I admit that when I first got the media invite for Ain’t too Proud: the Life and Times of the Temptations Musical in the mail I almost didn’t go. I had a lot going on this week and I hadn’t heard anything about it. But then I asked Alexa to “Play the Temptations” to give me a sense of the musical and I realized I knew all of their songs. The Temptations were so much of the music we heard as we grew up and so much of the music that has shaped what we hear now. I got a little more intrigued. And I’m so glad I did. I would have missed out. Don’t miss out.
The show runs in Seattle from January 24th to February 5th
I checked this morning and there are lots of tickets and even for tonight and they have a me+3 pack if so that if you buy four tickets you can save 25% too. They start at 35 dollars and I wish they had Teentix but maybe one day. The show starts at 7:30 and I think we were finished after 10pm and I can’t believe the cast sings and dances with that much energy for that long.
The show plays out like someone is reading a beautiful bedtime story for grownups (but not a sleepy one) and the narrator is Otis Williams Played by Michael Andreaus and he plays this part so well. I’d bring my teenagers to this musical too. And yes, there are drugs and innuendos but these are also kind of in Disney and in all parts of life now….this musical gives a bit of history that we didn’t all learn growing up and many of us will continue to miss out on so I think it’s even more important that my guys go to it too. I have never been to Detroit, and this is where the story starts. We learn why Cadillac is a perfect sponsor and there is even a car on stage at one point. The characters are all based on real people and now I want to know more about the story of this group. I want to know the story of more of the groups that created the soundtracks of our lives.
We learn about how the Temptations were formed and how they rose to fame and they sing and dance to about 30 different songs in the process and I think I almost knew them all. And the cast is so talented I can’t pick a standout- I really loved all the performances in this one. The range of voices and flashy dance moves are so entertaining and everyone looks like they are having a good time. You can see their hearts in their faces. I only wish the microphones were turned up for the Supremes, this performance seemed a little muted in comparison to the Temptations and I’m not sure if this was done on purpose.
The set is phenomenal. The backdrops are clean and simple and create such a vivid sense of place. I wish I could have taken photos because the stage lighting made everything feel so photogenic. I am always amazed when a stage can be transformed from the outside of a theatre, to a music mogul’s office, to a bathroom and even a jail. I didn’t know much going into this musical and I felt like I was entertained and like I learned a bit of history and I played the Temptations at breakfast for my kids this morning.
And maybe because I wasn’t expecting anything, this turned out to be one of the best musicals I’ve seen. The guy behind me kept repeating “IT’S SO SO GOOD!” the whole time so maybe I’m not the only one. You’ll have to see it for yourself and let me know.
If you’re not in Seattle this musical is just starting its tour. Next stop is Portland and Vancouver BC friends, this one comes your way in September so if they miss the Seattle run, I think my guys might be going with their grandparents.
(PS. there is a bathroom scene and everyone washes their hands. It’s 2023 and there are still people not washing hands in bathrooms so I really appreciate that even on stage in a fake bathroom EVERYONE washed their hands)
Terumi Pong is a Seattle-based family travel writer and mom of twin teenage boys. She loves coffee and pastries, shopping local and looking for greener ways to live. She is also known as Scout’s mom (Scout is a 5ish pound little black yorkie-poo)
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