HEAVENBOUND ROUSES THE SPIRIT
AT WILSHIRE EBELL THEATRE
In the face of so much destruction from the ongoing Los Angeles fires, a bright event brought a sense of spiritual peace during Heavenbound, a musical written, directed, and produced by Don B. Welch at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre on January 11. Welsh assembled a knockout cast featuring fifteen singers whose talent enhanced every song. The evening also featured the great Melba Moore and exquisite Kenny Lattimore, both of whom added their glorious voices to selections before and after intermission.
Under the supervision of Musical Director Joe Archie, Heavenbound is set in a Heavenly audition room during Eternity. The premise is that five recently departed souls need to prove that they are worthy of entering the pearly gates, just as long as the Christian Gatekeeper (Renda Pettis) accepts their confession and surrender to the Lord. With an onstage choir of angels urging them on, the musical often resembled a revival meeting, with audience members frequently lifting their hands in the air when the spirit moved them.
The five lost souls seeking absolution include Cleo (Tameca DeVant) and Dutchess (Theresa Ford) who introduce the play and the characters during an informative prologue scene. The other three are Pepsi (Delores Lakey Stewart), a flashy entertainer who is eager to get on with things, anxious to join the choir and put her Earthly worries behind her; Delroy (handsome Rodney Howard), a ladies man more concerned about the types of women who will be awaiting him in Heaven rather than cleansing his own soul; and Padlock (Pastor Frederick Howard) who doesn’t say much until near the play’s end when his spiritual renditions lift the roof and inspire everyone to hold onto your faith, no matter what.
This was especially true for choir member Kada Turner, who lost her home just days before the performance. She shared how the spiritual support and artistic expression lifted her soul amidst the surrounding loss. Grammy nominee Angie Fisher shone during her solo, joined by Andrea Jones and Lisa Thompson, whose harmonies complemented Fisher perfectly. Unfortunately, the song list was unavailable, so the titles remain unknown.
Other cast and choir members included Waylynn Pitts, Ruth Blake, Carlos Padilla Jr., Troy Watson, and Shaun Walker, each dedicated to presenting the best of all possible endings for the five deserving auditioners.
My only quibble is that the musical lacks a proper ending, seemingly concluding abruptly to showcase Melba Moore, dressed as an angel in white, performing the final song. While her performance was stunning, the story felt unresolved, leaving many in the audience, including myself, asking, “Is that it?” Hopefully, when Welch presents Heavenbound again, he will craft an ending as inspiring as the rest of the play.
Curtain call: Pastor Frederick Howard, Delores Lakey Stewart, Kenny Lattimore,
Melba Moore, and Tameca DeVant (photo Barry Brisco)
After the performance, special presentations honored Welch, Moore, Lattimore, and the cast for their contributions to the Black community. Compton Mayor Emma Sharif, along with representatives from Congresswoman Maxine Waters’ and Assemblyman Mike Gibson’s offices, delivered awards recognizing their efforts. While a thoughtful gesture, the presentations ran quite long, prompting many audience members to leave before having the chance to meet the cast and creative team in the lobby.
Melba Moore
unless noted, photos by Diamond Dust Photography
Heavenbound
reviewed at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in LA on February 11, 2025
for more info, visit donbwelchproductions
Melba Moore and Kenny Lattimore with backstage visitors (photo Barry Brisco)
