The rich beats and meaningful lyrics of Motown made its way back to Sacramento State for a onetime only encore presentation of Motown Jukin’ in the University Theater Sunday evening.

The production chronicles the history of Motown and key performer’s involvement in the genre.

The first half has mostly older Motown artists and music, and even ties in Michael Jackson’s influence.

The second half is a tribute to the late Michael Jackson, with many of his songs being performed.

Dr. Melinda Wilson, advisor to Sons and Ancestors and assistant director, said the second half is a celebration of Jackson, and the show contains great music.

Motown Jukin’ was done last semester in Solano Hall in correlation with Motown’s 50th anniversary.

Dr. Linda Goodrich, Sacramento State’s theater and dance department chair and director of Motown Jukin’ said the performance was so popular that people had to be turned away, which is why the performance was done again tonight and in a bigger venue.

The performance has the same content as October’s, except for two pieces in the first half said Goodrich.

“The first half was really long,” Goodrich said. “We are trying to condense it a little bit.”

She said that having it on a bigger stage gives people who were turned away at the last performance an opportunity to see it.

“So many people came back two and three times just to sing the songs, to see along while they were watching the dances,” Goodrich said.

Goodrich said the revenue from the performance will be used to fund trips for the theater and dance students.

“In these dire budget times we don’t have money to send our students to the different conferences they usually go to,” Goodrich said.

This performance funds the student’s trips to the American College Dance Festival, in Arizona and the Kennedy American College Theater Festival in Reno.

One of the performers in Motown Jukin’ is Michael Smith, the president of Sons and Ancestors, he plays Michael Jackson.

“It is an honor for me to portray him; even though it is a lot of weight for me to carry on my shoulders,” Smith said.

Goodrich said audiences will have a feeling that they have had a Motown experience, and have revisited Jackson and remembered what a great performer he was.

“His legacy is just so ridiculous; no one will be able to touch his success,” Smith said.

Smith said it is harder to portray Jackson in the sense that no one really knew him on a personal level.

“We all just knew the social figure,” Smith said. “The side Jackson projected to the world.”

Smith has a deep appreciation for Motown on a personal level and said the music is filled with meaning and purpose.

“My grandfather was a du wop singer, so I have loved it since birth,” Smith said. “It’s in my blood.”

Goodrich said the show brings back good memories for many people, which is why it did so well the first time around.

“People really want to see this show,” Goodrich said.

Motown crossed over into mainstream so it was accessible to everybody and people love it, Goodrich said.

Smith said people from all ages can appreciate the show.

“There were people from babies to grandmothers, and they all connected on one level,” Smith said.

Smith said the performers give a lot of respect to the people who made Motown what it is, and even though they get a plethora of compliments after the show, it isn’t about them,

“It’s about the audience and Motown,” Smith said. I am very blessed to be a part of it.”

Being in a bigger theater allows the audience to move more with the music and enjoy the performance, Goodrich said.

Wilson said Motown Jukin’ is a fabulous show that will give people an appreciation of Motown music and its artists.

“People are going to go away saying “We want to see this again,'” Goodrich said.

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