Motown and Mo' show sells over 750 seats in 25th anniversary show

This year the show was directed by Milton Scott. Scott said the show featured, in addition to the Motown music, country western music, music from Stax Records and more dancing than ever before.

By Sierra Williams
| 10:00 a.m. December 5, 2023

A performance of "All I Want for Christmas" by Mariah Carey. Margaret Ibanez, not pictured, performed in the lead role. Photo courtesy of City Lites

Lucy Gillis performing as Whitney Houston and singing "Who Would Imagine a King" in the Christmas-themed portion of the Motown & mo'. Photo courtesy of City Lites

"Endless Love" by Diana Ross and Lionel Ritchie performed by Jimmy and Ruby Sims. Jimmy Sims is president of City Lites, Inc. Photo courtesy of City Lites

TaShaye Brown performing "Ain't Nobody" by Chaka Khan. Photo courtesy of City Lites

Peter Trubek singing Kenny Rogers' song "Crazy." Photo courtesy of City Lites

Palm Coast Observer
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A previous version of this story incorrectly identified the show director. His name is Milton Scott. Updated: Dec. 8, 2:26 p.m.

Motown and Mo', Palm Coast's annual variety music performance show, sold over 750 seats to its Dec. 2 performance.

Milton Scott — who joined Motown and Mo' in 2016 after he and his wife moved to Palm Coast — directed the 2023 show. Scott said it was a huge success.

"We actually sold seats in the balcony," Scott said. "The main floor was sold out. [It had] 750 seats, and we had to sell up in the balcony, which has never happened for this show."

Scott said the 25th anniversary show included 33 songs and more dancing than Motown and Mo' has ever had.

At the beginning of the rehearsal season, 14 members of the cast were assembled into Motown and Mo's first dance group, and the show included a dance number to the introduction song from "Soul Train," a music performance TV show that premiered in 1971.

"If you were around in the '70s and '80s, you immediately knew what that sound was and who it was," Scott said.

The show also included a mix of other music, Scott said, such as country western — including Chris Stapleton's "Tennessee Whiskey" — some instrumental versions of songs, and a variety of music from Stax Records, a record company out of Tennessee that featured artists like Aretha Franklin, Isaac Hayes, Whitney Houston and The Staple Singers.

Carlos Ann Butler, a teacher, started Motown and Mo’ in 1998 after she moved to Palm Coast. The group incorporated into a nonprofit in 2008 to begin providing scholarships to local students.

Irving Robinson has performed in Motown since its first show in 1998. This year's show, he said, included acting, musical performances, dances and Christmas-themed skits that made it appeal to many people.

"It was varied but inclusive," Robinson said. "I think that's what helped to make it appreciated so much by everybody. Somebody could identify with something that was put on the stage."

Every year, the Motown and Mo' cast honors members of its cast or crew who died between one show and the last. The 2023 show was dedicated to the following Motown and Mo' members: William "B.J." Jones, Sims Jones, Mavis Smith and Theodore "Ted" Franklin Adams.