Review: BORN FOR THIS: THE BEBE WINANS STORY Offers Joyous Music Experience at Arena Stage

Much like last year with the now Broadway-bound DEAR EVAN HANSEN, a new musical is premiering at Arena Stage this summer - adding a bit of interest to an otherwise slow July in terms of legitimate professional theatre offerings. While BORN FOR THIS: THE BeBe Winans STORY (presented in collaboration with Atlanta's Alliance Theatre) may be your standard bio-musical - albeit written for somewhat of a niche audience - it's one where the music simply soars in a spectacular way.

Charles Randolph-Wright (who also directs the production) and gospel and R&B star BeBe Winans offer up the story of BeBe (Juan Winans) and Cece Winans' (Deborah Joy Winans) humble beginnings as teenagers in Detroit. They explore how the brother and sister duo eventually goes on to make a name for themselves in the music business, though not without a myriad of trials and tribulations along the way.

Born into a musically-gifted family that regularly attended church and ensured God's teachings pervaded their everyday lives, BeBe and CeCe get their start performing on Jim (Chaz Pofahl) and Tammy Bakker's (Kirsten Wyatt) Praise the Lord (PTL) television show in North Carolina (captured by Neil Patel's set). The Bakker's are quite enamored with their young stars - and the musical gifts they were blessed with - and provide them opportunities to gain a following, shielding them from racially-oriented threats and the jealousy of some of the other singers on the show. While in North Carolina, BeBe struggles with his own jealousy towards his sister (she was who the PTL team wanted initially) and rectifying what he was taught about how a good Christian should behave with how others around him live.

He is tempted into sin, and struggles to maintain his faith in God. Desperately wanting more and more fame, he eventually has to make a choice of which is more important - fame or something else. A tragedy in the family leads him back on the right course. Overall, his story is one of faith, family, and redemption, and trusting God that He knows what is best for your life.

In terms of the narrative, this show is at its best in Act One, which is focused on BeBe and CeCe's time at PTL. Certainly, the real, larger-than-life figures of Jim and Tammy Bakker offer up oodles of opportunity for theatricalization - and Pofahl and, especially the hilarious Wyatt, are up to the task of taking on the legendary pair - but so does BeBe and CeCe's experience of adjusting to life in the South away from their devoted Mom (Nita Whitaker) and Pop (Milton Craig Nealy) who sheltered them from much of the evil in the world. As the duo moves beyond PTL, the story becomes more of your standard one about the price of fame (Whitney Houston, embodied by Kiandra Richardson, makes an appearance to remind her friend BeBe that fame isn't everything). It can become tedious and a bit saccharine for sure, goes on far too long for its own good, and has a weak ending. But then there's the music....

There's no denying the strength of the gospel and R&B music, much of which BeBe wrote for this show. The musical also features popular hymns like "Blessed Assurance," praise and worship songs of the 1980s such as "Excuses" and "Tomorrow," one of BeBe and CeCe's first hits ("Up Where We Belong") and many more. A slew of talented vocalists bring the songs to life with joy and an abundance of energy.

Both Juan and Deborah Joy Winans are vocally gifted - much like their aunt and uncle they are portraying - and command the stage like seasoned pros. Juan shines especially well on the title song "Born for This." Even if the lyrics are more than a little cliché for my taste, his earnestness is compelling, as is his silky smooth yet powerful vocals. Deborah Joy Winans also proves she's not only a great singer, but also quite a gifted actress. She exhibits powerful emotions in the scene where CeCe must make a major life choice, and her performance is far from cookie-cutter.

Every other cast member also makes a strong vocal impression, including Dyllon Burnside, Desmond Sean Ellison, Michael Stiggers, and Brad Raymond who portray BeBe and Cece Winans' siblings, also musicians. Their version of "Tomorrow" - a song I have heard my whole life having been raised in much the same way as the Winans kids - is particularly inspiring, and the harmonic blend they achieve is quite wonderful. Nealy and Richardson are also among those who make their vocal mark when they're center stage.

While Conductor/Orchestrator/Arranger Steven Jamail's small rhythm section is a musical asset to the show, I wonder how the strong music might have been enhanced even more with a horn section. Who does gospel music without horns? It was an odd choice in the same way as much of Warren Adams' superfluous choreography.

Whether you share BeBe's upbringing and/or personal faith or not, it's impossible not to enjoy the music and talented vocalists in this show, which is reason enough to give it a chance.

Running Time: Over two hours and 30 minutes, including an intermission.

BORN FOR THIS: THE BeBe Winans STORY plays at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater - 1101 6th Street, SW in Washington, DC - through August 28. For tickets, call the box office at 202-488-3300, or purchase them online.

Photo Caption: (L to R) Juan Winans as BeBe and Deborah Joy Winans as CeCe. Photo by Greg Mooney, courtesy ALLIANCE THEATRE.

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