Casting is complete for the second national tour of the Tony-nominated musical Ain't Too Proud—The Life and Times of the Temptations, which will kick off September 19-20 at the Clemens Center in Elmira, New York. The non-Equity tour will subsequently play more than 50 cities across North America, including Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C.
Leading the cast as The Temptations will be 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 will also include 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.
Featuring a book by Dominique Morisseau, Ain't Too Proud uses the Temptations' hits to tell the story of their journey from the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Songs include “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination,” “Get Ready,” and “Papa Was a Rolling Stone.”
The musical, which opened on Broadway March 21, 2019, was nominated for 12 Tony Awards including Best Musical. Two-time Tony winner Des McAnuff directs, with Tony-winning choreography by Sergio Trujillo. 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. The first national tour launched in December 2021.
The production also has scenic design by Robert Brill, costume design by Sue Makkoo, original costume design by Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Ryan O’Gara, sound design by Jeff Human, projection design by Peter Nigrini, hair and wig design by Ashley Rae Callahan, original hair and wig design by Charles G. LaPointe, and fight direction by Steve Rankin. Orchestrations are by Harold Wheeler with music arrangements by Kenny Seymour. Casting is by Whitley Theatrical.
Brian Harlan Brooks is the tour resident director, Brett M. Lockley is the associate choreographer, Rick Hip-Flores is the music supervisor, and Kelsey Nicole Jenkins is the production stage manager.
The second national tour is produced and general managed by Work Light Productions.
For the full tour route, visit AintTooProudMusical.com.