There seems to be a steady stream of jukebox musicals or as choreographer Sergio Trujillo calls some of them “autobiographical musicals.” We’ve seen The Four Seasons, Donna Summer and Gloria Estefan (amongst others) celebrated vis-a-vis the musical form. Now comes Ain’t Too Proud, which tells the story of The Temptations. This Broadway-bound musical (set to open at the Imperial Theatre in New York in the spring) is now running at the Ahmanson Theatre through September 30.
Among the best known songs by The Temptations are “Just My Imagination,” “The Way You Do The Things You Do,” “My Girl” and, of course, “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg.”
Des McAnuff directs the show with choreography by Sergio Trujillo. The book is by Dominique Morriseau (Skeleton Crew.) Early word is that this is a stronger show that most in the genre as it shows not just the rise of this popular group, but also the social and racial issues that surrounded them at the time they became famous.
And it apparently has the blessing of Otis Williams from The Temptations as Sergio Trujillo told us in his interview you can read here.