UK Cast of Ain't Too Proud, photo by Johan Persson
(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey presents the Broadway musical Ain't Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations for five performances from Friday, October 25, 2024 to Sunday, October 27, 2024. Featuring Grammy®-winning songs and Tony®-winning moves, this is the electrifying musical that follows The Temptations' extraordinary journey from the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
With their signature dance moves and unmistakable harmonies, The Temptations rose to the top of the charts creating an amazing 42 Top Ten Hits with 14 reaching number one and being voted the greatest R&B group of all time by Billboard Magazine in 2017. The rest is history—how they met, 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. This thrilling story of brotherhood, family, loyalty, and betrayal is set to the beat of the group’s treasured hits, including “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination,” “Get Ready,” “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” and so many more.
Leading the cast of Ain’t Too Proud as The Temptations are Jameson Clanton as ‘Melvin Franklin’, Rudy Foster as ‘Otis Williams’, Lowes Moore as ‘Eddie Kendricks’ Josiah Travis Kent Rogers as ‘David Ruffin’ and Bryce Valle as ‘Paul Williams.’ The touring company also features Jasmine Barboa, Tiffany Beckford, Cai Campbell, Robert Crenshaw, Kaila Symone Crowder, Kerry D'Jovanni, Reyanna Edwards, Cedric Jamaal Greene, Mikey Corey Hassel, Max Herskovitz, Bernell Lassai III, Corey Mekell, Zion Middleton, Jamal Stone, Robert J Valderas III, and J’Khalil White.
Performances take place Friday, October 25 at 8:00pm; Saturday; October 26 at 2:00pm & 8:00pm; and Sunday, October 27 at 2:00pm. Tickets range from $40-$105. Tickets are available for purchase online or by calling State Theatre Guest Services at 732-246-SHOW (7469). State Theatre Guest Services, located at 15 Livingston Ave, New Brunswick NJ, is open by phone and email only, Tuesday through Friday from 11:00am to 5:00pm. For in-person purchases, Guest Services is open Tuesday through Friday from 12:00pm to 4:30pm. Additional ticket and transaction fees may apply.
The musical, which opened on Broadway on Thursday, March 21, 2019, and was nominated for 12 Tony® Awards including Best Musical, brings the incredible true story of the greatest R&B group of all time to the stage. With a Tony® Award-nominated book by Dominique Morisseau, Ain’t Too Proud features an iconic score made up of The Temptations’ legendary songs. Two-time Tony® Award-winner Des McAnuff directs, with Tony Award-winning choreography by Sergio Trujillo.
The creative team also includes Tony® Award nominee Robert Brill (scenic design), Sue Makkoo (costume design) and Tony® Award-winner Paul Tazewell (original costume design), Ryan O’Gara (lighting design), Jeff Human (sound design), Drama Desk Award winner Peter Nigrini (projection design), Ashley Rae Callahan (hair and wig design) and Drama Desk Award winnerCharles G. LaPointe (original hair and wig design), Steve Rankin (fight direction), Brian Harlan Brooks (tour resident director), Brett Michael Lockley (associate choreographer), Rick Hip-Flores (music supervisor), and Jenna Wadleigh (production stage manager). Orchestrations are by Tony® Award recipient Harold Wheeler, with music arrangements by Kenny Seymour. Casting is by Whitley Theatrical.
After major renovations, State Theatre New Jersey celebrated its 100th Anniversary in December 2021 in a fully renovated theater. Originally built as a silent film and vaudeville palace, State Theatre’s historic significance was honored by PBS by featuring it in its documentary series, Treasures of New Jersey, in the fall of 2018. “Treasures of New Jersey: State Theatre New Jersey” can be streamed online.
Today, State Theatre is the largest performing arts center in Central New Jersey and has welcomed more than six million people through its doors since reopening as a nonprofit performing arts center in 1988. State Theatre New Jersey is a cornerstone of the cultural vitality of Middlesex County and averages a total economic impact on New Brunswick and the surrounding area of more than $18 million a year. The mainstage programs have featured high-caliber artists such as Diana Ross, Tom Jones, Kevin Hart, Ringo Starr, Melissa Etheridge, John Leguizamo, Harry Connick, Jr., Diana Krall, and Crosby, Stills & Nash. Program offerings include Broadway, orchestra, family, dance, comedy, rock/pop, jazz, Performances for Schools, and Sensory-Friendly Performances.
State Theatre New Jersey’s programs are made possible by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Grant funding has been provided by the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners through a grant award from the Middlesex County Cultural and Arts Trust Fund. For information on events, go to MiddlesexCountyCulture.com.
