‘Get Ready’ To Be Blown Away by The Gateway’s Powerhouse Production of ‘Ain’t Too Proud’

The Gateway’s Long Island premiere of the 2019 Broadway musical “Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations” opened on Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day and often called “America’s second Independence Day.” The Temptations, a legendary Motown group, rose to fame in the 1950s and 1960s. A line in this jukebox musical, in which Berry Gordy warns Otis Williams, “The music is colorblind, but the world is not,” succinctly summed up America’s tumultuous political climate, rife with racial prejudice. This heartfelt show is a tribute to the band’s musical evolution from doo-wop and R&B to psychedelic soul and funk, and a testament to these brave Black performers who used their platform to integrate and unite our segregated nation.

Written by Dominique Morisseau, this beloved musical is based on the 1988 memoir “The Temptations” by the group’s founder, Otis Williams, with Patricia Romanowski. This well-crafted show earned 12 Tony Award nominations, with Sergio Trujillo winning Best Choreography. The story follows the journey of five young Black men, whose talent, perseverance, and sense of brotherhood catapulted them from the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Much of the drama centers around the comings and goings of some of the original founding members and their successors.

The narrator and heart of the story, Jahmaul Abiodun Bakare, a charismatic actor with stellar vocals and dance moves, delivered an award-worthy performance as the older, wiser Otis Williams, looking back on his life and career and guiding the audience through decades of hardship, success, death, loss, and heartbreak. Bakare’s moving rendition of “What Becomes of the Broken Hearted” was worth the price of admission.

All of the leads portraying The Temptations were superstars, hitting the theatrical trifecta with their extraordinary vocal, dance, and acting skills. Particularly impressive was their ability to reproduce the group’s rich harmonies while performing synchronized dance routines featuring expressive arm movements, well-timed spins, and intricate footwork.

Kobe Brown was outstanding as Young Otis Williams. Brown can sing! Brown can dance, but what made him such a standout in this production was his strong acting, which enabled him to convey the myriad emotions Williams experienced as a young man navigating the cutthroat world of entertainment.

In the role of the talented but troubled David Ruffin, Kalonjee M. Gallimore captured the essence of this multitalented performer, commanding the stage with powerhouse vocals and smooth dance moves, delighting the audience with split-second splits, down one minute and up again with jack-in-the-box speed. Through nuanced facial expressions, Gallimore masterfully portrayed a man whose magical voice and undeniable magnetism propelled him to superstardom, yet whose inflated ego and escalating substance abuse ultimately became his downfall.

Jovan E’Sean brought a charming vulnerability to Eddie Kendricks, a sensitive and sometimes volatile performing artist, whose smooth, sophisticated falsetto helped define The Temptations’ signature sound. His showstopping performance of the classic hit “Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)” was a triumphant onstage moment.

As Paul Williams, the group’s choreographer, Marquez Linder delivers a heartrending performance as a gifted man battling demons and alcoholism. His poignant delivery of “For Once in My Life” was one of the show’s highlights.

Keith Johnson aced the role of Melvin Franklin, a gentle, funny, kind, peacemaking man, blessed with a booming bass voice that anchored The Temptations’ harmonies.

Gabrielle Beckford’s spot-on portrayal of Otis’s wife, Josephine, stole the show with her magnificent rendition of the soulful ballad “If You Don’t Know Me by Now.”

Other standout performers were Greg Watkins as Motown founder Berry Gordy; Cedric Jamaal Greene in dual roles as Smokey Robinson and Richard Street; Alanna Lovely as Diana Ross; Montria Walker as Tammi Terrell; Renee Marie Titus as Mary Wilson; Jamaur Houston as Elbridge “Al” Bryant; Deric Gochenauer as Shelly Berger; and Bryant as Dennis Edwards.

The stellar ensemble includes David Lafler, Albert Jack Peterson, Adrian Phillips, Sienna Reefer, David Tobachnik, and Darian Archie Troy. The Onstage Swings are Jameson Clanton and Maya Imani.

One of the highlights of the evening was the emotionally moving rendition of “I Wish It Would Rain,” which reflected the tremendous loss and heartbreak felt after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the pain the group experienced with the untimely passing of the young and talented singer-songwriter Tammi Terrell.

The Gateway assembled a top-notch creative team. Directed with exacting precision by DeMone Seraphin and Associate Director Elizabeth Addison, and featuring outstanding choreography by Ian Coulter-Buford, the ensemble brought their A-game to this show. A big round of applause goes to Janine Loesch for her dazzling costume design, Dustin Lawson for wig and makeup design, Brian Pacelli for scenic and projection design, Leonardo Mignola for sound design, and Kim Hanson for lighting design. Special mention goes to the onstage powerhouse orchestra, Music Director Jacinth Greywoode, and Associate Musical Director Jake Turski for replicating Motown’s sound, an intoxicating blend of secular and sacred music.

Content Warning: Due to adult subject matter, this show may not be appropriate for all audiences.

Bursting with electrifying performances, high-energy choreography, and many of the greatest songs ever recorded, The Gateway’s “Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations” is a must-see show! The musical runs through July 19. To purchase tickets, contact the Box Office at (631) 286-1133 or buy online at https://TheGateway.org/.

Cindi Sansone-Braff is an award-winning playwright. She holds a BFA in Theatre from the University of Connecticut and is a member of the Dramatists Guild. She is the author of “Grant Me a Higher Love,” “Why Good People Can’t Leave Bad Relationships,” and “Confessions of a Reluctant Long Island Psychic.” She won the 2026 Press Club of Long Island Media Award in the Narrative Arts Category for outstanding journalism.