Ain't Too Proud
| Ain't Too Proud | |
|---|---|
| The Life and Times of The Temptations | |
 Original Broadway Playbill | |
| Music | The Temptations |
| Lyrics | The Temptations |
| Book | Dominique Morisseau |
| Basis | The life and songs of The Temptations |
| Premiere | August 31, 2017 |
| Productions | 2019 Broadway 2021 U.S. Tour 2023 West End |
Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations is a 2017 jukebox musical with music and lyrics by The Temptations and a book by Dominique Morisseau. Based on the story of The Temptations, the musical had a series of regional productions and opened at Broadway's Imperial Theatre in March 2019.
Productions[edit]
Berkeley Rep (2017)[edit]
The musical premiered at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in Berkeley, California, on August 31, 2017, with a press opening on September 14,[1] for a limited engagement until November 5, 2017. The production was directed by Des McAnuff and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo. The production's design team included scenery by Robert Brill, costumes by Paul Tazewell, lighting by Howell Binkley, sound by Steve Canyon Kennedy, and projections by Peter Nigrini. The musical was originally set to play through October 8; but was later extended through October 22; and ultimately through November 5. The musical was the highest-grossing production in the theatre's history.
Washington, DC (2018)[edit]
Following its run at Berkeley Rep, the show moved to the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC where it ran from June 19, 2018 through July 22, 2018.[2][3]
Los Angeles (2018)[edit]
Following its run at the Kennedy Center, the show moved to the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, California where it ran from August 21, 2018 through September 30, 2018.[4]
Toronto (2018)[edit]
Following its run at the Ahmanson, the show moved to the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto, Ontario where it ran from October 11, 2018 through November 17, 2018.[5]
Broadway (2019)[edit]
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The musical opened on Broadway in 2019 at the Imperial Theatre, with previews beginning February 28, 2019 and an opening night on March 21, 2019.[6][7] As of March 12, 2020, the show suspended production due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On May 10, 2021, it was announced that the show would return to Broadway with a gala performance on October 16.[8] The production had its final performance on January 16, 2022.[9]
US Tour (2021)[edit]
It was announced on May 31, 2019 that the national equity tour would kick off in July 2020 at the Providence Performing Arts Center in Providence, Rhode Island. The premiere was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It opened at the Durham Performing Arts Center in Durham, North Carolina on December 7, 2021. It played it's final performance on March 3, 2024 at the Saenger Theater in New Orleans, Louisiana. [10]
West End (2023)[edit]
A production began performances in the West End at the Prince Edward Theatre on March 31, 2023.[11] The show closed at the Prince Edward Theatre on 17 September 2023. The show was originally set to until 7 January 2024. [12]
Characters and original cast[edit]
| Character | Berkeley[13] | Washington, DC | Los Angeles[14] | Toronto[15] | Broadway | U.S. Tour[16] | London |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2023 | |||
| Otis Williams | Derrick Baskin | Marcus Paul James | Sifiso Mazibuko | ||||
| Melvin Franklin | Jared Joseph | Jawan M. Jackson | Harrell Holmes, Jr. | Cameron Bernard Jones | |||
| Eddie Kendricks | Jeremy Pope | Jalen Harris | Mitchell Zhangazha | ||||
| Paul Williams | James Harkness | James T. Lane | Kyle Cox | ||||
| David Ruffin | Ephraim Sykes | Elijah Ahmad Lewis | Tosh Wanogho-Maud | ||||
| Al Bryant | Jarvis B. Manning, Jr. | Brett Michael Lockley | Michael James Stewart | ||||
| Tammi Terrell | Nasia Thomas | Shayla Brielle G. | Evonnee Bentley-Holder | ||||
| Johnnie Mae Matthews | Taylor Symone Jackson | Traci Elaine Lee | Sadie-Jean Shirley | ||||
| Berry Gordy | Jahi Kearse | Michael Andreaus | Akmed Junior Khemalai | ||||
| Smokey Robinson | Christian Thompson | Lawrence Dandridge | Ryan Carter | ||||
| Diana Ross | Candice Marie Woods | Deri'Andra Tucker | Holly Liburd | ||||
| Josephine Miles | Rashidra Scott | Najah Hetsberger | Naomi Katiyo | ||||
| Shelly Berger | Jeremy Cohen | Joshua Morgan | Reed Campbell | Dylan Turner | |||
| Dennis Edwards | Caliaf St. Aubyn | Harris Matthew | Posi Morakinyo | ||||
| Richard Street | E. Clayton Cornelious | Devin Holloway | Simeon Montague | ||||
| Lamont | Shawn Bowers | Gregory Carl Banks, Jr. | Toyan Thomas-Browne | ||||
Musical numbers[edit]
Original Berkeley Rep production[edit]
Original Broadway production[edit]
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Recording[edit]
The original Broadway cast recording of Ain't Too Proud was recorded January 19–22, 2019 at Sound on Sound Studios, Montclair, NJ, and digitally released on March 22, 2019. The physical album released on April 19, and a double-LP vinyl was released on June 7.[17]
Awards and nominations[edit]
Broadway production[edit]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Tony Awards[18][19] | Best Musical | Nominated | |
| Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical | Derrick Baskin | Nominated | ||
| Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical | Jeremy Pope | Nominated | ||
| Ephraim Sykes | Nominated | |||
| Best Book of a Musical | Dominique Morisseau | Nominated | ||
| Best Direction of a Musical | Des McAnuff | Nominated | ||
| Best Choreography | Sergio Trujillo | Won | ||
| Best Scenic Design in a Musical | Robert Brill & Peter Nigrini | Nominated | ||
| Best Costume Design in a Musical | Paul Tazewell | Nominated | ||
| Best Lighting Design in a Musical | Howell Binkley | Nominated | ||
| Best Sound Design of a Musical | Steve Canyon Kennedy | Nominated | ||
| Best Orchestrations | Harold Wheeler | Nominated | ||
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Book of a Musical | Dominique Morisseau | Nominated | |
| Outer Critics Circle Awards[20] | Outstanding Choreographer | Sergio Trujillo | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Orchestrations | Harold Wheeler | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Ephraim Sykes | Nominated | ||
| Drama League Awards[21] | Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical | Nominated | ||
| Distinguished Performance Award | Jeremy Pope | Nominated | ||
| Ephraim Sykes | Nominated | |||
| Broadway.com Audience Awards[22] | Favorite Breakthrough Performance (Male) | Ephraim Sykes | Won | |
| 2020 | Grammy Award | Best Musical Theater Album | Saint Aubyn, Derrick Baskin, James Harkness, Jawan M. Jackson, Jeremy Pope & Ephraim Sykes (principal soloists); Scott M. Riesett (producer) | Nominated |
References[edit]
- ^ "Berkeley Rep Announces Full Casting and Creative Team for World Premiere of Ain't Too Proud—The Life and Times of The Temptations" (PDF) (Press release). Berkeley Repertory Theatre. July 13, 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
- ^ " 'Ain't Too Proud' Breaks Kennedy Center Box Office Record" broadwayworld.com, July 23, 2018
- ^ " 'Ain't Too Proud—The Life and Times of The Temptations' Kennedy Center" kennedy-center.org, accessed March 22, 2019
- ^ McNulty, Charles. "Review: 'Ain't Too Proud,' the Broadway-bound musical about the Temptations: Sensational music, scattershot storytelling" Los Angeles Times, August 26, 2018
- ^ Fricker, Karen. " 'Ain’t Too Proud' pays a busy, sometimes breathtaking tribute to the Temptations" The Star, October 17, 2018
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (October 2, 2018). "Temptations Musical 'Ain't Too Proud' Sets Broadway Dates". Deadline.com. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
- ^ Hetrick, Adam; McPhee, Ryan. "Read the Reviews for Broadway’s 'Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations'" playbill, March 21, 2019
- ^ Clement, Olivia (May 12, 2020). "Check the Statuses of Broadway Shows During the Coronavirus Shutdown". Retrieved May 29, 2020.
- ^ Lang, Brent (December 28, 2021). "'Ain't Too Proud' Becomes Latest Broadway Musical to Close as COVID Hits Theater Business Hard". Variety. Archived from the original on December 28, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
- ^ "Ain't Too Proud – Broadway Musical – Tour | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
- ^ "The Temptations musical Ain't Too Proud to run in the West End | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com. September 23, 2022. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
- ^ "Ain't Too Proud to close at the West End's Prince Edward Theatre | West End Theatre". July 23, 2023.
- ^ "Ain't Too Proud Casting" berkeleyrep.org
- ^ "Cast Announced for 'Ain't Too Proud' at Ahmanson". Center Theatre Group. July 19, 2018. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
- ^ "Ain't Too Proud Programme" (PDF). Mirvish. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
- ^ "Ain't Too Proud – Broadway Musical – Tour | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
- ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (February 28, 2019). "Ain't Too Proud, Broadway's New Temptations Musical, Will Release a Cast Album in March". Playbill. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
- ^ "2019 Tony Award Nominations Are Announced". Broadway.com. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
- ^ "Check out the 2019 Tony Award Nominees!". todaytix.com. April 30, 2019. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
- ^ Lefkowitz, Andy (April 23, 2019). "Hadestown, Tootsie & Oklahoma! Lead 2019 Outer Critics Circle Award Nominations". Broadway.com. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
- ^ Lefkowitz, Andy (April 17, 2019). "Nominations Announced for 85th Annual Drama League Awards". Broadway.com. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
- ^ Evans, George (April 19, 2019). "'Be More Chill', 'Pretty Woman' Top Broadway's Audience Choice Awards". Broadway.com. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
