Ain’t Too Proud at Berkeley Rep

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Ain’t Too Proud
The Life and Times of The Temptations

Book by Dominique Morisseau
Music and Lyrics from The Legendary Motown Catalog
Music by arrangement with Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Orchestrations by Harold Wheeler
Music Direction & Arrangements by Kenny Seymour
Choreographed by Sergio Trujillo
Directed by Des McAnuff
Limited Season · Roda Theatre
August 31–November 5, 2017
World premiere

Running time: 2 hours and 15 minutes, plus one 15-minute intermission

An electrifying new musical about the life and times of The Temptations, the greatest R&B group of all time (Billboard Magazine 2017). They were five young guys on the streets of Detroit when they were discovered by Berry Gordy, who signed them to his legendary new label. After 24 attempts, they finally had a hit and the rest is history—how they met, how they rose, the groundbreaking heights they hit, and how personal and political conflicts threatened to tear the group apart as the nation fell into civil unrest. Kennedy Prize-winning playwright Dominique Morisseau, Olivier Award-winning choreographer Sergio Trujillo, and two-time Tony Award-winning director Des McAnuff bring you this thrilling story of brotherhood, family, loyalty, and betrayal. Iconic hits like “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination,” and “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” and the signature dance moves that made the “Classic Five” Temptations part of our cultural history forever.

Creative team

Dominique Morisseau · Book
Sony/ATV Music Publishing · Music Licensing
Des McAnuff · Director
Sergio Trujillo · Choreographer
Harold Wheeler · Orchestrator
Kenny Seymour · Music Director / Arranger
Sean Kana · Associate Music Director
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
Steve Rankin · Fight Director
Edgar Godineaux · Associate Choreographer
Tara Rubin Casting · Casting
Merri Sugarman · Casting
Molly Meg Legal · Production Stage Manager
Karen Szpaller · Stage Manager
Chris Waters · Assistant Stage Manager
Kimille Howard · Assistant Director
Justin Humphres · Associate Scenic Designer
Anna Robinson · Assistant Scenic Designer
Rachel Attridge · Associate Costume Designer
Ryan O’Gara · Associate Lighting Designer
Walter Trarbach · Associate Sound Designer
Robert Figueira · Associate Projection Designer
Dan Vatsky · Projection Editor
Ashley Rae Callahan · Assistant Wig Design
Sarah Rose Leonard · Dramaturg
Claire Burke · Casting Associate
Richard Krishnan · Music Assistant
Megan Dieterle · Assistant to Des McAnuff
Krysta Hibbard · Assistant to Sergio Trujillo
Stori Ayers · Assistant to Dominique Morisseau
Matt Herman · Scenic Design Assistant
Yi-Chien Lee · Scenic Design Assistant
Sam Rojales · Scenic Design Assistant
Hana Kadoyama · Production Assistant

Cast

Esther Antoine · Swing / Dance Captain
Derrick Baskin · Otis Williams
Shawn Bowers · Lamont and others
Jeremy Cohen · Shelly Berger and others
E. Clayton Cornelious · Richard Street and others
James Harkness · Paul Williams / Dance Captain
Rodney Earl Jackson Jr. · Swing
Taylor Symone Jackson · Johnnie Mae and others
Jared Joseph · Melvin Franklin
Jahi Kearse · Berry Gordy and others
Jarvis B. Manning, Jr. · Al Bryant and others
Jeremy Pope · Eddie Kendricks
Devin L. Roberts · Swing
Rashidra Scott · Josephine and others
Caliaf St. Aubyn · Dennis Edwards and others / Fight Captain
Ephraim Sykes · David Ruffin
Nasia Thomas · Tammi Terrell and others
Christian Thompson · Smokey Robinson and others
Candice Marie Woods · Diana Ross and others

Band

Kenny Seymour · Conductor / Keyboard 1
Sean Kana · Associate Conductor / Keyboard 2
Clayton Craddock · Drums
Larry De La Cruz · Reeds
George Farmer · Bass
Lucas Gayda · Violin
Stuart Langsam · Percussion
Christina Owens · Violin
Keith Robinson · Guitar
Lane Sanders · Percussion
Chip Tingle · Trombone
John Trombetta · Trumpet
Sean Kana · Contractor
Steven M. Alper · Music Preparation

Not just your imagination: Temptations musical rocks! Richly textured, perfectly blended harmonies back lead vocals that somehow combine swaggering showmanship, meticulously honed technique and emotion of almost unbearable intensity.”

San Francisco Chronicle

Absolutely electrifying! The music alone is enough to make this a must-see theatrical event…A rich and rewarding pleasure.”

Theater Dogs

Throbs with grit and groove. Now more than ever, the magnitude of what the band accomplished, crossing over into the mainstream, and what they sacrificed to get there resonates. There’s nothing [like] the irresistible beat of the Temptations.”

Mercury News / Bay Area News Group

Watch now

Behind the scenes: Ain’t Too Proud

See what happens backstage in the minutes leading up to curtain of this show celebrating the life and times of The Temptations.

Official trailer: Ain’t Too Proud

Get a glimpse of the electrifying new musical about the life and times of The Temptations!

Behind the scenes: Dominique Morisseau and Otis Williams

Ain’t Too Proud—The Life and Times of The Temptations writer Dominique Morisseau and The Temptations founding member Otis Williams talk about the legacy of The Temptations and how their story is relevant today.

Sneak peek: Ain’t Too Proud

Drop by rehearsal and listen to the hit songs, see the electrifying choreography, and hear from the creative team behind our new musical about the life and times of The Temptations.

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Ain’t Too Proud press photos ...

Photos courtesy of Carole Litwin and Kevin Berne/Berkeley Repertory Theatre

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Ain’t Too Proud—The Life and Times of The Temptations

Ain’t Too Proud The Life and Times of The Temptations