''Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations'' is a 2017

jukebox musical A jukebox musical is a stage musical or musical film in which a majority of the songs are well-known, pre-existing popular music songs, rather than original music composed for the musical. Some jukebox musicals use a wide variety of songs, while ...

with music and lyrics by

The Temptations The Temptations is an American vocal group formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 1961 as The Elgins, known for their string of successful singles and albums with Motown from the 1960s to the mid-1970s. The group's work with producer Norman Whitfield ...

and a book by Dominique Morisseau. Based on the story of

, the musical had a series of regional productions and opened at Broadway's Imperial Theatre in March 2019.

Productions

Berkeley Rep (2017)

The musical premiered at the

Berkeley Repertory Theatre Berkeley Repertory Theatre is a Regional theater in the United States, regional theater company located in Berkeley, California. It runs seven productions each season from its two stages in Downtown Berkeley, California, Downtown Berkeley. Histor ...

Berkeley, California Berkeley ( ) is a city on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay in northern Alameda County, California, United States. It is named after the 18th-century Anglo-Irish bishop and philosopher George Berkeley. It borders the cities of Oakland, Cali ...

, on August 31, 2017, with a press opening on September 14, 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 Paul Tazewell (born September 15, 1964) is an American costume designer for the theatre, dance, film, opera and television. After training at New York University Tisch School of the Arts he started his career on Broadway (theatre), Broadway. He ha ...

, 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)

Following its run at Berkeley Rep, the show moved to the

Kennedy Center The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, commonly known as the Kennedy Center, is the national cultural center of the United States, located on the eastern bank of the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. Opened on September 8, ...

Washington, DC Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and Federal district of the United States, federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from ...

where it ran from June 19, 2018, through July 22, 2018.

Los Angeles (2018)

Following its run at the Kennedy Center, the show moved to the Ahmanson Theatre in

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

where it ran from August 21, 2018, through September 30, 2018.

Toronto (2018)

Following its run at the Ahmanson, the show moved to the Princess of Wales Theatre in

Toronto, Ontario Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

where it ran from October 11, 2018, through November 17, 2018.

Broadway (2019)

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. As of March 12, 2020, the show suspended production due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

. On May 10, 2021, it was announced that the show would return to Broadway with a gala performance on October 16. The production had its final performance on January 16, 2022.

U.S. Equity Tour (2021)

It was announced on May 31, 2019, that the national equity tour would kick off in July 2020 at the

Providence Performing Arts Center The Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC), formerly Loew's State Theatre and Palace Concert Theater, is a multi-use not-for-profit theater located at 220 Weybosset Street in downtown Providence, Rhode Island. It was built in 1928 as a movie ...

Providence, Rhode Island Providence () is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Rhode Island, most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. The county seat of Providence County, Rhode Island, Providence County, it is o ...

. The premiere was postponed due to the

. It opened at the Durham Performing Arts Center in Durham, North Carolina on December 7, 2021. It played its final performance on March 3, 2024, at the Saenger Theater in New Orleans, Louisiana.

West End (2023)

A production began performances in the West End at the Prince Edward Theatre on March 31, 2023. The show closed at the Prince Edward Theatre on 17 September 2023. The show was originally set to run until 7 January 2024.

U.S. 2nd National Tour (2024)

The non-union 2nd National Tour began performances at the

CIBC Theatre CIBC Theatre is a performing arts theater located at 18 West Monroe Street in the Chicago Loop, Loop area of downtown Chicago. It is operated by Broadway In Chicago, part of the Nederlander Organization. Opened in 1906 as the ''Majestic Theatre' ...

Chicago, Illinois Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

on September 24, 2024.

Characters and original cast

Notable Cast Replacements

* Otis Williams: Nik Walker * Eddie Kendricks: Jelani Remy * Paul Williams: E. Clayton Cornelious * David Ruffin: Matt Manuel * Shelly Berger: Colin S. Kane

Musical numbers

Original Berkeley Rep production

*" Ain't Too Proud to Beg" *" All I Need" *" Baby Love" *" Ball of Confusion (That's What the World is Today)" *" Cloud Nine" *"

Come See About Me "Come See About Me" is a 1964 song recorded by the Supremes for the Motown label. The track opens with a fade-in, marking one of the first times the technique had been used on a studio recording. The song became third of five consecutively rel ...

" *" Don't Look Back" *" For Once in My Life" *" Get Ready" *" Gloria" *"

I Can't Get Next to You "I Can't Get Next to You" is a 1969 Single (music), single recorded by the Temptations and written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for the Gordy (Motown) label. The song was a No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100, ''Billboard'' Top Pop ...

" *" I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)" *"

(I Know) I'm Losing You "(I Know) I'm Losing You" is a 1966 hit single recorded by the Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label, written by Cornelius Grant, Eddie Holland and Norman Whitfield, and produced by Norman Whitfield. The group performed the song live o ...

" *"

I Want a Love I Can See "I Want a Love I Can See" is a 1963 single by The Temptations for the Gordy (Motown) label. The single was the group's first A-side and B-side, A-side to be written and produced by The Miracles, Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson. Robinson had p ...

" *" I Wish It Would Rain" *" If You Don't Know Me by Now" *"

I'm Gonna Make You Love Me "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" is a soul song most popularly released as a joint single performed by Diana Ross & the Supremes and the Temptations for the Motown label. This version peaked for two weeks at No. 2 on the Hot 100 in the United States ...

" *" In the Still of the Night" *"

Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me) "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" is a song by American soul group the Temptations, written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong. Released on the Gordy (Motown) label, and produced by Norman Whitfield, it features on the group ...

" *" My Girl" *" Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" *" Runaway Child, Running Wild" *" Shout" *" Since I Lost My Baby" *"

Speedo Speedo International Limited is an Australian-British distributor of Swimsuit, swimwear and swim-related accessories based in Nottingham, England. Founded in Sydney, Australia in 1914 by Alexander MacRae, a Scottish emigrant, the company is n ...

" *" Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)" *" The Way You Do the Things You Do" *"

War War is an armed conflict between the armed forces of states, or between governmental forces and armed groups that are organized under a certain command structure and have the capacity to sustain military operations, or between such organi ...

" *" What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" *"

You Can't Hurry Love "You Can't Hurry Love" is a song originally recorded by the Supremes on the Motown label. It was released on July 25, 1966 as the second single (music), single from their studio album ''The Supremes A' Go-Go''. Written and produced by Motown p ...

" *" You're My Everything"

Original Broadway production

; Act I * "The Way You Do The Things You Do" * "Runaway Child, Running Wild" * "Gloria" * "In The Still Of The Night"/"Speedo" * "Shout" * "I Want A Love I Can See" * "My Girl" * "Get Ready" * Supremes Medley: "You Can't Hurry Love"/"Come See About Me"/"Baby Love" * "Since I Lost My Baby " * "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" * "Don't Look Back"/"You're My Everything" * "If I Could Build My Whole World Around You" * "If You Don't Know Me By Now" * "(I Know) I'm Losing You" * "I Wish It Would Rain" * "I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)" ; Act II * "I Can't Get Next To You" * "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" * "War" * "Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today)" * "Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)" * "Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)" * "For Once In My Life" * "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone", Pt. 1 * "Cloud Nine" * "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone", Pt. 2 * "What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted" * "I Can't Get Next To You"

Recording

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.

Awards and nominations

Broadway production

References

External links

Internet Broadway Database
{{The Temptations 2017 musicals African-American musicals American rock musicals Broadway musicals Jukebox musicals Musicals inspired by real-life events Musicals set in the 1960s Musicals set in the 1970s Cultural depictions of soul musicians Musicals set in the United States The Temptations Tony Award–winning musicals