"Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of the Temptations" - Hanover Theatre (Worcester, MA.) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: Jamenson Clanton, Josiah Travis Kent Rogers, Lowes Moore, Rudy Foster and Bryce Valle as the TEMPTATIONS from the musical "AIN'T TOO PROUD - THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS!" now playing at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester, MA. through November 10, 2024. Photo Credit: Joan Marcus)
By Kevin T. Baldwin
METRMAG Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
“Papa was a rolling stone - Wherever he laid his hat was his home.”
- (“The Temptations”) / Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield
The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts
Presents the Tony Award®-Winning
"AIN'T TOO PROUD - THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS!"
Music and Lyrics by The Temptations
Book by Dominique Morisseau
Director Des McAnuff
Choreographer Sergio Trujillo
Orchestrations Harold Wheeler
Music Consultant and Arrangement Kenny Seymour
Originally Produced by Tom Hulce, Ira Pittelman, Stephen Gabriel, Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Basis: The Life and Songs of The Temptations
Cast Includes: Rudy Foster as “Otis Williams,” Bryce Valle as “Paul Williams,” Jameson Clanton as “Melvin Franklin,” Lowes Moore as “Eddie Kendricks,” Josiah Travis Kent Rogers as “David Ruffin,” Cedric Jamaal Greene as “Slick Talk Fella/Smokey Robinson/Damon Harris,” Jamal Stone as “Straight Talk Fella/Dennis Edwards,” Mikey Corey Hassel as “Gloria Soloist/Interviewer/Delivery Man/Richard Street/Lamont,” Robert Crenshaw as “Al Bryant/Norman Whitfield,” Kaila Symone Crowder as “Mama Rose/Florence Ballard/Tammi Terrell,” Reyanna Edwards as “Johnnie Mae/Mary Wilson,” Kerry D’Jovanni as “Berry Gordy,” Jasmine Barboa as “Diana Ross/Josephine,” Max Herskovitz as “Shelly Berger.”
Additional Creative Team:
Scenic Design – Robert Brill; Costume Design – Sue Makkoo; Lighting Design 0 Ryan O’Gara; Sound Design – Jeff Human; Projection Design – Peter Nigrini; Hair and Wig Design 0 Ashley Rae Callahan; Original Costume Design – Paul Tazewell; Original Hair and Wig Design – Charles G. LaPointe; Fight Director – Steve Rankin; Production Supervisor – Molly Meg Legal; Production Stage Manager – Jenna Wadleigh; Music Director/Conductor – Eli Bigelow; Company Manager – Michael Coglan; Tour Resident Director – Brian Harlan Brooks; Associate Choreographer – Brett Michael Lockley; Music Supervisor – Rick Hip-Flores; Technical Supervisor – Port City Technical, Ryan George; Casting – Whitley Theatrical, Benton Whitley CSA; Executive Producers – Otis Williams, Shelly Berger; General Management – Work Light Productions, Courtney King.
Performances:
November 8, 2024 through November 10, 2024
(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)
Presented at the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester.
TICKETS:
For More Information: 877-571-SHOW (7469) info@thehanovertheatre.org
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COVID 19 PROTOCOLS
Contact Venue for Most Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Information.
The National Tour of "AIN'T TOO PROUD - THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS!" hits the stage at the Hanover Theatre and it is an exciting musical about a tumultuous time as reflected in American music.
"AIN'T TOO PROUD" is a musical based on the legacy of the legendary TEMPTATIONS with its book by Dominique Morisseau.
It follows the TEMPTATIONS' journey from the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
With their signature dance moves and unmistakable harmonies, they rose to the top of the charts creating an amazing 42 Top Ten Hits with 14 reaching number one.
"AIN'T TOO PROUD" has a tremendous score and is filled with so many memorable tunes that Hanover Theatre audiences will most likely recognize instantly.
The 2019 Broadway smash opened to rave reviews and seemingly endless accolades.
But then, in March, 2020, like theatres all over the world, the show was forced to suspend production due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The show would return to Broadway in 2021 where it would conclude its run in 2022 before moving onto tour.
(Photo: Josiah Travis Kent Rogers as "David Ruffin" from the musical "AIN'T TOO PROUD - THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS!" now playing at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester, MA. through November 10, 2024. Photo Credit: Joan Marcus)
Nominated for 11 Tony Awards "AIN'T TOO PROUD" would pick up the award for Best Choreography by Sergio Trujillo.
Now it has landed at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester and the show is fierce in presentation and tight in most of its execution.
Told from the perspective of the group's founding original member Otis Williams (Rudy Foster) the production has a wealth of talent involved, led by Foster who is on stage throughout most of the two-and-a-half hour musical serving as our guide and narrator.
As is the case with many biographical-based jukebox musicals, not only does the story tell the tale of the artists involved, it also reflects the era in which they achieved their notoriety.
Foster as Williams is an amiable presence and conveys the message of a man who comes over as honest and devoted to his bandmates in the TEMPTATIONS.
Williams, as portrayed in the musical, is shown as seeing them as his family - as brothers - although that devotion means sacrificing his literal family obligations on occasion.
(Photo: Rudy Foster, Lowes Moore, Josiah Travis Kent Rogers, Jamenson Clanton and Bryce Valle as the TEMPTATIONS from the musical "AIN'T TOO PROUD - THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS!" now playing at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester, MA. through November 10, 2024. Photo Credit: Joan Marcus)
The TEMPTATIONS' story unfolded during one of the most tumultuous eras imaginable, and here we feel we are right along side them during their journey, at least as presented in "AIN'T TOO PROUD."
Many events takes place with many great highs and substantial lows.
Struggles and successes are witnessed - and we either cheer or mourn where appropriate and yet we are never ambivalent toward these events, which is a testament to their story.
The list of memorable tunes (at least memorable to folks of a certain age) includes: "The Way You Do The Things You Do," "Shout," "My Girl," the Smokey Robinson-penned "Get Ready,” "Ain't Too Proud To Beg," "I Can't Get Next To You," "Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today)" and more, all performed by a dynamite Ensemble which, through Trujillo's choreography, replicates the iconic style moves associated with the TEMPTATIONS.
(Photo: Rudy Foster as "Otis Williams" with Jasmine Barboa as "Josephine Williams" in a scene from the musical "AIN'T TOO PROUD - THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS!" now playing at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester, MA. through November 10, 2024. Photo Credit: Joan Marcus)
In addition to hits of the TEMPTATIONS, "AIN'T TOO PROUD" has a plethora of Motown standards that includes a medley of hits by the Supremes and others.
In addition to Foster as Williams, the other members making up the original line up include:
Bryce Valle as “Paul Williams,” and Valle is an exceptional singer who also shows us WIlliams' heartbreaking struggles with substance abuse and health;
Jameson Clanton as “Melvin Franklin,” (aka "Blue") who was one of Foster's first members.
Clanton is charismatic and funny as Franklin who was one that maintained a solid, steadfast loyalty and lifelong friendship with Foster, even when pitted against other members of their group;
(Photo: Jamenson Clanton, Josiah Travis Kent Rogers, Lowes Moore, Rudy Foster and Bryce Valle as the TEMPTATIONS from the musical "AIN'T TOO PROUD - THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS!" now playing at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester, MA. through November 10, 2024. Photo Credit: Joan Marcus)
Rounding out the original group are Lowes Moore as “Eddie Kendricks” and Josiah Travis Kent Rogers as “David Ruffin,” frenetic dynamos on stage in nearly every single energetic number.
Moore as Kendricks is intense as he shows us (as written) a man with a distinctive falsetto singing style on "The Way You Do the Things You Do", "Get Ready" and "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)."
Josiah Travis Kent Rogers is equally absorbing as “David Ruffin,” whose endless talent (as showcased on songs like "My Girl" and the show's title song "AIN'T TOO PROUD (TO BEG)" ) became equaled by Ruffin's personal demons that were ultimately to be his undoing (spoiler alert but this is history).
Cast members help in all scene transitions and the show is supported well by tremendous visual effects that propel the journey of these men, these artists, these brothers-in-arms, forward.
(Video: Promo for the musical "AIN'T TOO PROUD - THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS!" now playing at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester, MA. through November 10th, 2024. Photo Courtesy tour website)
As wonderfully constructed as the musical is, there were some minor but noticeable technical issues during the November 8th Hanover Theatre performance.
Foster was placed into a suitcoat with a minor tear which soon evolved into a major tear during a fast-paced TEMPTATIONS' number.
Additionally, there was a repeated issue with feedback generated mostly center stage.
Finally, while one might never compare the TEMPTATIONS to the Rockettes, the dance moves in some of the various TEMPTATIONS combinations of members was not always as synchronous as it could have been.
Almost all of these minor grievances were quickly forgiven by an audience who simply enjoyed watching virtually every single musical moment and was hard pressed not to sing along with every song, as well.
"AIN'T TOO PROUD - THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS!" continues at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester until November 10th.
So, to lift from the iconic Smokey Robinson, “Get Ready” for some great moves, great songs and great times.
After the holidays, coming up next in the Hanover Broadway Series is the smash Broadway musical “DEAR EVAN HANSEN” by Justin Paul, Benj Pasek and Steven Levenson beginning January 10th, 2025.
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Approximately two hours, 30 minutes with one intermission.
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
ABOUT THE SHOW
Nominated for 12 Tony Awards® and the winner of the 2019 Tony Award® for Best Choreography, this electrifying smash-hit Broadway musical follows THE TEMPTATIONS' extraordinary journey from the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
"AIN'T TOO PROUD" is a jukebox musical that follows THE TEMPTATIONS' profound career and musical legacy.
With their signature dance moves and unmistakable harmonies, THE TEMPTATIONS rose to the top of the charts creating an amazing 42 Top Ten Hits with14 reaching number one.
The show features the creation of the band, the groundbreaking heights they hit, and how personal and political conflicts threatened to tear the group apart as the United States fell into civil unrest.
Set to the beat of the group’s treasured hits, including “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination,” “Get Ready,” and “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” "AIN'T TOO PROUD" tells the unforgettable story of the legendary quintet that Billboard Magazine named "the greatest R&B group of all time." (STAGEAGENT)
For More Information call the Box Office at # 877-571-SHOW (7469) or email info@thehanovertheatre.org
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ABOUT HANOVER THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
Worcester Center for Performing Arts is a registered not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, which owns and operates The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
HANOVER THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
2 Southbridge Street
Worcester, MA. 01608
# 877-571-SHOW (7469)
