AIN'T TOO PROUD - The Temptations Musical Bound for Broadway in 2018

[Cfried]

Posted: 6/8/17 at 9:43pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Aint-Too-Proud-to-Beg-Will-the-Temptations-Make-Their-Broadway-Debut-20170608

 

Updated On: 6/8/17 at 09:43 PM

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 6/8/17 at 10:33pm

Motown + Jersey Boys? I don't hate the idea. I wonder if they could attract anyone known (at least in theater) to the project or if they'd go for unknowns. 

[bwaylyric]

Posted: 6/8/17 at 11:10pm

What happens in Vegas comes to Broadway. 

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 9/1/17 at 10:23pm

havin a beer to cool off before going to the second preview of aint too proud-know the music is great

so curious about the book sets costumes and of course the performances

will report back with first impressions

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 9/1/17 at 10:23pm

havin a beer to cool off before going to the second preview of aint too proud-know the music is great

so curious about the book sets costumes and of course the performances

will report back with first impressions

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 9/2/17 at 9:43am

Man, why'd we have 3 stellar seasons, and now such a sucky season?

[ACL2006]

Posted: 9/2/17 at 11:04am

Might as well come in this season with all the other theme park garbage coming in. They should just give the Tony to THE BAND'S VISIT now.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 9/2/17 at 3:48pm

broadwaysfguy said: "havin a beer to cool off before going to the second preview of aint too proud-know the music is great

so curious about the book sets costumes and of course the performances

will report back with first impressions"

 

 Here's a sneak peek in rehearsal. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fxe60GVW034

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBfxaVlZZ7w



Thoughts?  They have great creatives involved - cast....Title sucks...just call it "My Girl"!

Dreamgirls though will get all the attention this spring so they should just wait for next season-fall. Question: Is it any good...ready for Broadway?

Updated On: 9/2/17 at 03:48 PM

[Blockhead24]

Posted: 9/2/17 at 6:00pm

Robbie2 said: "broadwaysfguy said: "havin a beer to cool off before going to the second preview of aint too proud-know the music is great

so curious about the book sets costumes and of course the performances

will report back with first impressions"



Here's a sneak peek in rehearsal.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fxe60GVW034

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBfxaVlZZ7w



Thoughts? They have great creatives involved - cast....Title sucks...just call it "My Girl"!

Dreamgirls though will get all the attention this springs they should just wait for next season-fall. Question: Is it any good...ready for Broadway?"

Idk as "ain't too proud to beg" is probably my favorite temptations song I love the title. 

There's very little on the way of social media reviews but so far they're positive. 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 9/2/17 at 7:47pm

I looked... don't see a thing...anyone?

Updated On: 9/2/17 at 07:47 PM

[NYfanfromCA]

Posted: 9/2/17 at 11:38pm

broadwaysfguy said: "havin a beer to cool off before going to the second preview of aint too proud-know the music is great

so curious about the book sets costumes and of course the performances

will report back with first impressions"

Looking forward to your impressions.  I was wondering if I should see this.

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 9/3/17 at 12:55am

I Absolutely LOVED "Aint Too Proud" which had its second preview last night in Berkeley California  and strongly recommend it to anyone in the bay area or coming to the bay area. most shows are nearly sold out already.  

In a few words;"Heart & Soul" is what this show delivers-the heart demonstrated by the narrator and founder/leader of the the Temptations, Otis Williams (played to perfection by Derrick Baskin  of OBC Memphis, 25th Annual Putnam, Little Mermaid), and the Hot and Sweet Soul that the absolutely jaw dropping group of talented actors portraying the Temptations lays down, led by the electrifying performance of Ephraim Sykes(of NBCs Hairspray and obcs of Hamilton, Memphis, Motown) as David Ruffin and Jeremy Pope as Eddie Kendricks.

Unless you are in your mid 60s or older, you probably never experienced the thrilling energy of a mid sixties soul group: combining incredible vocals, gospel infused harmonies, stunning choreography and tons of raw dripping sweat and soul. The show opens with the five Temps delivering a smoldering version of one of their biggest hits, complete with all of the above elements and the berkeley audience just went crazy.

Then Derrick/Otis starts with the back story and rise of the the most successful crossover R&B group in history, with Derrick/Otis seamlessly pivoting between fourth wall narrator and being himself in the story as it unfolds. Of course the story weaves through the Temps rise to the top and also interweaves the African African experience in the 60's including violence against the group as they were touring the deep south the unrest in Detroit, and their experiencing the shocking murder of Dr King, and their desire to speak up in the late 60's through their songs, while often clashing with their mentor and record producer Berry Gordy,  Unlike Motown,the musical, which was pure Jukebox, there is space here for character development between Otis the founder of the band, the other original temps, Gordy, and Otis's strained relationship with his son. 

Most of the show thankfully focused on the great songs of the Temptations as performances vs shoehorning songs to "advance the plot'  and oh the glorious Temptations songs and explosive performances by Sykes(Tony nom worthy performance) Baskin (Tony nom worthy performance) the amazing Jeremy Pope as Eddie Kendricks, Jared Joseph bringing that famous bass line of Melvin Franklin, and James Harkness as Paul Williams, the choreographer for the original Temptations.

Aint Too Proud to Beg, My Girl , Heard it through the Grapevine,  Just my imagination, The Way you do the things you do, I wish it would rain, Get Ready, Im gonna make you love me, Cloud Nine, Ball of Confusion, I Cant Get Next to you- All these iconic songs were performed, and most got full on sweaty soul, stunning vocals, and fantastically choreographed production numbers and kept the show moving and the audience dancing in their seats and spontaneously standing and dancing. Huge kudos to orchestrations magician Harold Wheeler and bad ass musical direction by Kenny Seymour. This band smoked and played everyone out of the theatre front and center after curtain call.

Staging including the seemingly now standard turntable and also a conveyor that pulled mic stands, small stage items and even people across the front of stage. The sets also used background projections that worked well and featured a full size convertible cadillac.

Other supporting cast members, including Jahi Kearse (Berry Gordy) Candice Marie Woods (Diana Ross) were all top notch. This was the second live performance so there were a few small fumbles on lines. The cast has strong broadway resumes and this show feels a lot to me like when I saw the second preview of Beautiful in that this show and cast and team are very close to broadway ready.  One of the team members told me they are waiting for a theatre to open up and all plans are go for a spring 2018 opening.

Temptations founder and author of the biography which the book is based on (and also the great mini series that aired on TV) Otis Williams was in attendance, and is a beautiful soul with a strong quiet dignity and strength about him. Otis took photos with attendees during intermission and after the show until the last fan had their photo or autograph. Also attending was the Temps longtime manager Shelly Berger

The "messages" of the musical and of Otis's life are clear and straight-forward, and delivered in a way that was not preachy at all- He found a "higher calling" which was the music and entertaining others,  The band members were his family of "brothers" and the band came first, above any individual band member /brother(several were asked to leave for drug abuse and bad behavior) The band also came first over family (sadly) or Otis's or other members individual ambitions (to write more original songs, to be the name star, etc.)

If I have any liner notes for producers, its that the second act is pretty sad (four of the original five temps are dead by their early fifties and met tragic ends)  and would like to see a little more balance in the second act of the book between the tragedies and the good times. (the second act  performances of songs acted as positive great mood changers and also as dramatic enhancers when songs did advance the plot like the placement of I wish it would rain)  

While I think Otis's values and feelings were pretty well represented, I would like to know even a bit more about Otis's drive and resilience to keep going (he's still touring with the Temps at age 75) and there have been 24 Temptation members in the brotherhood.  

I also thought the relationship with his son kind of popped in and out in an almost random way, and I think we went from seeing his son as a baby to being a man going off to work and it seemed out of synch with the timeline  in years to me.  This is a "jukebox biopic" musical, and if you try to compare it to an original musical like Dear Evan Hansen or Hamilton, its not really a fair comparison.  My 'fair" comparables to this show are Jersey Boys, Beautiful, On Your Feet, Million Dollar Quartet and Motown.      

 Director Des McAnuff won the Tony and the Olivier for Jersey Boys, and the direction and pacing is crisp and transitions are pretty seamless. Des spoke before the show letting the audience knows this is a preview and things happen, and their was a brief stoppage for a set malfunction in the first act.  Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys, Memphis, On Your Feet) delivers the goods again. Most choreography focuses on band performances, there is a wonderful large production number at the end,  Lighting was fantastic by Howell Binkley (Hamilton tony winner) costumes were colorful and groovy by Paul Tazewell (Hamilton, In the Heights) Sound was fantastic by Steve Canyon Kennedy ( Jersey Boys Hairspray the Producers)  As you can see this project attracted the "A+ List" for the creative team and it really showed in the final product.

I sat in the front row mezzanine for the first act, and the front row side of the orchestra for the second act. Both vantage points worked for me-given the staging and choreography its ideal to be at least 5-6 rows back.

I predict a strong and very successful multi-year Broadway run for this show if its promoted properly and a very successful tour, and when they run it in London it will probably play for a decade. 

Ain't Too Proud  reaches for and succeeds in attaining the artistic  excellence and entertainment levels of Jersey Boys and Beautiful (with much greater levels of Sweat & Soul of course!)

And that's saying something.....

Updated On: 9/3/17 at 12:55 AM

[Blockhead24]

Posted: 9/3/17 at 1:04am

Thank you so so much for your review!! Can't wait to see this in a few weeks.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 9/3/17 at 1:04am

Wow, I didn't realize those were the names behind this show's creative team. I'm kind of intrigued now.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 9/3/17 at 2:34am

There's no way this doesn't go to Broadway in the Spring. With that creative team? C'mon. While I find it to be kinda "eh" - I hate narration and the whole thing sounds like a VH1: Behind the Music - I'm sure it will do well on Broadway. 

[Alexander Lamar]

Posted: 9/3/17 at 6:51am

Sounds a lot like The Temps miniseries...which I love so I'm intrigued. Please tell me the show has "Papa Was A Rolling Stone"?

[JBroadway]

Posted: 9/3/17 at 10:31am

broadwaysfguy said: "Most of the show thankfully focused on the great songs of the Temptations as performances vs shoehorning songs to "advance the plot'" 

 

But advancing the plot is what the songs are supposed to do in musical theatre! Ideally they would do so without feeling shoehorned in, which is the big challenge with jukebox musicals. What you're describing sounds similar to how Jersey Boys and large portions of Beautiful are structured, but the songs in those musicals still feel extremely shoehorned IMO. 

I'll go in with in open mind if this comes to Broadway, but to me this is a huge red flag.

Glad to hear people have been enjoying it though. In addition to broadwaysfguy, I've seen a few positive reports from some of my Berkeley friends. 

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 9/3/17 at 11:58am

alexander

-yes this is based on the same book Otis wrote that they turned into the mini series, just more abbreviated for a mini-series

JBroadway-

yes of course I agree with you that songs advancing the plot is a core element of musicals and with the advent of the jukebox and biopic the art form at its very best (Jersey Boys and Beautiful in recent years) seems to be smart enough when telling the story of a band or performer to let the greatest songs and performances speak for themselves while showing some restraint on shoehorning in songs that can "advance or reflect the plot"  to those that really do it the best, which admittedly is a very hard thing to do and one of the reasons I love original musicals so much (still buzzing from seeing Dear Evan Hansen and Come from Away recently) and am skeptical upfront as you are of biopic jukebox shows.  

If you liked Jersey Boys and Beautiful you will very probably like Ain't Too Proud.  

The format of course feels even more like Jersey Boys than other shows, because much of the creative team including the great director comes from that show and Jersey Boys also is the most successful musical jukebox biopic to date in the US, so its a great template to model.

I did notice that jersey and ATP had a number of commonalities in story and presentation. I did not find this bothersome or "copycat" in feeling. Some that come to mind include:

Otis and Jersey Boys both straightening up after a stint in prison

the fourth wall to jumping back into scene narration

the big opening number sometime at the height of their career, and the backward narration

Similar song performance staging treatments on when on a tv show and in concert

The interplays and tensions between band members(every band has this)

the enduring and strongest bond between Frankie and his songwriter, and Otis and Melvin

the ending with life on the road and focus on the music and serving and entertaining the fans

I'm sure there are many others that the harder core jersey boys fans will spot over time.

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 9/3/17 at 1:06pm

one more thought on advancing the plot in a music biopic

When you are a working band being on the road and performing and recording is your "reason for being" and IS the story and every time you perform or record in a studio with some weave in to the storyline it IS advancing the plot....

:)

 

[canadian fan]

Posted: 9/3/17 at 3:47pm

Ummm......YES!!  This would be top of my list of must sees. Love the music, so much subject matter. Had the pleasure to see Otis Williams and the temps perform about 15 years ago in San Diego. Such an honour. 

[bk]

Posted: 9/3/17 at 5:33pm

Aren't you the same person who LOVED!!!!!!!! Roman Holiday?  Are you going to see this show as many times as that show?  :)

[JayG 2]

Posted: 9/3/17 at 5:50pm

Oh goody another brain dead juke box musical. 

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 9/3/17 at 9:31pm

hi bk-thanks for the friendly poke....

here's the closing of  my 52617 review of roman holiday

"I saw early pre broadway previews of Beautiful and Legally Blonde, and this show is nowhere near either of them at this point.  This felt a lot more like the Amelie out of town tryout ( a notch above it) and may be destined for a similar fate unless they make some big changes and find a dazzling star for the princess role. Even then I'm just not sure this story was ever meant to be, or could be, a great musical. I hope I'm proven wrong."

Ain't Too Proud, its creative team and the cast are in a completely different league than Roman Holiday....  

I do tend to see and get enthusiastic about the positives in musicals, because I love musicals and also having be a musician I appreciate that talented people are putting themselves out there.

 

[Alexander Lamar]

Posted: 9/3/17 at 10:26pm

Is "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" part of the show? Was there a songlist in the playbill? If so, can you post it?

[Robbie2]

Posted: 9/3/17 at 10:44pm

broadwaysfguy said: "I Absolutely LOVED"Aint Too Proud" which had its second preview last night in Berkeley California and strongly recommend it to anyone in the bay area or coming to the bay area. most shows are nearly sold out already.

In a fewwords;"Heart & Soul" is what this show delivers-the heart demonstrated by the narrator and founder/leader of the the Temptations, Otis Williams (played to perfection by Derrick Baskin of OBC Memphis, 25th Annual Putnam, Little Mermaid), and the Hot and SweetSoul that the absolutely jaw dropping group of talented actors portraying the Temptations lays down, led by the electrifying performance of Ephraim Sykes(of NBCs Hairspray and obcs of Hamilton, Memphis, Motown) as David Ruffin andJeremy Pope as Eddie Kendricks.

Unless you are in yourmid 60s or older, you probably never experienced the thrilling energy of a mid sixties soul group: combining incredible vocals, gospel infused harmonies, stunning choreography and tons of raw dripping sweat and soul. The show opens with the five Temps delivering a smoldering version of one of their biggest hits, complete with all of the above elements and the berkeleyaudience just went crazy.

Then Derrick/Otis starts with the back story and rise of the the most successful crossoverR&B group in history, with Derrick/Otis seamlessly pivoting between fourth wall narrator and being himself in the story as it unfolds. Of course the story weaves through the Temps rise to the top and also interweaves the African African experience in the 60's including violence against the group as they were touring the deep souththe unrest in Detroit,and their experiencing the shocking murder of Dr King, and their desire to speak up in the late 60's through their songs, while often clashing with their mentor and record producer Berry Gordy, Unlike Motown,the musical, which was pure Jukebox, there is space here for character development between Otis the founder of the band, the other original temps, Gordy, and Otis's strained relationship with his son.

Most of the show thankfully focused on the great songs of the Temptations as performances vs shoehorning songs to "advance the plot' and oh the glorious Temptations songs and explosive performances by Sykes(Tony nom worthy performance) Baskin (Tony nom worthy performance) the amazing Jeremy Pope as Eddie Kendricks, Jared Joseph bringing that famous bass line of Melvin Franklin,and James Harkness as Paul Williams, the choreographer for the original Temptations.

Aint Too Proud to Beg, My Girl , Heard it through the Grapevine, Just my imagination, TheWay you do the things you do, I wish it would rain, Get Ready, Im gonna make you love me, Cloud Nine, Ball of Confusion, I Cant Get Next to you- All these iconic songs were performed, and most got full on sweaty soul, stunning vocals, and fantastically choreographed production numbers and kept the show moving and the audience dancing in their seats and spontaneously standing and dancing.Huge kudos to orchestrations magician Harold Wheeler and bad ass musical direction by Kenny Seymour. This band smoked and played everyone out of the theatre front and center after curtain call.

Staging including the seemingly now standard turntable and also a conveyor that pulled mic stands, small stage items and even people across the front of stage. The sets also used background projections that worked well and featured a full size convertible cadillac.

Other supporting cast members, including Jahi Kearse (Berry Gordy) Candice Marie Woods (Diana Ross) were all top notch. This was the second live performance so there were a few small fumbles on lines. The cast has strong broadway resumes and this show feels a lot to me like when I saw the second preview of Beautiful in that this show and cast and team are very close to broadway ready. One of the team memberstold me they are waiting for a theatre to open up and all plans are go for a spring 2018 opening.

Temptations founder and author of the biography which the book is based on (and also the great mini series that aired on TV) Otis Williams was in attendance, and is a beautiful soul with a strong quiet dignity and strength about him.Otistook photos with attendees during intermission and after the show until the last fan had their photo or autograph. Also attending was the Temps longtime manager Shelly Berger

The "messages" of the musical and of Otis's life are clear and straight-forward, and delivered in a way that was not preachy at all- He found a "higher calling"which was the music and entertaining others, The band members were his family of "brothers" and the band came first, above any individual band member /brother(several were asked to leave for drug abuse and bad behavior) The band also came first over family (sadly) or Otis's or other members individual ambitions (to write more original songs, to be the name star, etc.)

If I have any liner notes for producers, its that the second act is pretty sad (four of the original five temps are dead by their early fifties and met tragic ends) and would like to see a little more balance in the second act of the book between the tragedies and the good times. (the second act performances of songs acted as positivegreat mood changers and also as dramatic enhancers when songs did advance the plot like the placement of I wish it would rain)

While I think Otis's values and feelings were pretty wellrepresented, I would like to know even a bit more about Otis's drive and resilience to keep going (he's still touring with the Temps at age 75) and there have been 24 Temptation membersin the brotherhood.

I also thought the relationship with his son kind of popped in and out in an almost random way, and I think we went from seeing his son as a baby to being a man going off to work and it seemed out of synch with the timelinein years to me. This is a "jukebox biopic"musical, and if you try to compare it to an original musical like Dear Evan Hansen or Hamilton, its not really a fair comparison. My 'fair" comparables to this show are Jersey Boys, Beautiful, On Your Feet, Million Dollar Quartet andMotown.

Director Des McAnuff won the Tony and the Olivier for Jersey Boys, and the direction and pacing is crisp and transitions are pretty seamless. Des spoke before the show letting the audience knows this is a preview and things happen, and their was a brief stoppage for a set malfunction in the first act. Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys, Memphis, On Your Feet) delivers the goods again. Most choreography focuses on band performances, there is a wonderful large production number at the end, Lighting was fantastic by Howell Binkley (Hamilton tony winner) costumeswere colorful and groovy by Paul Tazewell (Hamilton, In the Heights) Sound was fantastic by Steve Canyon Kennedy ( Jersey Boys Hairspray the Producers) As you can see this project attracted the "A+ List" for the creative team and it really showed in the final product.

I sat in the front row mezzanine for the first act, and the front row side of the orchestra for the second act. Both vantage points worked for me-given the staging and choreography its ideal to be at least 5-6 rows back.

I predict a strong and very successful multi-year Broadway run for this show if its promoted properly and a very successful tour, and when they run it in London it will probably play for a decade.

Ain't Too Proud reachesfor and succeeds in attaining the artistic excellence and entertainment levels of Jersey Boys and Beautiful (with much greater levels ofSweat & Soul of course!)

And that's saying something....."

 

thanks for sharing your review... it sounds as if you really enjoyed it . Please post a song list.