Temptations Musical Ain't Too Proud Announces Pre-Broadway Run

Dominique Morisseau's musical Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations will play a five-week, pre-Broadway engagement at the Kennedy Center, June 18-July 22, 2018. The Berkeley Repertory Theatre production is directed by Des McAnuff and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo.

Exploring the rise and history of the iconic Motown music group, Ain't Too Proud features a book by Morisseau, with a score of hits culled from the legendary Motown catalogue (by arrangement with Sony/ATV Music Publishing). During its world premiere run at Berkeley Rep, Ain't Too Proud broke box office records and became the highest-grossing production in the theater's history.

The full company will be announced in the coming months. The Berkeley Rep cast was made up of Esther Antoine (swing), Derrick Baskin (Otis Williams), Shawn Bowers (Lamont), Jeremy Cohen (Shelly Berger), E. Clayton Cornelious (Richard Street), James Harkness (Paul Williams), Rodney Earl Jackson Jr. (swing), Taylor Symone Jackson (Johnnie Mae), Jared Joseph (Melvin Franklin), Jahi Kearse (Berry Gordy), Jarvis B. Manning Jr. (Al Bryant), Jeremy Pope (Eddie Kendricks), Devin L. Roberts (swing), Rashidra Scott (Josephine), Caliaf St. Aubyn (Dennis Edwards), Ephraim Sykes (David Ruffin), Nasia Thomas (Tammi Terrell), Christian Thompson (Smokey Robinson), and Candice Marie Woods (Diana Ross).

The creative team includes Robert Brill (scenic design), Paul Tazewell (costume design), Howell Binkley (lighting design), Steve Canyon Kennedy (sound design), Peter Nigrini (projection design), Charles G. LaPointe (hair and wig design), and Steve Rankin (fight direction). Orchestrations are by Harold Wheeler with music direction and arrangements by Kenny Seymour.

Ain’t Too Proud is presented through special arrangement with Ira Pittelman and Tom Hulce.