There is a story within a story in the touring production of the smash Broadway hit “AIN’T TOO PROUD.”
One little boy, who grew up in Saginaw, Michigan, began singing at 7 with “The Little Temptations” and began performing all around the state.That little boy, Harrell Holmes, Jr., now all grown up, is now performing as the legendary Melvin “Blue” Franklin, the velvety bass voice that put the legendary group on the map.
The Segerstrom Center for the Performing Arts and the producers of the Broadway hit musical AIN’T TOO PROUD – THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS are thrilled to announce the show’s run on its Costa Mesa stage from October 17-29, 2023.
In addition to Holmes, stepping into the role of ‘Otis Williams’ will be original First National tour cast member Michael Andreaus, and joining the tour from the Original Broadway Company is E. Clayton Cornelious as ‘Paul Williams.’ They join the current Classic Temptations Jalen Harris as ‘Eddie Kendricks,’ and Elijah Ahmad Lewis as ‘David Ruffin’.
Featuring the Grammy® winning songs and Tony® winning moves, 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.
Though he is over the moon by winning the Temptations role, Holmes knows he has big shoes to fill.
“This music has stood the test of time. From My Girl, Just My Imagination to Papa was a Rolling Stone, like when those songs came out almost 60 years ago. And the fact that we can play these songs and people, from 10-80 years old know every single word is incredible,” said Holmes in an interview this week.
“I think the Temptations were transcendent,” he said, “with the suits, the dance moves and using their five-part harmonies. They carved out a space for themselves.” Moreover, he said that the group clearly were the inspiration for Boyz To Men, NSYNC and others.
Even so, Holmes knows he has a huge responsibility to pay homage to Franklin’s unique talents, but he finds a way to insert enough of himself to make it original.
Courtesy photo
“I definitely have a responsibility to bring the essence of Melvin, especially because we have a lot of people who say things like, “I saw him in ’78, or “I knew Melvin” so I definitely try to bring as much of him as possible to the stage,” said Holmes.
“But it is also important to bring myself too, especially with the dance moves, those crazy moves that won the Tony Award for the Best Choreography,” said Holmes. “So I definitely get a chance to have fun and bring my own style to the show.”
“I’m originally from Saginaw, Michigan. I started singing at 7 and fell in love with the Temptations. I went to my mom and said, I want to be in our school’s talent show and I want to sing ‘Ain’t too Proud to Beg.’ She thought I was crazy. From there, I started my own group ‘The Little Temptations’ and performed all over Michigan,” he said.
We moved to California when I was 12. In 2018, my friend brought me to see the play before it went to Broadway and I said, if I ever get the chance, I’m going to be in that show. “Six months later, my agent called to let me know I had a private audition scheduled for a part in the touring production of “Ain’t Too Proud.”
With that history, it was perhaps little surprise that Holmes did indeed win the part and is now on tour.“I get a chance to play the legendary Melvin Franklin and it has been the best experience of my life,” said Holmes.
The award-winning musical traces the incredible story of the Temptations. 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 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.
After breaking house records at Berkeley Rep, The Kennedy Center, CTG’s Ahmanson Theatre,
and Toronto’s Princess of Wales Theatre, AIN’T TOO PROUD opened on Broadway in March 2019, where it continued to play to sold-out audiences and broke the Imperial Theatre’s box office record. The first national tour launched in December 2021 at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.
Written by Kennedy Prize-winning playwright Dominique Morisseau, directed by two-time Tony Award® winner Des McAnuff, and featuring the Tony Award-winning choreography of Sergio Trujillo, this dazzling production now brings the untold story of the legendary quintet to audiences across the country.
The creative team also includes Tony Award nominee Robert Brill (scenic design), Tony Award winner Paul Tazewell (costume design), Tony Award winner Howell Binkley (lighting design),
Tony Award winner Steve Canyon Kennedy (sound design), Drama Desk Award winner Peter Nigrini (projection design), Drama Desk Award winner Charles G. LaPointe (hair and wig design), Steve Rankin (fight direction), Brian Harlan Brooks (tour resident director), Edgar Godineaux (associate choreographer), John Miller (music coordinator), Molly Meg Legal (production supervisor), and Nicole Olson (production stage manager). Orchestrations are by Tony Award recipient Harold Wheeler, with music supervision and arrangements by Kenny Seymour. Casting is by Tara Rubin Casting, Merri Sugarman, C.S.A.
The national tour of AIN’T TOO PROUD is produced by Ira Pittelman and Tom Hulce, in association with Stephen Gabriel, executive producer. General management and production management by Work Light Productions.
For tickets, connect with Segerstrom Center for the Arts online at: www.scfta.org. Tickets range from $29 – $119 on Tuesday – Thursday, and $39 – $129 on Friday – Sunday. In person, go to The Box Office, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 (Monday 10 am to 2 pm, Tuesday through Friday 12 pm to 5 pm). For more info, call (714) 556-2787.