The Broadway production of Ain’t Too Proud–The Life and Times of the Temptations played its final performance January 16 at the Imperial Theatre.
Featuring a book by Dominique Morisseau, the hit musical reopened in October 2020, having been shut down along with the rest of Broadway in March 2020 due to the pandemic.
Using Temptations' hits such as “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination,” “Get Ready,” and “Papa Was a Rolling Stone," Ain’t Too Proud tells the story of the group’s journey from the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Cast of Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations
Matt Manuel
Jawan Jackson, Jelani Remy, Nik Walker, Matt Manuel, and James Harkness
Jawan Jackson, Jelani Remy, Nik Walker, Matt Manuel, and James Harkness
Jawan Jackson, Jelani Remy, Nik Walker, Matt Manuel, and James Harkness
Jawan Jackson, Jelani Remy, Nik Walker, Matt Manuel, and James Harkness
Jawan Jackson
Jelani Remy
Nik Walker
Cast of Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations
Saint Aubyn
Saint Aubyn, Dominque Morisseau, and Kenny Seymour
Dominique Morisseau
Des McAnuff and Dominque Morisseau
Dominique Morisseau
Dominque Morisseau
Des McAnuff and James Harkness
Saint Aubyn, Dominique Morisseau, and cast
Kenny Seymour
Saint Aubyn, Jelani Remy, Taylor Symone Jackson, Nik Walker, and Tiffany Frances
Cast of Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations
Upon the show’s closing, the production starred Nik Walker as Otis Williams, James Harkness as Paul Williams, Jawan M. Jackson as Melvin Franklin, Matt Manuel as David Ruffin, and Jelani Remy as Eddie Kendricks alongside company members Esther Antoine, Saint Aubyn, Shawn Bowers, E. Clayton Cornelious, J. Daughtry, Tiffany Francés, Ta’Nika Gibson, Taylor Symone Jackson, Jahi Kearse, Darius Jordan Lee, Jarvis B. Manning Jr., Morgan McGhee, Joshua Morgan, Aaron Patterson, Christian Thompson, Sir Brock Warren, Correy West, Drew Wildman Foster, Curtis Wiley, and Candice Marie Woods.
Directed by Des McAnuff, Ain’t Too Proud featured choreography by Sergio Trujillo, music direction by Kenny Seymour, scenic design by Robert Bill, costumes by Paul Tazewell, lighting by Howell Binkley, sound design by Steve Canyon, hair and wig design by Charles G. LaPointe, and projections by Peter Nigrini. Casting was by Merri Sugarman of Tara Rubin Casting.
EGOT winner John Legend and his Get Lifted Film Co. partners Mike Jackson and Ty Stiklorious joined the producing team last year.
The musical opened on Broadway March 21, 2019, and was nominated for 12 Tony Awards including Best Musical. Ain't Too Proud had its world premiere at California’s Berkeley Repertory Theatre in 2017 before going on to play Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and Toronto.
