West Coast critics have been filing their reviews for the Broadway-aimed Ain't Too Proud—The Life and Times of The Temptations musical, which officially opened September 14 at Berkeley Repertory Theatre. As previously reported, the new musical has been extended through November 5 at the California theatre.
Directed by Tony winner Des McAnuff, the world premiere, presented by special arrangement with Ira Pittelman and Tom Hulce, began performances August 31.
Ain't Too Proud charts the rise of popular R&B group The Temptations. The new musical features such classics as “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination,” and “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” a book by Kennedy Prize-winning playwright Dominique Morisseau, and choreography by Olivier Award winner Sergio Trujillo.
Read reviews for the debut production:
Berkeleyside (Emily S. Mendel)
The Mercury News (Karen D'Souza)
The Oakland Post (Conway Jones)
Playbill will continue to update with reviews as they come in.
The cast includes Derrick Baskin as Otis Williams, Shawn Bowers as Lamont, Jeremy Cohen as Shelley Berger, E. Clayton Cornelious as Richard Stret, James Harkness as Paul Williams, Taylor Symone Jackson as Johnnie Mae, Jared Joseph as Melvin Franklin, Jahi Kearse as Berry Gordy, Jarvis B. Manning, Jr. as Al, Jeremy Pope as Eddie Kendricks, Rashidra Scott as Josephine, Caliaf St. Aubyn as Dennis, Ephraim Sykes as David Ruffin, Nasia Thomas as Mama Rose, Christian Thompson as Smokey Robinson, and Candice Marie Woods as Diana Ross.
Rounding out the company are Esther Antoine, Rodney Earl Jackson, Jr., and Devin L. Roberts.
The production has music and lyrics from The Legendary Motown Catalogue, music by arrangement with Sony/ATV Music Publishing, orchestrations by Harold Wheeler, musical direction and arrangements by Kenny Seymour, scenic design by Robert Brill, costume design by Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Howell Binkley, sound design by Steve Canyon Kennedy, projection design by Peter Nigrini, hair and wig design by Charles G. La Pointe, and fight direction by Steve Rankin.
For tickets and more information visit BerkeleyRep.org and by phone at (510) 647-2949.
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