Episode #286: N'Kenge TALKS 'Motown: The Musical,' 'DANDRIDGE' & "Goosebump Moment"

It is a privilege to welcome Emmy, Grammy, and Tony-nominated recording artist and actress N’Kenge to The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.

The New York Times praised her as “a classically trained diva that can stretch from Broadway to Pop, Soul and Opera.” N’Kenge trained at the Julliard School and the Manhattan School of Music, has five octave vocal range and can sing in 11 different languages. She made her Broadway debut in Sondheim on Sondheim. She slayed the game on Broadway, originating the role of Mary Wells in Motown: The Musical, which garnered a Grammy nomination for Best Musical Theater Album. Motown founder Berry Gordy described N’Kenge as “the most versatile artist I know.” The New York Post called her performance of Mary Wells “Electrifying.” N’Kenge was also a cast member on Broadway in the revival of the Tony Award-nominated and Olivier Award-winning musical Caroline, Or Change. She portrayed “The Moon,” her first aerial role. The show ran from October 27, 2021, to January 9, 2022, at the legendary Studio 54.

As a vocal soloist, N’Kenge performed at world-renowned venues, including Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, and Madison Square Garden. She headlined pop and opera concerts with the Cincinnati Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra, and the Seattle Symphony. She also sang for many Presidents and foreign dignitaries, including former US Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.

Currently, N’Kenge is immersed in a variety of projects. She is spearheading the Broadway-bound DANDRIDGE, a production that pays tribute to the life and legacy of Dorothy Dandridge. Additionally, she has created and written Forever Summer – a Tribute to Donna Summer. On top of that, she is in the process of developing a new TV musical series called BLACK BUTTERFLY, a project she co-wrote with award-winning writer Mary McCallum and TV producer Gina Goff.

In this edition of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, N’Kenge spoke about being mentored by Berry Gordy and receiving high praise from the late Aretha Franklin. She also talked about bringing DANDRIDGE to life.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jake-s-take-with-jacob-elyachar--4112003/support.