“Born For This” an inspirational show about music, stardom, and passion

Singer BeBe Winans’s career comes to life at Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre through July 15

Raider Times photo / Courtesy Joan Marcus

Loren Lott as CeCe Winans (center left) and Donald Webber Jr. as BeBe Winans (center right) in “Born For This” at Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre through July 15, 2018.

Andra Preda, Raider Times correspondent
June 25, 2018

Have you ever had a passion? Have you ever been torn over a decision, or had difficulty remaining true to yourself? And have you ever turned to your loved ones for guidance in a time of confusion?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, you simply must buy tickets to the new musical “Born For This”, playing at the Cutler Majestic Theater in Boston until July 15, 2018.

Though the show is set in the 1980s, its message is transcendent: if you have a dream, follow it, and have faith that everything will be resolved in time. So, please, treat yourself to this stunning piece and seek the inspiration to follow your own passion — the one which you were simply born to discover.

This show tells the story of BeBe Winans, an American gospel and R&B singer who rose to fame as a young man. All of BeBe’s siblings were musically talented, but BeBe sought to distinguish himself by finding a career that fulfilled his passionate dream of singing to praise the Lord.

Throughout the course of the musical, audience members follow BeBe’s journey to fame, including his successes and dreams, as well as his struggles and losses. From any seat in the house, you are guaranteed to laugh, cry, and rejoice as BeBe tries to understand what his true purpose and calling are in life.

With the help of his loving parents and several caring siblings, BeBe seeks to separate the feeling of fame and fortune from his true mission: to spread the love of God through music. Though he gets caught up in stardom and in the shining lights of music records, award shows, and celebrities, BeBe eventually returns to his true passion: singing for the love of music and faith, not fame.

In addition to the fascinating and heartwarming plot, the talent of the actors — starting with Donald Webber Jr. as BeBe — further proves this show is a true spectacle and a gift to the audience. The vocal range of every cast member is truly unbelievable, and the notes and harmonies throughout the show are simply superb. Even after holding notes for periods of time that seem inhuman, the actors maintain high energy and a connection with every person in the auditorium.

Although the actors are often the main focus of a show, the crew and tech members cannot be forgotten for their hard work in bringing the story to life. The lights transition to fit every mood and emotion, the set pieces are versatile and bring audience members directly from the Winans home to a music studio or TV set, and the band never skips a beat during the musical numbers. The immersive experience of “Born For This” comes from the communication between every person on the team — both onstage and off.

The passion and dedication of cast and crew, the love between characters, and the beautiful script and lyrics make “Born For This” a must-see musical of the 2018 season.

(“Born For This” is at Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre through July 15, 2018. For tickets or more information, go to https://artsemerson.org/.)