New York Magazine - USA (2019-09-16)

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

SPOTLIGHT

ON

FALL

PRECISION SPLITS, sky-high kicks,

suave slides—these are just a few of

the moves that made The Temptations

one of Motown’s most beloved music

legends. The group’s iconic steps are

what inspired choreographer Sergio

Trujillo, who won a Tony Award for his

work on the Broadway musical

Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times

of the Temptations.

The choreographer asked himself

during an Ain’t Too Proud rehearsal,

“If I were choreographing for the

Temptations now, what would I do?”

What resulted was Trujillo’s deep study

of archival footage, including television

appearances in which The Temptations

captivated audiences with their slick

timing and unmatched rhythm. Rather

than copy The Temptations’ original

routines, Trujillo reimagined them,

blending athleticism with elements

of hip-hop, funk, and classic musical

theater storytelling.

Ain’t Too Proud traces The

Temptations’ trajectory from Detroit

quintet to global superstardom, with

the group’s choreography shifting over

the course of the show — from sharp-

edged and sophisticated in the 1960s

to fiery and impassioned in the 1970s.

Calling all longtime fans and new

converts: Trujillo’s eye for dance makes

all the difference in Ain’t Too Proud:

The Life and Times of the Temptations,

on Broadway at the Imperial Theatre.

Rhythm and Moves on Broadway

AIN’T TOO PROUD

Imperial Theatre 249 W 45th St. ainttooproudmusical.com

Photo: Matthew Murphy