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The American-born Shell has been working on The Legend of J James Jr since 2007, when he appeared at the Young Vic in Rufus Norris’ adaptation of Vernon God Little. Ray Shell and Victoria Wilson James at the Awards Concert The fictional James family is loosely based on the real-life group The Staple Singers, the Jackson 5 of gospel, who had hits including “I’ll Take You There”, “Let’s Do It Again” and “Respect Yourself” in the 1970s. Joining Shell, who plays Papa, on the stage of the Prince of Wales on Sunday were: Victoria Wilson-James, Siam Hurlock, Coree Richards and Nathaniel Morrison, playing his wife and children – whose performance went down a storm with the capacity audience. Is love enough when money, ambition and stardom stand between them? Tragedy threatens to tear the family apart. Papa must watch from the sidelines as his son’s success eclipses his. But his offspring want different things, especially Jr, who wants to be the next Sam Cooke and has the talent and looks to go all the way. Now Papa has a bigger dream for his family, and he’s arranged an audition with a record company. Papa, Mama J, Baby Sis, Little Mister and Jr have been singing together ever since the children could walk. In the early 1960s, The James Singers are huge stars on the church gospel circuit. On Sunday, Shell – who also stars in The Legend of J James Jr – and his fellow company members performed “More Love to You” from the new show, which is staged and directed by two-time Award nominee Jason Pennycooke, who has also been Olivier nominated this year for his performance in the Menier Chocolate Factory revival of La Cage aux Folles, now running at the West End’s Playhouse Theatre. Shell – an acting veteran of myriad West End musicals, including The Lion King, Miss Saigon, Jesus Christ Superstar, Starlight Express, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Five Guys Named Mo, 125 Street and Dancing in the Streets - is the force behind the new gospel musical, The Legend of J James Jr, which he’s co-written with his 30-year-old son, Desmond Smith. In addition to big-number productions from current West End and Broadway musical hits, theatregoers attending Sunday’s Theatregoers' Choice Awards Concert at the Prince of Wales Theatre got a sneak-peek at several works in progress, care of our Perfect Pitch partners, as well as Cat Stevens (See News, ) and, last but not least, Ray Shell (pictured).