Photo by Matthew Murphy If you have any doubt that The Temptations were the greatest R&B group of all time, go see this incredible production at The Ahmanson theatre and you will come away a believer. The show is headed for Broadway where it will no doubt win several Tony Awards.
“Ain’t Too Proud” is the story of the original five members. Written by Dominque Morisseau, directed by award winning director, Des McAnuff and choreographed by the brilliant Sergio Trujillo. We get a poignant glimpse into their lives which included drugs, egos gone wild, friendships, loss, death and some of the most incredible music written by Smokey Robinson, Norman Whitfield and several others.
At the opening night performance on Friday, August 24 the crowd which included Berry Gordy, Mary Wilson of the Supremes, Sheldon Berger (The Temptations manager) John Legend, Lily Tomlin, Billy Crystal and Otis Wiliams, the founding and the only living member of the ‘Classic Five’, you could feel the excitement in the air. In fact, applause broke out even before the cast sang the first note.
This is an extraordinary show about an extraordinary group. The show features the group’s classic hits including “Just My Imagination,” “Papa Was A Rolling Stone,” “My Girl,” “Cloud Nine,” “I Wish It Would Rain” just to name a few of the greatest numbers from the legendary Motown Catalog.
But that’s not all. “Ain’t Too Proud” takes you on a powerful emotional journey through those turbulent times when The Temptations were making their way up the Motown ladder touching on Martin Luther King’s death, the Vietnam War, racism, segregation and political unrest.
What makes The Temptations so unique is after all these years, the group is still performing. The members may be different but the sound is the same.
Founded in 1960 by Otis Williams, Elbridge ‘Al’ Bryant (who was soon replaced by David Ruffin), Melvin Franklin, Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams they became known to this day as the Classic Five. There has been more than 24 members of The Temptations which span 60 years.
The cast including Derrick Baskin as Otis Williams, Ephraim Sykes (David Ruffin), James Harkness (Paul Williams) Jawan M. Jackson (Melvin Franklin), Jeremy Pope (Eddie Kendricks) Saint Aubyn (Dennis Edwards) are absolutely extraordinary from their singing to their moves, they will have you applauding and shouting Bravo even before their numbers are finished.
This is a musical that will stay with you long after the curtain falls.
“Ain’t To Proud” runs through Sept. 30, 2018
Show times are 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sundays.
Tickets: $30-160
The Ahmanson is located at 135 North Grand Avenue, L.A.
To Purchase call 213-4400 or go to www.centertheatregroup.org
Joan Alperin is a Los Angeles actress, writer and screenwriter.
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