TakeMeBacktheMusical -
5PM
Price: $20.00
9/27 & 9/28 CAST:
FERRON GRIFFIN (WENDELL)
DEJA BRYSON (STARR)
ANA "SANDY" TILI (PEARL)
CHRISTOPHER JONES (AJ)
JOHN ISLAND (CORKY)
CHARLES JOHNSON (MALVIN)
MONICA FOSTER (MOMMA)
KYLAH WEBSTER (DOMINO)
RONNIE RANDOLPH (FOOTS)
DIRECTED BY: DAVID SONNIER
TakeMeBacktheMusical -
7PM
2600 MISSION BELL DRIVE SAN PABLO CA 945 USA (510) [map]
Price: $20.00
FORMER MEMBERS OF A R&B SINGING GROUP(ONYX) FROM THE 70'S ARE REFLECTING ON THEIR LIVES AND REMINISCING ABOUT THE GROUP'S EARLIER YEARS. ONE OF THE FORMER MEMBERS IS HAVING FAMILY PROBLEMS AND YEARNS TO GO BACK IN TIME. DURING HIS HIATUS AWAY FROM HOME, HE IS TRANSPORTED BACK IN TIME TO THE EARLY 70'S WHEN THE MEMBERS FIRST MET.
Musical captures essence of 1970s
'Take Me Back' inspires audience to follow hopes
Justin Morrison
Issue date: 9/24/08
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Belting it out - In the musical "Take Me Back," (L-R) Wendell (Faron Griffin) and AJ (Jimmy Esao Brown) look on as Pearl (Ana Tili) sings for the audience. The play examines the aspect of having a firm idea of one's goals and taking the steps needed to achieve them, no matter how simple or complex they may be. (Erik Verduzco / The Advocate)
"Take Me Back" the musical transported the audience back in time with original music, reminding people to always chase their dreams.
Held in the Knox Center on Friday and Saturday night, "Take Me Back" offered up the story of Wendell, played by Faron Griffon, who put his dreams on hold for the sake of his family.
"(Wendell has) a good heart, but there are two sides," Griffon said, "The sensitivity and the fire."
Thirty years after his first attempt at stardom with the rhythm and blues group Onyx, Wendell gets a second shot at his dream when someone digs up their old record, writer and producer Karen Basey said.
He then decides to chase after the dream he gave up long before, she said.
On opening night, the show sold over 120 tickets, according to the Box Office, with proceeds going to the West Contra Costa County nonprofit organization Girls Incorporated.
"I thought for the most part, it was well put together," audience member Keeley Williams said.
The singing was well executed, she said, and flowed well with the story.
"I really like Star, (played by Ria) her singing was excellent," Williams said.
She also said there was a nice dynamic between the musical and comedic sides of the play.
Humor was intended for comedic relief from the classic musical portions, director David Sonnier said.
The classic musical portions consisted entirely of original pieces from the actual 1970s group Onyx, he said. The pieces were chosen for their reflection of a particular mood in the musical, as well as their originality.
The play was divided into three settings, in which the story unfolded across four acts.
Two of the areas were chosen for their familiarity
