LUCY ST LOUIS, currently playing the iconic role of Diana Ross in the West End production of Motown the Musical (a performance for which she has just won an IARA Award), is no stranger to the musical theatre world.
Her credits include Beautiful – The Carole King Musical (Aldwych Theatre), The Book of Mormon (Prince of Wales), and Ragtime (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre). On film, she was seen in the Disney live-action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast.
Motown the Musical, with music and lyrics from the legendary Motown catalogue and book by Motown founder Berry Gordy, is booking at the Shaftesbury Theatre up to January 2019.
Featuring a 16-piece orchestra playing 50 Motown tracks including ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’, ‘I’ll Be There’, ‘Dancing in the Street’, ‘Stop! In the Name of Love’, ‘My Girl’, ‘I Heard It Through the Grapevine’ and ‘For Once in My Life’, Charles Randolph-Wright’s production tells the story behind the classic hits.
Through the show Lucy has met Berry Gordy, Motown legend Smokey Robinson, original Supremes member Mary Wilson, and most recently Tito and Jackie Jackson of The Jackson 5.
Last month marked the 50-year anniversary of Motown records releasing the Supremes’ Greatest Hits album which included 10 number No. 1 hits including. It also marks the year the group officially became Diana Ross and the Supremes.
(left-right) Natasha Leaver, Lucy St Louis and Cherelle Williams in Motown the Musical. Picture: Tristram Kenton
Musical Theatre Review’s Polly Sisley caught up with Lucy who has played the role of Diana Ross since Motown the Musical opened last year.
How did your journey with Motown the Musical first begin?
I got a call from my agent saying that the show was coming to the UK, that they were holding a load of auditions, and wanted to consider me for the role of Diana Ross. I was so excited because I had seen the show on Broadway the year before. My friend, Charl Brown, was in it, so after the show I went backstage. It was just amazing. I loved it.
Hearing that Motown was coming to London and me being matched to such an iconic part was incredible.
The process of auditions then started. First of all, I sang my own song and then went back a couple of days later and did some other stuff with members of the American team. There was then a break period when they went back to the US deliberate. They returned two months later to continue the process, which was then in its final stages.
Berry Gordy was in the room during my final audition. It was the most incredible thing ever. He’s handpicked so many wonderful artists, living legends. Having him sat in front of me was petrifying but amazing.
When you first saw the show on Broadway, could you picture yourself in the production?
I love the show and I love the music. I’m a massive fan of Diana Ross. There were so many talented people in the West End who were up for the part, so I could never have said I knew I would be picked for it. Hoping and dreaming that I was going to be picked was all I could have imagined. I was up against so many incredible people in that audition, so I was never convinced I was going to get the part, but obviously people hope they can achieve a lead role one day.
Cedric Neal (Berry Gordy) and Lucy St Louis (Diana Ross) in Motown the Musical. Picture: Tristram Kenton
In January 2019 it will be 60 years since Berry Gordy founded Motown Records – and the show has just extended its booking until that very month. How does it feel to work with the people who built Motown?
It is a masterclass, really. It’s just the most amazing thing to be around Berry Gordy, to hear his stories. He is a master and a teacher, you can learn so much from everything he says. Berry made the stars absolutely legendary across the world, he just had an eye for talent. Listening to how he helped make them the stars they are today is amazing. Motown is a family-orientated company and that’s what Berry wanted, for everyone to be a part of this amazing family and legacy.
One of the fondest memories I have is my mum and I jiving to ‘Baby Love’ in the kitchen when I was little. Motown the Musical seems to reach out to not only a variety of people, but also different generations…
I agree, I agree. The songs are timeless and I think people of all ages will love and have some kind of connection to them. My mum and grandparents absolutely loved Motown, that was the music that was flowing through the house when I was younger, so I was bought up on Motown music.
I think it’s all just about family and bringing people together. It’s also storytelling, letting people know what’s happening in the world today; a lot of Marvin Gaye songs were very history-driven, he wanted to put out his message.
I think every generation, even younger than me now, will still love Michael Jackson and be able to dance to his songs. People won’t necessarily know everything about him, but they’ll know his songs and from those may decide to find out who this amazing person was. I think Motown music will just keep living on, and keep living on throughout generation to generation.
So, would you say Motown music holds a special place in your heart?
Oh yes. It’s just everything. You get an amazing feeling when you listen to a great Motown song. I don’t think there’s any music these days that’s done quite like Motown. Michael Jackson, The Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder – they were just incredible and I think their music will live on in everyone, not just me.
Your favourite Diana Ross song?
It would have to be ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ – the version she did with Marvin Gaye is amazing. It’s a song I hold very close to my heart.
You’ve played Diana Ross in the West End since the show opened last year. What’s it like to play such an icon?
Oh, it’s the most incredible experience. It’s so wonderful to hear the feedback. I get private messages and letters from people who have seen the show saying: ‘You’ve made me relive so many memories’ and that is just amazing to hear.
On a rainy day like today, you can go and make somebody so happy and forget their troubles. It’s been an absolute joy and honour to play the part of Diana Ross every night. There is also such an amazing company which works so hard day in, day out. It’s a joy and we are a family.
Picture: Hugo Glendinning
Tell me a bit more about the company…
They’re all just so wonderful. We’ve got a range of ages – we’ve got the baby kids who play young Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder, they’re our babies of the company. It’s great because we see them growing every night, at each performance. The knowledge, love, friendship and teamwork that happens on stage is incredible. The songs and show itself makes you happy, it’s truly an electric atmosphere.
Eight shows a week must be pretty exhausting…
It’s very exhausting, both physically and mentally. Preparing to be in a show is very tiring, but there is a true love that we have for theatre and performing and that’s the joy. You can be as tired as you want, but putting a smile on someone’s face or making somebody’s day is the aim.
You’ve been in some great productions including Beautiful and Book of Mormon’ Is there a show you would really like to do, but haven’t yet?
I trained classically so would love to do something in that area, especially after doing a few pop shows. I’d love to play the role of Christine in The Phantom of the Opera.
Les Misérables is also a show I would love to be in. Those classical shows are something I would love to do right now. I’d always love to come back to the pop stuff, but I think going more in that direction would be a great challenge for me.
Tickets for Motown the Musical are available HERE.
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