Transcendence Theatre Company opens their 2026 Broadway Under the Stars series with a high-energy production of ain’t too proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations.
The jukebox musical about the legendary Motown group premiered at Berkeley Rep in 2017 before a successful, Tony-winning Broadway run in 2019. The Transcendence production, directed by Vasthy Mompoint, runs outdoors on the Field of Dreams in Sonoma through June 28.
Playwright Dominique Morriseau (Skeleton Crew) handles the book of the musical and tells the story, warts and all, of how the members of two rival Detroit-based singing groups eventually came together to form one powerhouse act.
Their story is told through the recollections of Otis Williams (Conroe Brooks), the group’s founding (and only surviving) member, who finds music as a means of escape from the mean streets of Detroit. He gathers Eddie Kendricks (Kwame Michael Remy), Paul Williams (Tyrick Wiltez Jones), Melvin Franklin (Topher Yengbeh) and Al Bryant (Tony Meslon), and they declare themselves The Temptations. Soon Bryant is out and David Ruffin (Kyle Parks) is in, and the “Classic Five” era begins with hits from “The Way You Do the Things You Do” to “I Wish It Would Rain.”
Then Ruffin’s ego gets the best of him, and he soon finds himself on the outside looking in at Dennis Edwards (Stanley Martin) replacing him. The hits continued with “I Can’t Get Next to You” and “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone.” Edwards’ drug use leads to his departure from the group, and on it goes.
Morriseau’s script tries to cover it all. But when you have to tell the life stories of seven-plus men, something’s got to give, and in this case (and somewhat amazingly), it’s the music. You get mostly snippets of The Temptations’ hits with only an occasional fully-produced number. I wanted more.
Thankfully, you’ve got terrific voices at work here and dynamite choreography (by Donald Jones Jr.) well-executed by the entire cast throughout the show. The stage really sparkles (literally) when the sun comes down and the lighting elements are added to the mix.
An added bonus is the acrobatic music direction by Richard Bakin Jr., who leads a terrific 12-piece band. The man is putting on a show of his own, and his joy for the music is infectious.
Succumb to the temptation of an evening of entertaining theater, and check out ain’t too proud.
Transcendence Theatre Company’s ‘ain’t too proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations’ runs Thurs-Sun through June 28 at the Field of Dreams, 151 First St. W., Sonoma. Venue opens at 5pm; show starts at 7pm. $44–$165. 877.424.1414. bestnightever.org.
