Berkeley Repertory Theatre’s upcoming season has some new and exciting works from creators such as Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket of A Series of Unfortunate Events), Dominique Morisseau, Nilaja Sun, and Lillian Hellman. Most importantly, the 2017-18 line-up will bring forth a look at the biggest male R&B group: The Temptations.
Ain’t Too Proud–The Temptations, penned by Morisseau, will begin in August, with direction by Des McAnuff, who staged the Broadway hit Jersey Boys. Aside from McAnuff, the creative team includes Olivier Award-winning choreographer Sergio Trujillo and musical director and supervisor Kenny Seymour.
Billed as The Detroit Project, the Motown-inspired musical listed an equity casting notice on Playbill last December with characters such as Otis Williams, Paul Williams, Eddie Kendricks, Melvin Franklin, Elbridge “Al” Bryant, and David Ruffin (who later replaced Bryant). Other roles include the legendary Smokey Robinson and Tammi Terrell, as well as Dennis Edwards, the Supremes’ Mary Wilson, Richard Street.
The show follows the group from their start in Detroit to their rise to fame, including the production of several hits for Motown. The musical will focus on the group’s “heydey” and not the latter years including drugs and internal turmoil. As Showbiz411‘s Roger Friedman reports: “While the plotline sounds similar to Broadway’s recent offering, Motown The Musical, the show will tell the story from the five musicians’ point of view, rather than from that of Motown legend Berry Gordy.”
Audiences can expect to hear traditional Temptations hits from the Motown catalogue, such as “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination,” and “Poppa Was a Rolling Stone.”
For more information, visit Berkeley Repertory Theatre.
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