Ain't Too Proud Announces First National Tour

Producers Ira Pittelman and Tom Hulce have announced the first national touring production of Ain't Too Proud — The Life and Times of the Temptations. It will launch at the Providence Performing Arts Center in Providence, Rhode Island, in July 2020, and will play more than 50 cities for more than 100 touring weeks, including a homecoming to the Temptations' roots in Detroit, and a return to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC.

The bio-musical, directed by Des McAnuff, and featuring a book by Dominique Morisseau and choreography by Tony nominee Sergio Trujillo, is currently running at the Imperial Theatre. The musical is described as follows: "Ain't Too Proud is the electrifying new 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, they rose to the top of the charts creating an amazing 42 Top Ten Hits with 14 reaching number one. 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 Broadway cast as the Temptations are Derrick Baskin as Otis Williams, James Harkness as Paul Williams, Jawan M. Jackson as Melvin Franklin, Jeremy Pope as Eddie Kendricks, and Ephraim Sykes as David Ruffin. The company also features Saint Aubyn, Shawn Bowers, E. Clayton Cornelious, Taylor Symone Jackson, Jahi Kearse, Jarvis B. Manning Jr., Joshua Morgan, Rashidra Scott, Nasia Thomas, Christian Thompson, Candice Marie Woods, Esther Antoine, Marcus Paul James, Jelani Remy, and Curtis Wiley.

The production was recently nominated for 12 Tony Awards including: Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (Baskin), Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (Pope), Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (Sykes), Best Choreography, Best Direction of a Musical, Best Orchestrations (Harold Wheeler), Best Scenic Design of a Musical (Robert Brill & Peter Nigrini), Best Costume Design of a Musical (Paul Tazewell), Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Howell Binkley), and Best Sound Design of a Musical (Steve Canyon Kennedy).

For the complete list of Tony nominees, click here.