
Spring Season: Saturdays at 4:30pm 3/3, 3/10, 3/17, 3/24, 3/31, 4/7, 4/14, 4/21, 4/28
Dempsey Theater – 127 West 127th Street (bet. Lenox & 7th Aves), Harlem, NY 10027
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