It was a sound that would change music history. Ain't Too Proud is the electrifying new musical that tells the story of The Temptations from the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
With their signature dance moves and unmistakable harmonies, everybody knows the Temptations' hits, but Ain't Too Proud brings the rest of the rocky history to life; how the founding members met, the unbelievable heights that they hit, and how personal and political conflicts threatened to tear the group apart as the country fell into civil unrest.
With a book by Dominique Morisseau, choreography by Sergio Trujillo, and direction by Des McAnuff, this musical tells the thrilling story of brotherhood, family, loyalty, and betrayal, featuring the toe-tapping hits hits like "My Girl," "Just My Imagination," "Papa Was a Rolling Stone," and many more.
But polished performances, slick choreography (by Sergio Trujillio) and a slate of 31 Motown tunes should satisfy audiences who might not be looking for probing storytelling, as long as the show delivers well-performed hits. That it does, as it centers on the story of the classic quintet of performers singing 'Cloud Nine,' 'If You Don't Know Me By Now,' 'My Girl,' 'I'm Gonna Make You Love Me' and the title song, among others - including some songs that weren't the group's own.
It is Motown the Musical by way of Jersey Boys, with a soupçon of Dreamgirls in the Act One finale that makes you wish that the intragroup dynamics were more fully developed throughout. But Des McAnuff and choreographer Sergio Trujillo, who also collaborated on Jersey Boys, keep things speeding along: The conveyer belts and turntables of Robert Brill's set are hardly ever still, and the dancing represents a highly amped-up version of the Temptations' actual moves (sometimes at a slight cost to vocal precision). The songs do their work, and the ensemble casts shines whenever it gets a chance; Rashidra Scott makes an impression as Otis's ex-wife, for example, as does Saint Aubyn as Ruffin's peevish replacement, Dennis Edwards. As musical theater, Ain't Too Proud could generously be described as shameless. But as an evening of musical entertainment, it ain't too shabby.
2017 | Regional (US) |
Berkeley Rep World Premiere Production Regional (US) |
2021 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
2021 | US Tour |
First National Tour US Tour |
2023 | West End |
West End |
2024 | US Tour |
Second National Tour US Tour |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
---|---|---|---|
2019 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Book of a Musical | Dominique Morisseau |
2019 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Award | Jeremy Pope |
2019 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Award | Ephraim Sykes |
2019 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical | Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations |
2019 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Choreographer | Sergio Trujillo |
2019 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Ephraim Sykes |
2019 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Orchestrations | Harold Wheeler |
2019 | Tony Awards | Best Book of a Musical | Dominique Morisseau |
2019 | Tony Awards | Best Choreography | Sergio Trujillo |
2019 | Tony Awards | Best Costume Design of a Musical | Paul Tazewell |
2019 | Tony Awards | Best Direction of a Musical | Des McAnuff |
2019 | Tony Awards | Best Lighting Design of a Musical | Howell Binkley |
2019 | Tony Awards | Best Musical | Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations |
2019 | Tony Awards | Best Orchestrations | Harold Wheeler |
2019 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical | Ephraim Sykes |
2019 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical | Jeremy Pope |
2019 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical | Derrick Baskin |
2019 | Tony Awards | Best Scenic Design of a Musical | Robert Brill |
2019 | Tony Awards | Best Sound Design of a Musical | Steve Canyon Kennedy |
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