What makes a show so good that, just months after its first run, audiences are asking for it all over again? For An Ode to Motown, it looks like the answer lies somewhere in the music, the memories and the magic of Motown. This show celebrates the legendary sound and the Black artists who helped shape music history, bringing their iconic songs and stories to life through live music, movement and storytelling. After its first run in February and March 2026, An Ode to Motown is returning by popular demand from 4-13 September 2026, with its impressive cast featuring Liesl Penniken, Lerato Mvelase, Tamara Dey, Hlengiwe Pearl and Anele Precious Mthethwa. I was there for the first run, and after such a memorable experience, I will be taking my seat again for the comeback. With the cast now back in rehearsals, I managed to speak to Lerato Mvelase between the preparations for the show’s return. Despite her busy schedule, she graciously made time for me — and, of course, I wasn’t about to waste it. Now, in this exclusive Q&A with Africa Jamz FM News, Lerato opens up about the response that brought the production back, her personal connection to Motown and its legacy, the different side of her artistry the show has allowed audiences to see, and why these timeless songs continue to resonate across generations. Let’s hear what she had to say: 1. Lerato, when An Ode to Motown first opened earlier this year, audiences didn’t just watch it — they responded to it with standing ovations, sold-out performances and, ultimately, a demand to see it again. As someone who was at the heart of that first experience, what do you think audiences felt in that theatre that made them say, “We need this show back”? “The show is reminiscent, taking audiences to a time that reminded them of family celebrations, seeing their parents dance, and smelling hearty meals while kids played outside. It is an era that defined itself with more emphasis on simplicity,” said Lerato. Lerato Mvelase commanding the stage during the first run of An Ode to Motown. Picture: Supplied 2. You have spoken about Motown as something much bigger than music — a movement that gave Black people visibility, hope and a sense of possibility. When you step onto that stage and tell these stories today, what part of that legacy feels most personal to you as a Black South African woman? “Being on that stage gives me a sense of belonging and confidence that Black people all around the world carry a spirit of hope, wisdom, love, joy, and an innate godly nature,” said Lerato. The An Ode to Motown cast on stage during the first run, featuring Liesl Penniken, Tamara Dey, Hlengiwe Pearl, Lerato Mvelase, and Anele Precious Mthethwa. Picture: Supplied 3. There is something fascinating about watching an actress known primarily for her screen work suddenly reveal another side of herself through singing, movement and storytelling. Did An Ode to Motown unlock a part of Lerato Mvelase that even you had forgotten was there — and is there a particular moment in the show where you think, “This is exactly where I am meant to be”? “The show has definitely given me more reason to take my singing seriously, and performing Midnight Train to Georgia is certainly the moment when I not only think, but feel my purpose,” said Lerato. VIDEO: A look back at the first run of An Ode to Motown in February and March 2026, which returns this September for a second run following popular demand. Video: Supplied 4. Motown has travelled from 1950s/60s Detroit into South African homes, family memories and now onto the Joburg Theatre stage. If you could invite someone who has never heard a Motown song before to watch this production, what would you want them to understand about why these songs still matter — and what do you think they will feel when they leave the theatre? “The songs carry messages that have transcended time, hence we still enjoy them today, but more importantly, every single individual in that theatre, despite their age, is left feeling something truly special — emotions that only they can articulate,” said Lerato. Lerato Mvelase pictured with An Ode to Motown director James Ngcobo. Picture: Instagram@LeratoMvelase 5. You have already lived through the first chapter of An Ode to Motown, and now you are being given the rare opportunity to return to a production that audiences themselves asked to experience again. When you walk onto that stage on 4 September, what will be different for you — and what do you hope will be different for the audience this time around? “I need to allow myself to not only sing my best, but to be on that stage, singing those songs like I’m doing it for the first time. Every note, every movement, and every interaction with the audience will be new,” said Lerato. Tickets for the show are available on WebTickets. HAVE YOU READ THIS ONE?: “Oh Yini Dolly!”: Social Media Erupts as Fans Are Left in Tears Over Dolly Parton’s Passing Post navigation Isra Hoosen Is Carving Out Her Place in the High-Pressure World of Fine Dining
