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.
Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of The Temptations is further proof, as if we need it, that the term 'jukebox musical' just isn't fair - to jukeboxes. Feed a juke some cash and it delivers music, free of the blunt exposition that passes for librettos in so many of these stage biographies. Even with source material as glorious as 'My Girl,' 'Just My Imagination,' 'Papa Was A Rolling Stone' and the song that gives this production its title, the result feels less celebratory than ruthlessly efficient, like the treadmill device that's forever moving the ever-changing Temptations line-up on, off and around the Imperial Theatre's stage.
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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