James T. Lane has been traveling the country bringing back the groove to Motown, portraying the choreographer of the classic Motown act, The Temptations: Paul Williams. "Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations" follows the story of the "Classic Five" or the original members of the Temptations, highlighting both the success and hardships of the group.
“We get their lives from the streets of Detroit, all the way up to international stardom," Lane said. "You get 3D portrayal of these five classic characters.”
Foley has always heard the music of the Temptations played around his household, even watching the 25th anniversary of Motown with his family during his childhood, but he had no clue of the full story. Lane said its an honor and a privilege to bring this character with his own unique story to life today, showing a new side to a character who may have seemed one-dimensional in real life.
“In musical theater, African Americans are usually relegated to a sliver of a character in somebody else’s story," Lane said. "Not only do I get to play a full character, I get to portray a character that is real and that has lived.”
However, Lane explained this is not the first time the director and choreographer, Des McAnuff and Sergio Trujillo, has worked on a bio-jukebox musical that showed another side of iconic musical groups, hitting it out of the park with Jersey Boys. Lane explained that their creative chemistry has created another great behind-the scenes representation of mainstream musicians.
“They have a unique way of telling the story that eases off on the whole jukebox aspect, and really gives you the life of these people," Lane said. "With Dominique Morisseau, the writer, they have created something that really…works and the music is iconic. It is not depending on the music to get people in. It’s actually a really good story that has a beginning, middle, and an end. It’s told very well and creatively.”
Lane also must deal with the expectations people have of the show before coming into it, listening to the music for decades. Lane explained that people come into the show thinking it will be more of a concert, just wanting to hear their favorite songs. However, as Lane meets the fans after the show, he is thrilled to hear that audience members were excited to hear so much more about the core members of the group.
“They love the fact that there’s more to the story, in particular our story: the African American experience as artists in America," Lane said. "We win them over.”
Lane likes to explain the Temptations as supernovas, burning bright and hot in their prime, then disappearing without the public knowing of their journey or hardships. He believes that this musical is worthy of their entire story being unearthed to the public.
“It’s not like we’re coming in with some ragtag… thing that we do," Lane said. "We’re coming in with a fully fleshed out, fully danced, sang beautifully, wonderfully written story. It is a musical theater tribute to the lives of these iconic supernovas.”
Opening the musical with "The Way You Do The Things You Do," it is obvious the music of Motown history is the central focus of the show, getting the audience to dance in their seats and bop their heads from the start.
“The music is our heart," Lane said. "It’s America’s heart and they love it…once again we get to add a secondary layer of education because we get to find out about their wonderful, albeit tragic lives in a lot of senses, but life has a lot of pathos in it, so it’s a full story.”
Lane's favorite moment in the show is exemplifying through a song montage how Paul Williams was able to choreograph the group so well together, finding their key moves, and creating the iconic Temptations dances to their hit songs.
“Music lives on forever," Lane said.. "You still have that iconic music like ‘My Girl’ and ‘Ain’t Too Proud to Beg’ and it created something really special. It was the first of its kind. When you are the first and you have that legacy, that legacy lives on in the artists of today.”
Lane is excited to see all the audience members dressed up to see the Temptations at the Wharton Center, making it especially special to perform in the state where Motown was born, creating the love built around this show.
Lane invites everyone to come see the show at the Wharton from June 7 to 12, ready to dazzled by the story and music of the Temptations.
“If you want to see upwards of 20 triple threat performers sing iconic music that touches the heart, then you get your butt to ‘Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations,’ Lane said. "You will be entertained and you will be educated.”
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